Membership

The benefits of being a member of the Society

An important benefit from a person joining the Society is that the Society gets stronger, which is then an increased benefit to its members. We aim to promote and encourage mutual help between people interested in family history and genealogy, so what better way to support this than in being a member! We can engage with the Society in ways ranging from general participation to more defined roles in volunteering for one of a number of tasks that keep the Society afloat. However, we also receive, ranging from engagement with like-minded people through to some specific benefits listed here. 

THE SOCIETY JOURNAL

The journal is produced quarterly and sent post free to all members, or digitally to those with electronic membership. The Journal contains many topics of interest to family historians. It is the vehicle through which the Society business is communicated to members as well as containing members letters, members interests and a ‘help wanted’ section. There are also many family history articles submitted by members which cover a wide range of topics.

MEETINGS

A programme of talks is arranged quarterly by Zoom and members can attend for free.  The current programme details can be found in the “Events” page.

MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Members are encouraged to submit their current research interests, which are then shared with all members and, where possible, introductions made. It has to be noted that changes in regulations relating to privacy have made this less of an open process as it was before. We are working on a solution and this will eventually be contained within the web site Members Area.

WEB SITE, MEMBERS AREA

FindMyPast Discounts – Members can obtain discounts for Find My Past subscriptions and there are frequent, almost weekly, 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 HDFHS 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 their generally being produced for ‘members only’, the agreement is that any copies we receive are placed behind our membership firewall. Should you wish to consult those journals, they lie within the members’ area. 

Membership application or renewal

The two sections in the drop down menu, entitled ‘Join’ and ‘Renew’ are the preferred way to carry out those actions. However, if you wish to complete the process ‘on paper’,  please contact the Secretary using the form below.

Current membership costs are as follows:

Electronic Membership….£10.00 per year. For an individual resident in the UK. Quarterly journal available online through website.

Individual Membership… £12.00 per year. For an individual resident in the UK. Includes mail delivery of the printed quarterly Journal.


Family Membership… £15.00 per year
. For two UK residents at the same address. Includes mail delivery of the printed quarterly Journal.

Overseas (Airmail)… £18.00 per year
. For an individual resident outside the UK. Includes airmail delivery of printed quarterly Journal.

Membership will run for one year from the time of joining.