A few questions and answers

Q: Why do I need to log in to access the catalogues and databases?
A: You don't! When you use one of the links on our main site to access our databases and catalogues, you'll be automatically "logged in" as "guest". This gives you total access to search and browse the site.

Q: So why does the front page ask for a "Login name" and "Password"?
A: You'll get these if and when you buy something from our shop, book an activity, or order a copy of something you find in the databases or catalogues. Once you decide to complete your transaction and go to the "checkout" you'll be asked to provide relevant detail and nominate a login name and password.

Q: Do I need to use them every time I visit after that?
A: Only if you want to. The automatic login as "guest" will be sufficient for searching and browsing. But if you buy something again, your login and password will save you entering all your personal information again. The login can be provided at the checkout, or when you first arrive at the catalogues - it doesn't matter!

Q: What other advantages does logging in provide?
A: You can check your past orders - not just the details but whether it's been mailed to you or not.

Q: Things I put in my "shopping cart" don't seem to stay there.
A: Check out the yellow "Help" button - it sounds like you're not allowing "cookies". Some sites use cookies to track your browsing habits and invade your privacy. We don't, but we do use cookies to track what's in your cart, until you actually check out. After that, we have no further interest in the cookie, and you're welcome to delete it or disable cookies again. But you'll need them enabled at least as long as you're shopping with us!

Q: What's the best search method - "All terms", "Any term" or "Exact phrase"?
A: Sounds like you need to click the yellow "Search tips" button on every search page! It provides some good examples of the practical uses of each search method.

Q: If I'm looking for a person called "Bill Jones" do I need to put the surname first?
A: Order is only important in "exact phrase" searches. There, "Bill Jones" will find entries that read exactly like that, but will fail to find "Jones, Bill", "Jones Bill" or "Bill K Jones". You're often better using an "all terms" search, which will find all four versions. Just make sure you check the boxes for the appropriate fields to search!

Q: Some of your table headings are hard to read.
A: We test our site using current versions of Netscape, Internet Explorer and Opera. If there's some aspect of the site that doesn't seem to be working properly, chances are that you're using an older browser. However, we'd like to check it out, so please email the webmaster, letting him know the browser you're using, and the version number, which you can generally find on the browser menu, under the heading "Help|About".

If you've got any other questions about the site, please email the webmaster!

Electronic index

Another 750 records have been added to the on-line index to our Library collection. Search or browse the catalogue for new items in your area of interest, or check them in the long list printed as part of our December journal, and listed on our web site at www.sag.org.au/new/accessions.htm - our web site's general search facilities make light work of finding names and places of interest that are sometimes hard to spot on the printed page!

Don't forget that much of our older material is not yet electronically catalogued - work is proceeding to complete the conversion of the library index this year, but in the meantime both the card index and electronic index should be searched!

Our education programme for the first half of 2002 is proving popular, with several sessions already booked out. Click here for the full range of courses and seminars still on offer. But a number of others, including some below, are filling fast, so be quick!

A Day of War - Researching and remembering WWI - Saturday 2 March, 9:30am-4:00pm
Where are the records, what can you find and what projects are underway. Speakers include Dr Richard Reid of the Dept of Veterans Affairs, reps from the National & State Archives and individuals working on honour board and memorial projects.
To get a copy of the detailed programme, click here - requires .
$30 for SAG members, $40 for non-members.

Explore Sydney's original military district - Sunday 3 March, 10am-4pm
Visit Fort Phillip, Glover Cottages and Dawes' Point and explore The Rocks on foot with Ralph Hawkins. BYO lunch and wear comfortable shoes. Charge includes admission charges where applicable.
$30 for SAG members, $40 for non-members.

Roads and Bridges . . . and much more - Saturday 23 March, 1:00pm-3:30pm
Learn what local government records can hold for your family history. Presented by Judy Washington (Lane Cove Council) and Jenny Sloggett (Ku-ring-gai Council).
$15 for SAG members, $20 for non-members.

Conserving your family history - Saturday 13 April, 10:30am-1:00pm
Conservation Access from the State Library will demonstrate basic conservation techniques which you can use for your own family documents, photographs and mementoes.
$33 for SAG members, $49.50 for non-members, including GST.

Family Tree Maker - using our biggest-selling family history program. Saturday 20 April
By popular demand, two half-day sessions hosted by John Donaldson of the Victorian GUM group. The morning session (10:00am - 12:30pm) is designed for beginners and the afternoon session (1:30pm - 4:00pm) for more advanced users.

Not sure which is for you? The beginner session will be basic, so if you're still finding your way with it, come to that one - and learn how FTM can do a lot more for you!

If you've been using FTM for a while, are comfortable with most of its features but would like to learn more about manipulating your data to its full extent - then come to the advanced user session.

You need to decide for yourself which is more appropriate for you - we're taking only one booking per person so beginners aren't intimidated by having to mix with more advanced users!
$25 for SAG members, $35 for non-members, whichever session is chosen.

Writing a non-boring family history - Saturday 15 June, 10am-4pm
Well known Victorian lecturer Hazel Edwards presents a seminar especially for SAG members. Put those good intentions to the test and learn how to start writing up all that research for your descendants. Ask for programme. BYO lunch. Filling fast! Book soon!
$66 for SAG members, $82.50 for non-members.

Bookings are ESSENTIAL for all these activities! Click here to book and pay! Or telephone us at (02) 9247 3953. Or visit www.sag.org.au/new/pgmdetail.htm for details of all our courses and other activities.

Check out these spots on the web!

1901 Census of England and Wales
As at 25 February the census was still not available on-line, and indeed was no longer available even at Family Record centres. Those lucky few who had managed to get on and activate their vouchers to buy 48 hours access to the site - but were unable to complete their sessions - have now had their access extended to nine months! This seems to hint at a long time before the site becomes generally available again.

For up-to-date news, visit the PRO site, where you can also take an "interactive tour" to see the planned(?) facilities!

Yorkshire Quaker Heritage Project
This database maintained at Hull University provides family historians with Quaker ancestors the opportunity to trace references to specific individuals and families within Monthly Meeting minute books, as well as within records of sufferings (cases of persecution) and membership records.

It does NOT cover the whole of Yorkshire. Monthly Meetings covered to date are mainly in the eastern part of the region and include: Kelk, later Bridlington; Elloughton, later Cave; Owstwick; Owstwick and Cave, later Hull; Malton; Scarborough; Pickering; Pickering and Hull. It is hoped to add data for the following Thirsk and York Monthly Meetings in the medium term, as well as Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting.

The database does NOT provide details of the subject matter of the minutes, for which it is necessary to consult the original records. The site provides links to the contact details of the various repositories involved.

A similar database covering the Monthly Meetings of Brighouse; Knaresborough; Leeds; and Settle is maintained by Leeds University Library.

Scots Origins
The Scots Origins site has been relaunched, providing access to the 1901 census of Scotland - yes, this one works!

The site also now provides a search facility for placenames, based on places enumerated in the 1881 census. So if you know, for example, a village, street, inn or farm name, you can find the Scottish enumeration districts where such a name existed!

The site also now facilitates searching for siblings.

Historic photographs
Visit www.historicphotographs.com.au to check out their database of nearly 4000 photographs from the 1800s and early to mid 1900s. Browse dozens of topics including places, transport, trains & railways, famous people & places, sports and cultural & historical events.

British Archives
The two sites below provide access to the holdings of a wide range of repositories, and an insight to whether they hold material that may be relevant to your British ancestors. Both sites have good search facilities. The documents themselves are generally for consultation only at the repository concerned.

"Access to Archives", focussed on English archives, is hosted by the UK PRO, but doesn't itself include any PRO material. It can be found at www.a2a.org.uk/. The archives included date from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries and are worth a look by any family historian with English connections.

The second site belongs to the UK National Register of Archives, maintained by the Historical Manuscripts Commission. The site provides references to papers of about 150,000 corporate bodies, persons and families relating to British history, with a further 100,000 connected records.

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
The website of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography provides access to biographies of over 3,000 New Zealanders who 'made their mark' on New Zealand. if you're using a recent version of Netscape or Internet Explorer, there are good search facilities, links between biographies, over 2,000 images, and selections from the New Zealand Historical Atlas to provide context. Otherwise the facilities are more basic, but still worth a look if you have connections in New Zealand!

If you've got a great tip - a site that you get real value from and think would be worth sharing - let us know!

Don't forget our shop!
We have a great collection of family history book titles available on-line, as well as local histories, CD-ROMs, charts and genealogical software - all at competitive prices! Amongst our recent arrivals are:

Macquarie Country - just $19.75 plus p&p. This is the standard history of the Windsor and Richmond areas. Chapters include material on aborigines, ships and shipping, local bushrangers, prominent families and well-known buildings. Companion volume to Hawkesbury Journey. 288 pages, A5. Plates, maps and index. [more detail]

Hawkesbury Journey: Up the Windsor Road from Baulkham Hills by D G Bowd - just $19.75 plus p&p. This book brings to life the challenges and traumas experienced by the lesser known pioneers of the region. Details how they lived and worked along the Windsor Road. Companion volume to Macquarie Country. 288 pages, A5. Plates, maps and index. Paperback. [more detail]

Federation Forefathers of Ku-Ring-Gai 1901-1903 by Jo Harris - just $28.00 plus p&p. Contains a wealth of information about individuals and families residing in Ku-ring-gai at Federation. The 1901 Census, 1903 Electoral Roll and 1903 Sands Directory are all indexed and linked, with cross-references and information about suburb and street locations, house names and occupations. A4. Paperback. [more detail]

Thomas Dunn: Convict and Chief Constable and his Descendants by Perry McIntyre & Adele Cathro - just $32.95 plus p&p. Thomas Dunn was transported on the Hillsborough in 1799 and established a large branch of his family in NSW. [more detail]

British Family History on CD by Stuart A Raymond - just $22.00 plus p&p. Lists available CDs, prices, system requirements. Arranged by publisher, but with extensive listings of subjects and placenames, as well as indexes of authors and surnames. 128 pages. Paperback. [more detail]

All the above items available on-line, or by mailing, calling or faxing us with your name and credit card details - contact details at top.

Or visit us at Rumsey Hall and see our whole range.

Charges for postage and packing vary with destination and weight - minimum $5.50. For detail, see here.