Showing posts with label Tim Sherratt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tim Sherratt. Show all posts

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Expert Q&A :: How to research Anzac war graves & ancestors

On Thursday, October 11 we were lucky to have the dedicated military historian and war graves researcher, Matt Smith, join us for an Expert Q&A on how to research war graves and Anzac ancestors. Please find the transcript of the Q&A and links.

Don't forget our Expert Q&As happen every Thursday night on the Inside History Magazine facebook page.

When: NSW - VIC - ACT - TAS: 8:30-9:30pm AEDT | QLD: 7:30-8:30pm | WA: 5:30-6:30pm | NT: 7:00-8:00pm | SA: 8:00-9:00pm | Weekly Thursdays

Matt Smith's project, Australian War Graves Photographic Archive, began in 2000, and is committed to procuring a digital photograph of every Australian War Grave and Memorial Commemoration worldwide. This commitment stems from a labour of respect dedicated to the supreme sacrifice made by our Australian military personnel. The searchable database at the core of the site was formally launched for Remembrance Day 2011. The site displays images of the commemorations, and offers a range of free resources to families and researchers of our war dead.

Summary of links from the Q&A:
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Transcript of Expert Q&A - How to research Anzac war graves and ancestors, with Matt Smith

Our Expert Q&A with Matt Smith starts at 8:30pm DST. Tonight’s topic: How to research war graves and Anzac ancestors. Please ask your questions for Matt in a comment below & he will answer in a following comment.

Q. Sharon [October 10]: I might miss this week's session. My relative made it home but there is much of his life unknown. He enlisted for WW1 from Torrington, NSW. He came home, spent time in Cessnock. We have his war records but would like to know more of his life story. We know some up until Cessnock but then he moved to Perth and was at a distance from the family in Cessnock. He served in WW2 in and around Perth. I have had trips to Perth but never had time to investigate. He died in Perth. His war medals have gone missing for WW1 and he appears to have died with no money and no possessions. Nothing was sent to the family and it appears the family didn't ask. He is in an unmarked grave in Karrakatta. I have had a memorial done in Rookwood NSW so the family can visit but the details on the plaque are wrong and I haven't had a chance to correct them. So, my questions are - can I do any online searches on my uncle regarding his life in WA? How do I get the memorial fixed? Would it be the war graves people as they approved it? His name is Jack Warland. Thanks.
A. Matt: Hi Sharon, I am getting in early here before the Q and A starts officially. Firstly because I can't help myself and secondly because you might miss the session. That said, I can tell you that John (Jack) Warland was wounded during WWI, but after the war he was a member of the Australian Graves Detachment from April - August 1919. He was burying the dead in France and assisting with the development of the war cemeteries. As you mentioned, he served during WW2 in WA and was discharged in 1946. The first thing that I would do is to contact the Office of Australian War Graves - www.dva.gov.au - (02) 6289 6510 and ask the questions about the status of his war grave in Karrakatta. That will determine if he should have an official headstone or whether the family opted out. If he should have a war grave, then they should provide one. You would need to have him assessed with birth certificate etc etc. Then I would check the census records for WA to see if they have him recorded and where he is recorded. There was a census in 1947, 1954, and 1961, following which it was every 5 years. If you can locate him, you can track him. Also the Births, Deaths and Marriage records would be the next step.

Q. Cheryl: Hi Matt, my great, great uncle emigrated from London to Australia. He died whilst in service with the 52nd battalion AIF on 4 Sept 1916 nr Moquet Farm. 760 Sergeant Charles Emerson Watling. I have his medal awarded in death (was hung in my dads room while he was young but he never asked who it belonged to!) and a photo of his grave. I have tried to search myself for a photo of Charles or even of his battalion for quite some time without success. Your help or advice with this would be so appreciated. Kind regards, Cheryl x
A. Matt: Hi Cheryl, Obviously the first place to start would be the Australian War Memorial collection - http://www.awm.gov.au/search/collections/. Then, I would follow with a simple Google Search - try some combinations of his name i.e. Charles Watling or Watling 52nd Battalion. Then I would try http://ww1wa.gravesecrets.net/w.html - Faithe Jones is the lady at the end of this one. Then follow the other leads such as Broken Hill connections, 52nd Battalion history, WA Archives - remember that the 52nd Battalion came from the 12th Battalion, so that is another connection. Hope that helps?

Q. Wendy: Hi Matt, I have been doing my family history for 2 yrs now and found information on my maternal grandfather Albert James Byron who went off as a cook in WW1 at age 44 in 1916 on the SS Afric, my mother was only 9 when he died and I have never ever seen a picture of him. I did manage to find he is buried in an unmarked grave at Rookwood and I did send off a letter last year to the War Graves Commission and have only just got a reply saying he is not entitled to have his grave site marked with a plaque as he did not see active service or died from war related injuries which I was disappointed to hear. Is there any other places I could try and find a photo of him? I would be very grateful for any assistance, thank you
A. Matt: Hi Wendy, great to hear from you. The Office of Australian War Graves should not have told you that he did not see active service, as that is totally untrue. He was on active service for two years overseas during WWI. And he served in the Boer War, albeit with a non-Australian unit. Here are two links for further research into his Boer War Service. He served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. His Boer War service is listed on this web-site - http://www.angloboerwar.com/component/content/article/5-south-african-unit-histories/350-kitcheners-fighting-scouts. - Albert James Byron 2236 Trooper Served in 1st KFS. Joined Durban 16 Apr 02 Discharged 7 Jul 02 disbandment Johannesburg
Source: Nominal roll in WO127 OR - Victorian Wars Forum. A really common story, and very frustrating. Of course the Australian War Memorial is the first port of call for WWI photos, but if no luck there, try this book - Give Me Back My Dear Old Cobbers - 58th & 59th Battalions AIF, Robin Corfield. There are a lot of other connections if you need them. As the for his grave in Rookwood, I would ring DVA Office of Australian War Graves with some more evidence and check availability for a grave again. If they still say no, then contact Rookwood and place one yourself. I hope that helps?

Q. Linda: I have just checked the Commonwealth War Graves website, and was wondering what the 'Civilian War Dead" covered. I was particularly looking for Louie Riggall, a woman from Maffra, Victoria, who died France at the end of WWI. She was a VAD in the British Red Cross, working in a military hospital at Rouen, when she died of fever. After much controversy, she was NOT included on the Shire Honor Roll, as she was not considered "enlisted". Her family had considerable resources, and donated a plaque that is now in the Maffra Library (click for photo on flickr). On my search, I could not find a listing for her. I was wondering if she came within the scope of "Civilan War Dead", if she was in a military or civilian cemetery, and if the War Graves Commission cared for her grave.
A. Matt: Hi Linda, Lousia Riggall is listed under the CWGC. Click for her direct link. The Red Cross, YMCA, VADs etc etc are usually all listed as Auxiliary or quasi-military units.

Q. Christine: Do you happen to know of any records relating to pilgrimages by Australians during the inter-war years? 1919-1939. George Risdon Grimwade, there is a letter written about his death, where would I find this, please?
A. Matt: Christine Alexander, the best place to find these records is the National Archives of Australia. Go to www.naa.gov.au and search for 'Pilgrimage' with the dates 1919 - 1939. I did a simple one just now and came up with some great ones. Not all are digitised, but it is a start! :-)
A. Matt: Christine, Not sure about the letter, but I have found this link: http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/grimwade-george-risdon-14824
A. Matt: Christine, http://www.smythe.id.au/letters/
A. Christine: thank you, I wish I could remember the site, it is a collection of letters written by fellow soldiers and officers, about how their loved ones died and where and if they were buried. I actually know a lot about George, his parents carried a 70lb piece of granite to Gallipoli when they visited his grave in 1922.

Comment: IHM: Welcome everyone, thanks for joining us tonight. Welcome also to Matt. Please ask your questions for him in a comment below. Don't forget to keep refreshing your browser to see the answers and questions from others as they appear.
A. Matt: Hi Everyone!! Thanks for having me!
A. Matt: Hi All, It is easier to answer questions regarding individuals if you can provide a name and/or service number. :-)

Q. Link: I'm looking for info on my great grandfather, I have correspondence from the armed forces saying he was part of 1st battalion field artillery but when I search his name on the war memorial website I get nothing! I can find battalion history but no record of him, any suggestions?
A. Matt: Link, Can you throw a name our way??
A. Matt: Link, have you tried NAA for service record ? www.naa.gov.au
A. Link: Hey Matt, His name was Earnest Walter Stanborough, His allotted army number: 205, rank of gunner and he enlisted on the 28th August 1914, He sailed to the mediteranean on the HMAT Argyleshire with the 1st Field artillery brigade! This is all we have!
A. IHM: Hi Link Miller, have you checked the Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll :: http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/first_world_war_embarkation/
A. Link: No, I haven't checked this page, I've looked on the service roll! Is that "Allotted Army Number" the same as a service number? I'll have to check the embark list tomorrow, unfortunately I have to go to work shortly :(
A. Link: Thanks for your help guys, gotta go to work now, the search continues!!!!
A. Tim: A message for Link Miller - Your GGrandfather is recorded as 205 Ernest STANBROUGH (note the spelling of the surname). And also depending on who transcribed the documents his middle name varies between 'Walter' and 'Walker'. He also served in WW2 and both his service files have been combined into one at the National Archives. Click here to see the record.
A. Matt: Thanks Tim! Great Wingman!
A. Wendy: Yes and a very good 'digger detective' :)
A. Tim: I only hope Link returns here to view the information so his searching doesn't continue fruitlessly.

 Q. Sheryl: Hi Matt, I am looking for a photo of Clarence Raymond Rudolph Gosper b.1889 5th June Australia. d. France (Bullecourt) 3rd May 1917 and haven't yet been successful. Any advice for me would be appreciated. Hi Matt, Sorry. Clarence Raymond Rudolph Gosper 6025 b.1889 5th June Australia. d. France (Bullecourt) 3rd May 1917
A. Matt: Hi Sheryl, It is difficult to locate images of individuals unless obvious like the AWM website. He is a Richmond NSW boy, so I would take that track - http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/memorial/richmond_war_memorial/rrwm080.html. Perhaps approach a local Richmond Genealogist or historical group!

Comment: IHM: There's lot's of useful tools on the Australian War Memorial site :: http://www.awm.gov.au/research/
Q. Carmel: Looking for William George Fox of SA. He died 11 Nov 1917. Egypt would love to find a photo. He was the son of William George Cuttle but took on his stepfather's name. I am not able to find William George in the archives but have newspaper reports of his death.
A. Matt: Carmel, try this link - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=4019564
A. Matt: Carmel, contact the Australian Light Horse Studies centre website - australian.light.horse.studies@gmail.com
A. Carmel: Thanks Matt, but why was my searches not finding him? I have found others without issues. Also I found records of one of my uncles, killed in WW1 which was the same as an inquest, with witnesses and details of his death. I believe it was a Red Cross record and found online. It usually takes me some time to track this record down, do you know if these are available for all who were killed?

Q. Monica: Do you have photos of men who served in WW1, e.g. enlistment photos?
A. IHM: Hi Monica Chappell, you can search the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive online at http://www.australianwargraves.org
A. Matt: Hi Monica, the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive holds photos of the war graves and memorial commemorations. Individual portrait images are being collected, but one of the best sources of 'catalogued' images after the AWM collection is here - http://www.gravesecrets.net/wwi-pictorial-honour-rolls.html
A. Monica: Thanks for the links but no photos for me there. :(
A. Matt: Monica, quite often to find a portrait photo of an individual we need to search at a town or suburb level, rather than a national or state level. Find a location that can link to the person and start there.

Comment - tip: Wendy: AIF Project is also a handy resource and Mapping Our Anzacs for photos in the Scrapbook, although they can be a little out with transription :) For eg, looked up a bloke from Picton NSW and MOA had Picton Cananada, when clearly his record stated NSW :) Google is great for Battalion pages and ancestors who have put war diaries and letters etc online. I've found some amazing stuff while researching :)
A. Matt: You are right Wendy!! We have to approach research with open eyes and don't always believe everything that you read or see in the first instance. Find some back up research or data to support.
A. IHM: Here's the link to the AIF Project for everyone here :: http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html
A. Matt: The best thing about the AIF Project is the Embarkation Roll links and the fact that we can now search for a place of birth or origin. For that ease of research I am happy to trawl through a few mistakes. Great site! I use it daily.
A. Wendy: Agree Matt :) Have you looked up where you live now?
A. Wendy: Totally agree with you Matt, I was knocked over by how many photos were at our Historical Society when I started researching Wedderburn's WW1 Diggers and if there isn't one in uniform you may find them in Cricket or Footy Team photos or the Firebrigade it was popular with our lads. Please also contact the RSLs associated with your digger before and after service, have come across incredible portrait dedications. Our local CFA has huge portrait pics of their boys who served and a local flour mill even built their own memorial. If they were a teacher in Victoria check out Victoria Educations WW1 Book or contact me and I can look them up .... I know where 2 copies are :) Newspapers also printed lots of photos of Diggers so check "TROVE" under name and Battalion. Will list any more avenues when I think of them :)
A. IHM: Great advice, Wendy Stewart - I think we have to mention your FB page if we're talking about your research :: http://www.facebook.com/WW1lostboys And another resource is ANZACs Online :: http://anzacsonline.net.au

A. Wendy: Thanks IHM We Will Remember Them is the page for our local reasearch project using the Wedderburn, Korong Vale and Woosang Memorials as a basis. WW1 LB began as a means to identifying the other 13 Tunnellers in the profile pic with my Great Grandfather Mannie Penneyston, he's front and centre. I may have id the young man at the back 2nd on left, he's missing half of his index finger and joined within days of Mannie. Anyway the page has grown beyond anything I imagined thanks to some wonderful people who are happy to share knowledge on all things military. I have had the great pleasure of sharing so many stories and have helped family 'discover' who the Digger is in their family :) On the project side I have been blessed with meeting several sons and daughters of 'Our Diggers'.

Q. Matt, What would be your top tips for researching your military ancestors?
A. Matt: First and foremost, have an idea of what it is that you are trying to achieve!!!! Do a Google search!!! :-) If it is an ancestor who died, check on the Australian War Memorial website – www.awm.gov.au, or the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive website – www.australianwargraves.org – to see if they died or survived the war. Or go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - www.cwgc.org. If your ancestor survived or died, then the AWM is your best start. Then do a search on the National Archives website - www.naa.gov.au for their service record. Then, in the service record, look for ‘place’ locations that you can identify in current Australia, or on the battlefield areas. These will assist with making sense of service. Look for the Red or Blue handwritten text in Service Files. This can provide the key for research links. Use other individuals that may have been in the same unit or at a location at the same time as your ancestor to assist with filling in missing information. Look to the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files at the AWM website - https://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/wounded_and_missing/. Treat them with caution as to accuracy, but if you can corroborate a number of eyewitness accounts then there is a fair chance that the story is accurate. It is all relative though.

Q. Matt, What do you have in the pipeline that we should be excited about?
A. Matt: The biggest thing at this stage is the photos of the individual war graves and memorial commemorations of Australia’s War Dead that are being prepared for upload to the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive website – www.australianwargraves.org. It is a slow process, but will be great when completed. I am undertaking research on the Australian Graves Detachment, Australian Grave Services and Imperial War Graves Commission between 1919 and 1926, which is turning up some great connections. And, for anyone interested, I will be leading a battlefield research tour to ANZAC Day at Villers-Bretonneux, France in April 2013. All are welcome. We will also be at Gallipoli for 10 days after that in mid-May. Contact me for details - australianwargraves@bigpond.com. Still in preparation stage but I can furnish details.

Q. IHM: Thanks for joining us Matt Smith. Well, we're out of time, we'll finish with one last question: What is your favourite or most moving story you’ve found in your research?
A. Matt: Thanks Inside History Magazine, I do have one favourite story that has stuck with me all these years of research and contact with people regarding military history.....A few years ago I was contacted by an elderly lady in Brisbane who was seeking information about her brother who was killed in WWII. She mentioned that he had been killed near the Philippines but she didn’t know any more than that. I was able to do a quick search and found out that he was buried in Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong. Sai Wan Cemetery was the nearest main Commonwealth War Graves receiving cemetery to the Phillipines at that time. He had been killed on a Merchant Navy vessel during the Battle for Leyte Gulf as an Australian Army anti-aircraft deck gunner. I mentioned to the lady that I had a photo of her brother’s grave and then I asked if she was ‘Letty’ or ‘Brenda’. She asked me how I knew her name. I explained that there were names listed on the grave within the epitaph. She was amazed to think that her mother had included the names of her and her sister on the grave in their shortened versions, when her whole life she was discouraged from being called anything except ‘Violetta’. So Letty was linked to her brother’s grave in perpetuity. I think that is priceless!!!
A. IHM: I have a feeling that you don't want to stop answering questions! Thanks again for joining us tonight! We'll get to any questions that need follow-up tomorrow and publish the answers and links from tonight’s session in a blog post this coming week. Thanks Matt.
A. Matt: Thank you Inside History Magazine and thank you everyone. If you have photos of war graves or memorial commemorations, get on touch at australianwargraves@bigpond.com. We can use them on the website!
A. Sheryl: Thank you Inside History and thank you Matt Smith.
Q. Kerryn: Both WW2 and WW2?
A. Matt: Fire away Kerryn!
A. IHM: What is your grandmother's brother's name Kerryn Taylor?
A. Kerryn: Morgan ADAMS. Regimental number 1903. He came home but died a couple of years later
A. IHM: Hi Kerryn Taylor, here are the details for Morgan ADAMS - Regimental number 1903 in the National Archives of Australia WW1 records. Click for record.

A. Kerryn: Thanks I have his service record he was 5th reinforcements 7 battalion but I can't find a company number. Perhaps there isn't one?
A. Wendy: Kerryn Taylor here's a link to the other guys that went over seas with Morgan. I had a quick look at his file and could not see a 'Company' just 7th Bn but I would imagine that some became his good mates :) http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showUnit?unitCode=INF7REIN5
A. Kerryn: Thanks Wendy
A. Matt: Well done Wendy, that was my next suggestion for Kerryn!! Thanks!
A. Kerryn: I just found info on my 1st cousin twice removed on the Red Cross search link you gave. I put his picture on this wall earlier. They described him as dark haired and dark complexion ... Bugler William John Pike Morgan
A. IHM: That's great news Kerryn Taylor, time for a little happy dance? :)

Killed in action in the Australian Armed Forces Private William John Pike Morgan was in the 14th Battalion No 893 and was killed in Gallipoli 8/8/1915 - he was 18 years and 3 months old. He lived at McGuinness Street, Euroa with his mother and father Thomas Fitzherbert II and Sarah (nee McNay) and attended Euroa State School before joining the Victoria Railways in Seymour, Victoria. William belonged to the 10th Unit Volunteer Cadet Corps Jnr and Snr. William's brother Private Benjamin Robert Morgan, killed in Gernamy as result of P.O.A in Crete. William is bured in 6 Lone Pine memorial Panel 73. Source of Information: AWM 145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army.
From Kerryn Taylor, October 11 on Facebook. Lest We Forget.

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Read the previous Expert Q&A transcripts:
[1]  Thursday, July 26 :: How to get the best from Trove Australia
[2]  Thursday, August 16 :: How to get the best from BDM Certificates
[3]  Thursday, August 23 :: Getting the most from NAA
[4]  Thursday, August 30 :: Interpreting photographs for family history
[5]  Thursday, September 6 :: How to get the best from Ancestry.com.au
[6]  Thursday, September 13 :: Using Trove for research
[7]  Thursday, September 20 :: Today's toolkit for the digital historian
[8]  Thursday, September 27 :: Preserving your artefacts with NAA
[9]  Thursday, October 4 :: Studying and doing research at UNE
[10] Thursday, October 11 :: How to research war graves and Anzac ancestors
[11] Thursday, October 25 :: What's new at Ancestry.com.au
[12] Thursday, November 1 :: How to research cemeteries in Sydney & NSW
[13] Thursday, Nov 8 :: Australian War Memorial - Lost Diggers
[14] Thursday, Nov 15 :: Getting even more from Trove
[15] Thursday, Nov 22 :: Getting the most from findmypast AU & NZ
[16] Thursday, Nov 29 :: Using NAA defence records
[19] Thursday, Dec 20 :: What's new at Ancestry.com.au
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Friday, September 21, 2012

Expert Q&A :: Today's toolkit for the digital historian

Digital history and online search tools allow "speed relating" in family history research. Tim Sherratt joined us on Thursday, 20th September to answer questions on today’s toolkit for the digital historian.

Don't forget our Expert Q&As happen every Thursday night on the Inside History Magazine facebook page.

When: 8:30-9:30pm EST | WA: 6:30-7:30pm WST | SA - NT: 8:00-9:00pm CST | Weekly on a Thursday night

Tim Sherratt is one of the developers leading the way in digital history & has been building online resources relating to archives, museums and history since 1993. His work includes Mapping Our Anzacs, Trove QueryPic, Archives Viewer - see links below.

Top tips from Tim Sherratt:
  • My basic rule is always don't be afraid to play. There are lots of cool tools around of use to the digital historian and the best way to get a handle on what they do and how they might be of use to you is to mess around with them. 
  • My second rule is look at what other people are doing. The digital humanities community is very generous with its time and ideas and there are lots of people blogging about their research and experiments. Have a look at DigitalHumanitiesNow to get an idea of what's going on: http://digitalhumanitiesnow.org/

Summary of links from the Trove Expert Q&A:
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Transcript of Expert Q&A - Today’s toolkit for the digital historian:

Our Expert Q&A with Tim Sherratt starts at 8:30pm EST. Tonight, Tim will be answering questions on today’s toolkit for the digital historian. Please ask your questions in a comment & he'll answer in a following comment.
A. Carmel: not sure exactly on the subject, I know it has something to do with digitizing
A. IHM: Hi Carmel, Tim is an expert on digital or online tools for doing history and family history like Mapping our Anzacs, NAA RecordSearch and other tools for searching and doing history online. Does that help?
A. Chris: I'd be lost without NAA, Mapping Our ANZACS and Trove...

Comment: IHM: Welcome everyone, thanks for joining us tonight. The rules are simple. Try to keep your questions concise and that will help Tim to answer as many as possible in the hour.
A. Tim: Howdy folks!
A. Carmel: oh and hi Tim and Cassie and Wendy

Q. Tim - what do u think the most important rule for newbies to follow when starting today in the digital world???
A. Tim: Fiona, my basic rule is always don't be afraid to play. There are lots of cool tools around of use to the digital historian and the best way to get a handle on what they do and how they might be of use to you is to mess around with them. My second rule is look at what other people are doing. The digital humanities community is very generous with its time and ideas and there are lots of people blogging about their research and experiments. Have a look at DigitalHumanitiesNow to get an idea of what's going on: http://digitalhumanitiesnow.org/
A. Fiona: I totally agree Tim! Thank you for sharing!

Q. Hi Tim & Cassie - I heard Tim speak at Mosman Library & have found the QueryPic utility extremely useful, especially for eg Local Studies, or finding when someone was in the news. You might want to say something about that utility?
A. Carmel: Thankyou Kerry I do not know about this source at all
A. Tim: Kerry, glad you asked :-) because I have a special QueryPic announcement!
A. Carnamah Historical Society & Museum: Sounds exciting!
A. Tim: QueryPic is a little tool I made that visualises results from newspaper searches in Trove and Papers Past. Instead of a list of results, you get a graph, plotting the number of results over time so you can start to see patterns and plot trends. For example, have you ever wondered whether the guy in the red suit at Christmas was called in the 19th century... http://dhistory.org/querypic/2t/


A. Tim: That last link is to the brand new (and still in testing) version of QueryPic. It has a number of new features including the ability to permanently save your QueryPics - great for sharing and citing. You can also do more complex queries. Check it out and let me know what you think! http://dhistory.org/querypic/
A. Chez: Kerry Farmer and Tim OMG just tested out that app....a tad excited at what I can see on my test subject! Just saying!
A. IHM: QueryPic is brilliant isn't it Chez Leggatt & now you can save your searches for later!
A. Carnamah Historical Society & Museum: More of a comment than a question but we'd like to express how useful we find QueryPic. It is amazing for historical insights. We're keen to check out the new features.
Q(b). Tim with this site I see there are generic words there, how would you go with a surname and place. I just tried with a surname and the place they lived and came up with a great line.
A. Tim: Carmel, do you mean QueryPic? Basically, with the new version, you can use it to visualise just about any search in Trove. So if you want to limit it to the newspapers of a particular region, you just use the advanced search option in Trove to build the search you want. Then you can just copy the url and paste it into the query url box in QueryPic.
A. Carmel: that may limit your options too, I have found some events were reported all over Australia, not so much mine. It did work Tim. This would be a great tool when looking for a subject. especially for those who are studying
Q (c). I'm just looking at the new QueryPic. How did you overlay the 2 searches (Father Christmas / Santa Claus)? Also are you able to save the constructed graph, so you don't have to spend time recreating it? (as opposed to just saving the search?)
A. Tim: Kerry, you can combine as many graphs as you want -- just do another search (or paste in a query url) and it'll be added to the last one. If you decide you don't want it, there's a 'Clear last' button to get rid of it again. Yep, saving is one of the main features of the new QueryPic. Once you've created your QP a big blue 'Save' button will appear. Press it and you'll get a simple form to fill out -- the only required fields are a title and your email address. Hit save and you'll be redirected to a new version complete with a persistent url for sharing!
A. Kerry: THANK YOU! I've been using QueryPic ever since I heard about it, but saving & overlaying will make it so much more useful
Q(d). how do you save on querypic...i cant see it"?
A. Tim: Chez, are you looking at the new version? The 'Save' button appears once you've created a graph.
A. Chez: Thanks Tim I had used the one on here earlier...so now redoing query...!
A. Chez: Tim a comment between the 2 versions of your app....in the older version, fewer more accurate documents were found and I liked you could click and get the list of the articles but with the newer version it takes you to trove...not as accurate....with the hits. On the old version you could use '+' between two words, it doesnt accept that now.
A. Tim: Chez, if you click on the graph you still get the first 20 articles just the same as the old version. I've changed the default search to match Trove's default which is 'fuzzy' (ie returns more results). But you now have the option to use Trove's own advanced search interface to make the search as exact as you want. You should also be able to use the 'fulltext' modifier in the QueryPic keywords box -- though I haven't fully tested that yet.
A. Chez: OK I played a bit...putting " " instead of + has the same effect and limits the results to the exact phrase
A. IHM: Looks like we've all got some homework, testing the new QueryPic :)

Q. Hi Tim, Cassie and all, 
Tim, what do you consider the best way to organise your various notes etc. re each family tree? Do you use programs like Evernote, or add all to family tree software?
A. Tim: Chris, I use a variety of things, but mostly I store my links and references in Zotero. It's a free, open-source tool that now works on any platform. It does more than just store bookmarks, it has special translators that capture data from a variety of catalogues and databases, and if translators don't exist for your favourite database you can even write one yourself. I've written translators for the Trove newspaper database and for NAA's RecordSearch, so with a single click you can capture a newspaper article and all its metadata directly into your research database. You can also create public or provate groups to easily share your research: http://zotero.org
A. Chris: Thank you, Tim... you've given me a few things to consider and play with...I didn't want to do anything else anyway, and what a perfect excuse. Thank you for your time and knowledge.

Q. Hi Tim and Cassie. Just curious about e-books for writing family histories. Do you think they will be phased out and replaced as technology improves? What advice would you suggest in that regard.,
A. IHM: Hi Margaret Wild-Storey, interesting question. I'd definitely consider ebooks as a technology that is here for a while and worth investing time in - the makers of tablets such as Apple, Kindle and Samsung are definitely investing significant time & money into them, so they're here to stay we think.
A. Carmel: the only problem there is they have different formats. as long as they are produced for all.

Q. When i search NAA for Service Records via Name Search if I then try to narrow it down with 'Refine result' and I get it wrong , It does not take me back to my search results . Am I doing this wrong, 'cause it's a bit annoying having to search again :) Researching 300 locals at present so a lot of time on NAA and Mapping Our Anzacs . On track now :)
A. Kate: On Wendy's RecordSearch question – I've found that RecordSearch has quirks that you come across when searching in different and creative ways. I've had similar problems to yours. I think it's just one of those things you have to put up with.
A. Tim: Wendy, yes I've heard of some problems with the 'Refine result' option, but I don't have a good answer (I've got Kate Bagnall having a look now!), but if you're a user of RecordSearch there are a couple of little tools I created that might be of use. As I just mentioned, Zotero has a translator for RecordSearch which makes it very easy to capture information about files (including persistent links!). If the files are digitised then you can use my Archives Viewer http://dhistory.org/archives/naa/ All you do is give it a file barcode and it grabs all the page images and presents them on a nice wall. It has a number of useful functions built in -- you can print a whole file or a range of pages (along with the proper references!). The Archives Viewer also creates persistent links for individual pages, so if you find something interesting you can share it!
A. IHM: We have the National Archives of Australia team joining us again next week Wendy Stewart, so I'll take your question to them but I have to say, Tim and Kate are definitely power users, so a solution probably doesn't exist right now :)

Q. Have just stumbled on this qanda through Tim's entry on Twitter. A tough question for this format but one which I find myself thinking every time I see news of Tim's beaut tools. In trying, as I am, to develop metadata structures for a raft of digitised archival materials and to deliver them online, where can I find guidance on creating/adopting a delivery sustem which is suitable for/amenable to the sorts of tools and digital history processes Tim is creating/promoting?
A. Tim: John, perhaps you could ask a question at the DigitalHumanities Questions and Answers site: http://digitalhumanities.org/answers/ As I said before DH folks tend to be generous with their advice. There's also a whole lot of new tools appearing.

Comment: IHM: Here's a site that Tim showed us earlier that you'll like - Tools for digital historians :: http://dirt.projectbamboo.org

Q. Hi Tim, seems like there's lots of new tools coming online. What are you most excited about in digital history today?
A. Tim: Is it too daggy to say 'the people'? It really seems that we have a very positive and supportive community forming. For example have a look at The Programming Historian. http://programminghistorian.org/ Only today I noticed a new lesson had been posted -- a great introduction to a technology known as Topic Modelling (read the lesson!). It's a great example of the way people are creating tools, playing with them and sharing their results. In terms of the technology what really interests me at the moment are trying to find ways to weave things like QueryPic back into our narratives -- to bring big data and small stories together in new and exciting forms. I think there are some great opportunities to start to tell stories inline that also take advantage of thinks like Linked Open data to embed them within rich contexts.
A. IHM: Too daggy? No, it's the people and their stories that made us start our magazine as well. Thanks Tim for joining us tonight. Looks like we’ll all be checking your blog often to keep up with the terrific tools you're building :: http://discontents.com.au/

Comment: IHM: Thanks again to Tim and everyone for joining tonight's session, we’ll publish the questions, answers and links from tonight’s session in a blog post this coming week.
A. Carmel: Thankyou for some great tips and sites to explore! do you know where I can buy time? LOL
A. Tim: Carmel, nope but I'm certainly looking to find some more myself!
A. IHM: Where can we buy time? I think we'll have to have Tim back again!
A. Carmel: It is always good to get updates on material, thank you Tim look forward to exploring more.
A. Tim: On that last point you might like to have a look at a talk I gave last year: http://discontents.com.au/shoebox/every-story-has-a-beginning
A. Kerry: Tim - after you recommended it I've been checking out Storify.com
A. Wendy: Wow , I'm go be checking out all these new links ( after the radio talk on Marriage Certificates :)) Thanks for your time Tim and ISH for hosting these great sessions each week .
A. Tim: Wow, that was surprisingly intense! Thanks folks!

Next Week: We’ll be here again next Thursday, September 27 at 8:30pm, with our next expert Q&A. Next week we have Tania Riviere & Cheryl Jackson, conservators from the National Archives of Australia answering questions on how to preserve your family artefacts.

 =====================================================


Read the previous Expert Q&A transcripts:
[1]  Thursday, July 26 :: How to get the best from Trove Australia
[2]  Thursday, August 16 :: How to get the best from BDM Certificates
[3]  Thursday, August 23 :: Getting the most from NAA
[4]  Thursday, August 30 :: Interpreting photographs for family history
[5]  Thursday, September 6 :: How to get the best from Ancestry.com.au
[6]  Thursday, September 13 :: Using Trove for research
[7]  Thursday, September 20 :: Today's toolkit for the digital historian
[8]  Thursday, September 27 :: Preserving your artefacts with NAA
[9]  Thursday, October 4 :: Studying and doing research at UNE

[10] Thursday, October 11 :: How to research war graves and Anzac ancestors
[11] Thursday, October 25 :: What's new at Ancestry.com.au
[12] Thursday, November 1 :: How to research cemeteries in Sydney & NSW
[13] Thursday, Nov 8 :: Australian War Memorial - Lost Diggers
[14] Thursday, Nov 15 :: Getting even more from Trove
[15] Thursday, Nov 22 :: Getting the most from findmypast AU & NZ
[16] Thursday, Nov 29 :: Using NAA defence records
[19] Thursday, Dec 20 :: What's new at Ancestry.com.au

From Issue 12: Sep-Oct edition. Click here to purchase

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Issue 12; Sep-Oct 2012 is now available!

Something old, something new: the long-awaited wedding edition of Inside History, Issue 12, has arrived fresh off the press! Our Issue 12: Sep-Oct edition includes:
  • We spotlight FamilySearch marriage records, and how to find “the one” you’re after
  • Learn what our convict ancestors got up to, in the name of love
  • Who is the beautiful bride on our cover, you ask? Discover why her veil is a treasured heirloom
  • Jill Dupleix shares her favourite family recipes and the stories behind them
  • Digital history guide: test the free online tools that could transform your research
  • The Trove team answer your family history research questions
  • Read about the brave Anzacs who served in Papua New Guinea during World War II
  • Plus you could win an Ancestry.com.au membership!

And much more – in fact, 76 pages of terrific features, practical information on genealogy, chances to network with other family historians, and book and app reviews. On sale now online - click here to buy!

Issue 12 is available in newsagents nationally - click here to see where. You can also request us at your local newsagent, and we'll make sure that our next Issue 13; Nov-Dec 2012 is sent there for you!

===================================================

What milestone marking our adult ancestors’ lives could have been more important than marriage? Inside History provides a guide to tracing elusive marriage certificates among the billions of records on FamilySearch, plus tips to help you pursue the commonly missed clues on wedding records.

Delving into ancestral love lives, we explore the regulations imposed upon marriage and cohabitation by the colonial authorities – and how our crafty convict ancestors got around them.

We track down three families across Australia and New Zealand whose treasured heirlooms played an important role in their wedding days, including the gorgeous veil worn by 16 brides, and a vase passed down for 132 years.

And if that’s not heart-warming enough, former Sydney Morning Herald food editor Jill Dupleix shares her favourite family recipes and the stories behind them. You’ll find your mind flickering back to your own treasured family dishes – and probably your mouth watering, too!

Non-romantics will appreciate our digital history features and several high-profile expert Q&As. Digital historian Tim Sherratt guides us through the free online digital tools that could transform family history research. Our exclusive Trove special featuring the website’s own support staff answers all your niggling questions, while an innovative photo-dating method utilising shadows will shed light on your own family pictures.

The brave Anzacs who served in Papua New Guinea during WWII are showcased in a moving excerpt from Phillip Bradley’s latest book, Hell’s Battlefield. Plus, an interview with the author himself reveals his valuable research sources, and the stories that affected him most.

Packed as always with in-depth family history research advice, the latest news and events, and features on Australia’s social history and heritage, Inside History is a bi-monthly magazine for people who are passionate about the past. It’s available from newsagents nationally, on iPad via Apple Newsstand, and for Android and desktop computers through Zinio. Or subscribe and have it delivered straight to your door.

===================================================

Authors to look out for in Issue 12:

Historian :: Phillip Bradley
FamilySearch research consultant :: Marci A. Despain @FamilySearch
Author :: Jill Dupleix @Jilldupleix
Author :: Hazel Edwards @muirmoir
Journalist :: Miranda Farrell
Journalist :: Paula Grunseit @PaulaGrunseit
Australian genealogist :: Barbara Hall @IrishWattle
Australian genealogist :: Shauna Hicks @HicksShauna
National Library of Australia’s :: Virginia James @TroveAustralia
University of New England archivist :: Bill Oates @UniNewEngland
Intern Journalist :: Pristine Ong
National Library of Australia’s :: Mark Raadgever @TroveAustralia
Digital historian :: Tim Sherratt @wragge
Intern Journalist :: Sarah Trevor
Journalist :: Shirley Way
New Zealand genealogist :: Mark Webster @macnzMark

For more information please contact: 
Cassie Mercer, Inside History magazine
phone: 02 9590 9600 | email: cass@insidehistory.com.au


Have a sneak peek inside our new magazine; Issue 12; Sep-Oct 2012.


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Friday, July 27, 2012

Expert Facebook Q&As :: Trove Australia

Well, that was a hour of history power! Thanks again to Virginia and Mark from Trove Australia! Here is the blog of our second Expert Facebook Q&A including links. We promise to have Trove back for another Q&A soon! Remember, if you have other burning questions you’d like to ask you can use Trove’s contact form here.

Don't forget our Expert Q&As happen every Thursday night on the Inside History Magazine facebook page.

When: 8:30-9:30pm EST | WA: 6:30-7:30pm WST | SA - NT: 8:00-9:00pm CST | Weekly on a Thursday night

Summary of links from the Trove Expert Q&A:
=====================================================

Transcript of Expert Q&A - How to get the best from Trove:

Welcome everyone, thanks for joining us tonight. The rules are simple. Try to keep your questions concise and focused on Trove, that will help Virginia and Mark to answer as many as possible in the hour that we have.

Q. Hi Virginia, I've spoken to quite a few history teachers in NSW who aren't aware of TROVE. They love it when they try it and all swear they're going to share with their senior students. Are there any plans to raise awareness of Trove to teachers?
A. Virginia: ‎@James Definitely! We're actually going to be presenting at the History Teachers conference! We feel the education sector is one area we need to try and engage with more!
A. Virginia: @James, if you have ideas that we could do to engage with the school sector more, please do contact us! We'd love to know how Trove could help schools and teachers more.
A. James: Virginia, maybe do a tag team presentation with National Archives - They have the Vroom site which has themed archive records.... I reckon they're really good for younger students but think Trove could scaffold for senior students
A. Virginia: ‎@James, That's a good idea! We do think Trove is more for senior rather than primary, but need to find good ways of appealing to teachers.
A. James: Hmmm. I think it's just awareness of how powerful a tool it is. If you set up a curriculum linked program question that structure in the need to quote original sources found on Trove in the reponse, teachers would probably see a range of interpretations based on sources. Great way to open a topic on multiple interpretations!
A. Virginia: James I'm going to note that one down James. :)
A. James: It's funny, I just realised that I never log in to Trove even though I use it a lot.
A. Virginia: Tsk, James, you're missing so much. ;) You could correct text without having to enter the captcha, create lists, merge/split records, make public or private comments.
A. James: I do have one because I have corrected quite a few early Sydney Gazette articles in the past....Need to get back in there!
A. Virginia: Go for it James. ;) Dare you to get into the top 5 text correctors. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/hallOfFame

Q. Hi Virginia & Mark. As an industrial-strength Trove user I love the site, but is there any hope of changes to the copyright issues so we can access newspapers post-1954?
A. Virginia: ‎@Lyn... that would be up to the copyright council or the copyright owners. We've received approval from the Canberra Times to go post 1954 but unless we get permission we can't go beyond 1954. :(
A. Mark: Hi Lyn, There is work in progress to get some post-1954 newspaper titles up in Trove. We aren't directly involved in the selection of the newspaper titles for digitisation, however I do know that there are about 7,700 newspaper titles published prior to 1954, so as these are more straightforward to get in they have been the focus (as are the 1914-1918 papers for the state libraries)

Q. I am interested in future plans and the papers that shall be scanned in future. Is there a list somewhere?
A. Mark: Hi Sharon - future titles list at http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/selected_newspapers/Future_Titles.html - this list is updated irregularly, but definitely in June/July each year
A. Mark: selections are made on an annual basis - although sometimes additional titles are added in during the year as specific funding is provided

Q. The Queensland country newspapers have been a wonderful bonus, especially in our area the Nambour Chronicle. Are there any more Queensland provincial city papers to come?
A. Mark: Hi Helen Page - have a look at the list of future titles
A. Helen: just checked the link to coming titles too - great to see the Country Life and Sunday Mail in Queensland list!

Q. Do you know of any plans to digitise the Renmark South Australia Murray Pioneer? It's a treasure of history pertaining to a huge area along the Murray from over a hundred years ago. It claimed a circulation of over 500 miles of river front in the 1920s.
A. Mark: Hi Helen - have a look at the list of future titles, I think there are a couple of more regional titles in there - specifically from renmark
A. Helen: or the MIldura Sunraysia Daily?
A. Mark: Renmark Pioneer is selected for the next year's digitisation, unfortunately we can't provide a date that it will be available. Mildura Sunraysia daily isn't currently selected

Q. HI, I am investigating pilgrimages to Gallipoli 1919-1939, and find that it is hard to pin down actual stories, any hints, please
A. Virginia: ‎@Christine, Hmmm... have you found anything at all so far?
A. Virginia: ‎@Christine, Interesting... I just did a quick search for Gallipoli pilgrimage in Trove and there are over 1500 articles in newspapers http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=gallipoli+pilgrimage did you find those?
A. Lyn: Thanks Mark, we live in hope! @Christine, if you just search Gallipoli Visit in Trove digitised newspapers you will find a few references starting from 1919. Once you have names of people you may be able find any diaries, books etc that are in public institutions.
A. Virginia: ‎Thanks Lyn! :) It's great that we have power users that can help other users! We hope to promote the Forum more so these kinds of questions can be shared and answered by other users. :)
A. IHM: Hi Christine Alexander, try putting keyword Gallipoli into Tim Sherratt's querypic tool that graph's Trove results :: http://wraggelabs.com/shed/querypic/
A. Christine: @Virginia, yes I have but it is so time consuming when you get 2 or 3 thousand hits, but what a fantastic resource, love it
A. Christine: graph thing brilliant, many, many thanks
A. Rhonda: That querypic link is AWESOME! Thanks!

Q. When I tag items, is there a way I can then just visit all the pages I have tagged?
A. Mark: You can visit just the articles you have added a specific tag to by selecting your username in the top right hand corner of a screen, the select the 'tags' tab, and click on the tag that you want to see the articles you've added that tag to.

Q. I tagged about 20 articles with the same name and only one remains. Have they been deleted?
A. Mark: @Lyn - tags shouldn't have 'vanished', could you please put an enquiry with your username & the tag that has gone missing so we can investigate it properly? http://trove.nla.gov.au/contact
27/07/12 update: This issue has been resolved, after Lyn submitted details of the problem via the Trove contact form.

Q. I'm in the process of putting together funding to get a title on there. But is there any way you would open some form of donation site where people can donate towards specific titles?
A. Virginia: ‎@Linda For digitisation of a newspaper title? That's fantastic that you're getting funding together! We've got information on how to do just that here: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp/get_involved/
A. Linda: Hi Virginia, yes, wonderful way to go. We have almost got there, have talked with NLA re exact amount etc. But we have several small runs for towns where I am sure if a site was open, enough people would donate to get those titles up there. Maybe if a starter was lodged to get a title up on a donation site, then people we don't even know about would finish it off.
A. Virginia: ‎@Linda, Oh that's so good you're on the way! I'll mention it to ANDP but you may want to talk more with Wan Wong about things like http://www.pozible.com/ for newspaper digitisation donations. Wan's email is wwong@nla.gov.au
A. Linda: or maybe if Trove put the first ten years of a paper up, and it went on in ten year increments as people donated enough. We will raise the $7,300 to get the 1855-1868 total run of this paper up (don't rely on that figure people, as it is a page count thing), but now we have our teeth into it, we want more!
A. Virginia: ‎@Linda, LOL, that's great! Sorry I can't be more help. Unless you think setting up a pozible yourself could help at all...
A. Virginia: ‎Wow Linda, that's amazing! What a donation! Kudos to you!
A. Linda: @Inside History - would be good if you did a story on someone like us, so people knew you can get papers onto Trove like that. One promise of $2,000 came in as soon as I mentioned the project - person did not realise this was an option.
A. IHM: Hi Linda Barraclough, a great idea! Let's talk on cass@insidehistory.com.au

Q. I am researching locks and weirs on the Murray River. It is a bother that the word lock returns so many hits, but I do advanced search and put all the words together: eg Lock 5 River Murray. Is there a 'smarter' way to search when I have to use combinations and permutations, Like "Number 5 lock, river murray" or 'Murray river lock 5' or Lock number 5 River Murray." It scrambles my brain.
A. Mark: @Helen There is indeed a smarter way to search for the various permutations, Trove has a 'near' search functionality that can be used to catch these - so for 'Murray river lock 5', try putting "murray river lock 5"~5 in the search box - this will find all articles that contain these terms within 5 words of each other - http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=%22Murray+river+lock+5%22%7E5

Q. Is there a way to use 'wildcards' to search? In my family history, with name spelling variations, it would be great to put a * in place of a letter variation?
A. Mark: Helen - unfortunately we don't have this functionality in Trove - if it is the 'last' characters that are changed around you can cut the word off at the last common character and add a * to truncate the word, but we don't have the ability do replace a single character with a wildcard.

Q. Helen: I run the Quested one name study and often get re- quested in search results so can I do a negative search within 5 words?
A. Mark: This should be possible - so I can investigate it properly, can you please put in an enquiry through the contact us form with a sample search / scenario?

Q. IHM: Thanks to everyone for attending, that was a brilliant Q&A. Thanks especially to Virginia and Mark! To finish, what would be your Trove golden rules - to Virginia and Mark?
A. Virginia: Just search... play... try advanced search... look at the help (which we're re-working!!!) and if all else fails, contact us.
A. Mark:
  1. Start simple - Although advanced searches are useful, they also make it easy to over-think the query and miss important results
  2. When searching newspapers, don't forget that newspaper titles change over time, so you may need to look at the title details pages to see which other newspapers you need to look at to capture all of that newspaper
  3. Trove is more than just newspapers - it can also help you find a library that holds that elusive book (or sheet music, or photograph)
  4. http://trove.nla.gov.au/general/newspapers_help#Tips has some helpful tips on how to enhance your newspapers search.
  5. If searching for a name where you only have a surname, try using the near search with a title - e.g. "Mr Black" ~2 - you may be surprised at the results
* Read more about Trove in other posts on this blog:
[1] Graphing Trove - Papers Past newspapers


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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Graphing Trove - Papers Past newspapers

Firstly, we have to say thank you to Tim Sherratt for building QueryPic. What is Querypic you ask? It builds a graph to display how your research keyword appeared in Australian and New Zealand papers over time.

QueryPic accesses data from either Trove [Australia] or Papers Past [NZ].

You can also explore the results of your query in more detail by clicking on any point of the graph and you'll you being given a list of the first 20 matching articles. We've found it a very useful way of summarising our research in old newspapers. For example, in a conversation with NZ History, we saw how powerful the system can be in describing the buzz in society around a certain subject or event. Gallipoli was chosen and produced the graph below.


You can see the spike in discussion of Gallipoli during WW1 but what was even more interesting were the two smaller spikes in the 1800s, probably showing the 1953-56 Crimean War and 1877-78 Russio-Turkish war, and the rate at which the mentions of Gallipoli dropped away after the war.

We can't recommend enough that you use Trove and Papers Past as two of your primary family history research tools. They are our first port of call for Australian and New Zealand research respectively. Find out more at:

Papers Past has 74 publications from 1839 to 1945 in it's online collection and Trove Australia is continuously adding new publications to its collection - click here for more info.

Get updates on Tim Sherratt's work on twitter at @wragge and on his blog - http://discontents.com.au - I'm sure there's more in the pipeline that makes history even more fun!

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