Membership
The benefits of being a member of the Society
We aim to promote and encourage mutual help between people interested in family history and genealogy, so what better way to support this than by being a member of our Society. You can engage with us in ways which range from attending our online meetings or visiting our research room, to helping us as a volunteer. We have many opportunities available including ones for people who are not local. Here are some specific benefits:
THE SOCIETY JOURNAL
The journal is produced quarterly and sent by post to all members with a standard or overseas postal membership, or digitally to those with electronic membership. The Journal contains many topics of interest to family historians. There are many family history articles submitted by members covering a wide range of topics as well as those written by our committee members, many of which are intended to help you with your research. We also keep you up to date with what is happening generally in the Society through our journal. (Scroll down to download a sample issue)
Membership application or renewal
If you wish to join the Society, please go to become-a-member
If you are already a member and wish to renew, please go to renew-your-membership
Current membership costs are as follows:
Student: £6.00 per year. For a student aged 16-25 years and in full-time education, either in the UK or overseas. Quarterly journal available through email and on the website
Electronic: £12.00 per year. For someone resident in the UK or overseas. Quarterly journal available through email and on the website.
Standard: £15.00 per year. For up to two people at the same address in the UK. If you are not UK resident, please use electronic or overseas membership. Includes delivery by post of the printed quarterly Journal.
Overseas: £25.00 per year. For someone resident outside the UK. Includes airmail delivery of printed quarterly Journal. Overseas members may also choose and Electronic Membership.
Membership will run for one year from the date of joining.
MEETINGS
A programme of talks is arranged by Zoom which members can attend for free. The current details can be found in the ‘Events’ page. We also hold or attend a number of local, and sometimes national, events where we exhibit and offer help with research. Our own Family and Local History Fair is particularly popular and is held in October each year.
OUR WEBSITE MEMBERS’ AREA
FindMyPast Discounts – Members can obtain discounts on FindMyPast subscriptions and there are sometimes special offers from FMP where the discount codes will be available on our website.
The archive of our Society Journal can be found in the website Members’ area. There is also a facility to search the journals electronically through PERSI (The Periodical Source Index, which is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world).
EXCHANGE JOURNALS
The Society has exchange agreements with a number of other family history societies and related institutions, both in the UK and around the world. Journals are exchanged regularly and due to them generally being produced for ‘members only’, the agreement is that copies received are placed behind in our members’ only area.
THE 1841 AND 1851 CENSUS
The members’ only area gives access to the transcriptions done by the Society of the two earliest censuses. Here you will be able to search family groups and surnames in parish areas, a facility not available on subscription websites.
DNA INFORMATION SHARING
Our members’ area also has a section where you can share information about your own DNA test and find information from some of our own members who have become competent in researching through DNA.