Benefits of joining a family history society.

[MrsS2012]

Does anyone belong to one?
As I now have much more time to dedicate to my research I've been thinking about joining a family history society. I thought it would be a good way to potentially meet people who are as enthusiastic as me and hopefully pick up more tips and advice. Of course there is plenty of that on here but it's also nice to actually go out and meet people and maybe get involved in some ancestry related projects.
I'm based in Essex and was looking at the Essex family history society but the only thing that confuses me is that it says it's for people who are tracing family members in the Essex area.. none of my family originate from Essex so would there be any benefit to me joining this group or am I better to look at groups based on where my family are from? (sorry if this seems like a dumb question )
I have contacted them but am yet to receive a reply.. I imagine it might take a while due to the current situation so I thought I'd just ask you folks on here!

[Gibel]

I belong to a family history society where I live. The society covers a large area and has groups in different towns in the area. When I joined the society I didn’t live in the larger area but joined because my family lived in the area. When I moved here I was able to go the local town’s monthly meetings and discovered I was a rarity having family who came from the area!

Most of the people who attend our monthly meetings don’t have family in the area but come because of the shared interest. Why not look into if there are monthly meetings locally and when they are able to be held go along to them.

[nanny jan]

I belong to one (Dorset) but have no lines in the county;  "For people in Dorset or people with Dorset Ancestors".

Before the pandemic there were monthly meetings on a variety of topics (not all Dorset centred), a coach trip once or twice a year to TNA, a computer group and often courses or workshops at the headquarters.  We are fortunate in having an office where we can access a library, several computers with subs to Ancestry, FindMyPast etc. A journal is published four times a year with news, articles, book reviews etc.

Have a look at the Essex FHS website and see what they offer;  you can usually attend a meeting without being a member.

[Craclyn]

I have been a member of several over the past few years. I am currently only a member of NDFHS (Northumberland and Durham). I find the benefits are few, but since the sub is not high I have chosen to continue it for a while in case I need something that only they have.

[guest189040]

My Mrs joined the Manchester society which has a base in the main Library and archive which happens to be in the City Centre.

The subs were very reasonable and access to the at hand archive and microfische really heelped.

What did not help was the location, and exhorbeftent parking fees, we could easily go through £50 going there, parking and having lunch and drinks just for a few hours research.

Thank goodness I can do all that for free at Lancashire Archives.

[louisa maud]

Meeting like minded people is a bonus

Louisa Maud

[guest189040]

Meeting like minded people is a bonus

Louisa Maud

Very true.

For people of a certain age check out your local U3A organisation, ours cost £12 a year and gives us access to 70 different activities and ours includes Family HistoryGroup which meets once a month and we also have a Facebook Group.

[MrsS2012]

Ok great, I'll look into joining the Essex one then. I'd really like to get involved in some projects too, like transcribing, especially transcribing headstones.. not sure how to go about it but I thought a family history society would be the first logical step!

[nanny jan]

I used to be on the headstone transcribing team for Dorset FHS.  A team would record one cemetery/churchyard working in pairs; one to read (or attempt to!) the headstone and the other to record the details and position.

Sometime later the records would be typed/checked and added to a database.

There was also a team transcribing parish registers held at the county archives......be warned....it can become addictive!