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Archiver > LONDON > 2005-11 > 1131275461


From: "Judy Lester" <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] overwhelmed at Kew
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 11:11:01 -0000
References: <006e01c5e27c$a7d7b180$8a00a8c0@peterznvd1x50w> <001701c5e2b3$e12e04c0$0601a8c0@Judy> <005e01c5e2b9$2d920aa0$4301a8c0@mums> <0d4e01c5e2b9$84c4e310$0100a8c0@EWART>


I'm sure you will get lots of advice on this one, so I'll be brief!

Preparation is all. There is a lot you can do at home in advance to identify
the sources you want to look at. This saves valuable research time when you
get there.

(1) Register for a Reader's Ticket online, which you collect on arrival. Be
sure to take the right ID with you (as explained on the registration page),
or you won't get in. There are extra security measures in place at present.

(2) At home before you go, use the TNA Research Guides to help you identify
which documents you want to look at. These Guides are linked to the online
catalogue to help you. They are all available in printed form at Kew, but if
you print them out before you go, you can do some reading on the train.
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researchguidesindex.asp

(3) Use the online catalogue to identify in advance at least some of the
documents you want to look at. Note which ones will need ordering, and which
are viewable on microfilm. Make a note of the catalogue numbers (I use a
simple spreadsheet to help me keep track of which documents I have ordered,
checked and returned).

(4) For your first visit, you can't order documents in advance, because your
registration number isn't yet "in the system", but you will be able to for
any subsequent visits.

(5) When you arrive at Kew and have collected your Reader's Ticket, 10
minutes spent reading the introductory New Users booklet is time very well
spent.

(6) As with most record offices and research libraries, you will have to
leave most of your gear in the cloakroom lockers. Everything you take in and
out of the research areas is carefully scrutinised by security staff, who
will leaf through all your papers and check that you have only pencils, no
pens. So the less you take in with you, the quicker it is to get in and out.
But take some small change in for any printing or photocopying you might
want to do.

Don't be overwhelmed! There will be lots of people there on their first
visit, and the research staff are generally extremely helpful. It's a
tremendously exciting place, so have a great day!

Judy
London, UK

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gillie Ewart" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 10:04 AM
Subject: [Lon] overwhelmed at Kew


>I haven't been to Kew yet but have been to both the Gloucester and Bristol
>Records office and know the feeling! I achieved very little. The staff
>were very helpful but busy. There was so much information to search I
>didn't know where to start. Does anyone have any hints on what to do, I
>will be travelling from the West country for the day so do not want to
>waste the day.
>
> Gillie
> http://groups.msn.com/Magicalminiatures/pictures or
> http://gillie1945.tripod.com
> http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/gillie
>
>
> ==============================
> Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records.
> New content added every business day. Learn more:
> http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx
>
>


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