Libraries and leisure

Courses, events and open days

Events

RetroHerts - 50s & 60s Day: Bringing the past to life through archives and your memories on Saturday 15th May, 10am - 4pm Did you rock around the clock in the 50s or twist and shout in the 60s? Come along and see what memories our displays and exhibitions will bring back - there will be classic cars, vintage toys and live music. Preserve you memories for the future - bring along your old photos to add to the Hertsmemories website, a new community archives site where everyone can preserve their stories in words and pictures. FREE, all welcome The Making Memories Project Community archives websites for the people of Hertfordshire www.hertsmemories.org.uk

Family History Day - Your Military Ancestors
Did some of your ancestors join the armed services? Find out how to search for them using the internet and original sources. There will be exhibitions and talks and help sessions throughout the day. Perhaps you have already researched your military ancestors. There will be opportunities to share your research online through the Herts Memories website, so please bring along your pictures and research.
Saturday 9 October 10am - 4pm, FREE, all welcome

Courses

Tracing the History of Your House - one day workshop
Are you intrigued to know more about your home’s past? Come along to this workshop to find out how to use original documents to discover more about the age of your house and its past inhabitants. Saturday 17 April 10am - 4pm, Cost £30
Lunch is not provided but you are welcome to bring a packed lunch to all one day workshops.

Manorial Records for Local and Family History - one day workshop
Manorial records offer a rich source of information about the lives of ordinary people. You will learn how the manorial system worked, what records it created, and through practical examples, discover how to find information, even if you have no knowledge of latin. Wednesday 15 September, 10am - 4pm, cost £30 Lunch is not provided but you are welcome to bring a packed lunch to all one day workshops.

Life in the Workhouse - one day workshop
Many of our ancestors are likely to have spent some time in the workhouse. This practical course will show you the sources to use to discover what life was like for poor people in the past. Wednesday 10th November 10am – 4pm, Cost £30 Lunch is not provided but you are welcome to bring a packed lunch to all one day workshops.

Introductory tour of Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies Wednesday 10 February, 10.30am - 12.00. A quick guide to whats's where in the Local Studies Library and Archive Reading Room You also get a chance to peep behind the scenes and see the archive strong rooms. Free.

How to Trace your Family History
A course for both beginners and those who have already made a start on their family history. Practical exercises on computers will show you how to make the most of the internet in your research. You will also learn how to use a wide range of original sources to build up your family tree. 13th April - 1st June. Eight week course, Tuesday evenings. Tuesdays 13 April – 1 June 7.30-9.00 Cost £60

Introductory tour of Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies Wednesday 14 April, 10.30am - 12.00 A quick guide to whats's where in the Local Studies Library and Archive Reading Room You also get a chance to peep behind the scenes and see the archive strong rooms. Free.

Introductory tour of Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies Wednesday 9 June, 10.30am - 12.00 A quick guide to whats's where in the Local Studies Library and Archive Reading Room You also get a chance to peep behind the scenes and see the archive strong rooms. Free.

How to Read Old Documents
Have you ever come across documents you can’t read when researching local or family history? This course will give you an introduction to why documents were produced and how to read old handwriting. It will also include an introduction to Latin to help with reading documents produced before 1733. Eight week course, Tuesday evenings.
Tuesdays 7 September – 26 October, 7.30pm - 9.00pm Cost £60

Introductory tour of Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies Wednesday 8 September, 10.30am - 12.00 A quick guide to whats's where in the Local Studies Library and Archive Reading Room You also get a chance to peep behind the scenes and see the archive strong rooms. Free.

To book a course either telephone Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies 0300 123 4049 and ask for Local Studies or e-mail hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk marked for the attention of Hertfordshire Archives.

Please see the Heritage Events Diary on the main Heritage page for details of other courses and events in the area. Find out about your family history, old maps, reading old documents and tracing the history of your house.

Taster Sessions

Family History and the Internet
Find out how to use the internet for tracing your family tree using online resources available free at all Hertfordshire libraries. This one-to-one practical Taster Session will help you find your way around Ancestry.com and other useful websites.Tuesday mornings from 11am until 12. (FREE but booking essential).

Making Memories: How to add your pictures and stories to Herts Memories websites
Do you have a story to tell – perhaps about your family or the place where you live or work? This one-to-one Taster Session will take you through the process of adding your words and pictures to a local community archives website. Tuesday mornings 11am-12.00.
The Making Memories Project Community archives websites for the people of Hertfordshire
Get in the running for the People’s Record project.....
Local people are being invited to share their memories of Broxbourne and the surrounding area for an exciting new online community project.

The project is being run by Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies in partnership with Broxbourne Borough Council. It features a completely interactive website which will allow people to contribute by sharing their own memories, experiences, stories, photographs and audio and visual clips.
Anybody with an interest in where they live will be able to access and add to the website. All kinds of memories and media are welcome, whether they are about the past or the present. Schools are also welcome to contribute, as the website will be an excellent place to showcase any work or project based on the local area. It will also allow people who have left the area to contribute their thoughts and comments.
The Broxbourne area website is also part of a national scheme, ‘The People’s Record’, which was set up by the Museums, Libraries and Archives council, so people are being encouraged to share their memories, thoughts and opinions about the 2012 Olympics too.
Hertfordshire Archives would like to hear what people think about the development of the Broxbourne White Water Olympic Canoeing Centre site in Waltham Cross and for them to add their contributions in the run up to and during, the 2012 games.
Volunteers are needed to help edit and publish the website and oversee its development. This is a great opportunity for people to learn new skills and become involved in an exciting project which will eventually allow people from across the world to learn about Broxbourne Borough before they visit in 2012.
For anyone who would like tofind out more about Herts Memories or contribute to the new site, please email Catherine Davis on catherine.davis@hertscc.gov.uk