Genealogy Blog 

The London History Festival is a welcome new addition to the capital's cultural life and one that should help satisfy the already considerable appetite for history in one of the world's truly global cities. As editor of History Today, a publication whose mission is to bring the work of leading historians to the widest possible audience,

The London History Festival is a social event too, encouraging its audience to mingle and share common interests. The authors will also be available for a book signing session and chat over a drink once the talks are completed.

The festival runs from the 2nd - 10th November and takes place at Kenssington Central Library, London, England.

http://www.londonhistoryfestival.com

The National Genealogy Society Newsletter Competition is aimed to recognize the hard work, long hours, and creativity that editors devote to their newsletters.

Categories
• Major Genealogical and/or Historical Societies
• County/Local Genealogical and/or Historical Societies
• Family Associations

Prize
• The winning society or association in each of the three categories will receive a complimentary one-year organizational NGS membership.
• Feature in the NGS Magazine

Submissions deadline: 31 December 2009

Source & Information

The fourth-annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar will feature exhibits by 60 local historical collections, book-signings by L.A. authors, documentary films about hidden L.A. stories, information about family genealogy and a wealth of other resources for exploring Southern California history. The event returns to the USC Davidson Conference Center on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bazaar is presented by L.A. as Subject, an association of historical collections hosted by the USC Libraries.

At this year’s bazaar, visitors will be able to browse the collections of L.A. as Subject members, including the Academy Film Archive, All the Saints of the City of the Angels, the Autry National Center of the American West, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the Filipino American Library, the Getty Research Institute, the Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles City Archives, the Mayme Clayton Library, the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, the Pasadena Museum of History, the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and the USC Libraries Special Collections.

Learn more at www.usc.edu/libraries/lasubject or become a fan of the Los Angeles Archives Bazaar on Facebook.

Source & Full Story

Take the family to historic Leeds Castle and celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne. From Tuesday May 26 to Sunday May 31, Henry VIII's Royal Jousting Tournament recreates the pageantry of Tudor England against the stunning backdrop of the 900-year-old castle near Maidstone, Kent.

Experience the thrill of twice daily jousts with knights on horseback and men at arms. Staged by Europe's premier jousting company, the Knights of Royal England, the non-stop action features galloping horses, daredevil stunts, falls and fights in an authentic jousting arena complete with a royal box on the Cedar Lawn.

For further information visit www.leeds-castle.com.

Source

By official proclamation of our nation’s governors, April 17 has been designated as “Ellis Island Family History Day.” Under the auspices of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. and the National Genealogical Society, the day has been set aside annually to recognize the achievements and contributions made to America by Ellis Island immigrants and their descendants.

Historically, April 17 marks the day in 1907 when more immigrants were processed through Ellis Island than on any other day in its colorful history -- 11,747 people. Over 40% of the U.S. population today -- 100 million Americans – can trace their roots back to the 17 million brave and hopeful immigrants who took their first steps towards freedom and opportunity by going through the “Golden Door” of Ellis Island.

Source & Further Information

On Friday, April 17, at 7 PM, the National Archives continues its celebration of the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth with a book talk on "The Lincoln Assassination Conspirators: their confinement and execution, as recorded in the Letterbook of John Frederick Hartranft." Editors Harold Holzer and Edward Steers, Jr., will discuss this Letterbook, a National Archives record, for the first time and provide a "behind the scenes" glimpse of the assassination's aftermath. This event will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, located on the National Mall at Constitution Ave. and 7th Streets, NW. A book signing will follow the program.

View the Calendar of Events at: http://www.archives.gov/calendar.

Source & Information

The Brooklyn Genealogy Club will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Brookly Library, 4480 Ridge Road.

The group's featured speaker will be John Stoika, who will give a presentation titled "How a Computer Can Help Your Research."

Stoika has more than 40 years experience in the graphic arts business and is president of the Cuyahoga Valley Genealogy Society. Stoika is also the treasurer of the Computer Assisted Genealogy group and a member of the Western Reserve Historical Society Genealogy Committee.

Source & Information

During Homecoming Scotland 2009 there will be many special events focussing on Scottish ancestry, traditions and culture all along the year:

• Forest Heritage Scotland
• Meet Your Ancestors in Clackmannanshire
• A Home Away from Home: The Scottish Emigration Experience
• International Genealogy Festival
• Island Emigrants: Conference on Emigration from the Outer Hebrides
and much more...

More information and calendar of events at http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com

An investment executive who paid more than $20 million for an original, handwritten copy of the Magna Carta presented the ancient paper last week to the media and plans to loan it to the National Archives.

The National Archives considers the manuscript "a milestone in constitutional thought" from the 13th century, and plans to place it on public display later this month.

The original Magna Carta was signed in 1215. Rubenstein's is one of four remaining copies of the document commissioned by the King of England in 1297 to establish basic human rights as part of English law.

A scholar's contemporary translation of the Latin describes the right of the country's people "to be free and to have all its rights fully and its liberties entirely," as among the 37 principles described in the Magna Carta.

The fragile paper is displayed in a sealed viewing box to protect it from damage.

The Magna Carta will be on public display starting March 12 in the West Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building.