The GAZETTE The Newsletter of Pendle & Burnley Branch Issue no : 1 - February 2001 Editor : Derek Mills

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the newsletter of the Pendle and Burnley branch of the LFH&HS.  The publication of the newsletter has been instigated by the results of the recent questionnaire, where 64% of the answers received, suggested that the committee should organise a system, whereby information could be disseminated amongst the membership.

It is anticipated that the newsletter will be published quarterly; in February, May, August and November.

The committee hopes, that by producing the Gazette, the membership of our society will be better informed of the events and exhibitions occurring in our area, the projects that are currently being undertaken and the research facilities available at our centre at Colne library.  Members are encouraged to submit letters or articles of a local interest to the editor, for inclusion in the newsletter.  Please send the information to Derek Mills, 23 Hall Park Ave, Cliviger, Burnley BB10 4JJ.

The committee intend to establish a repository of family tree records, so that future generations may use them in their research. If anyone wishes to donate their records, please contact one of the committee members.

CONTENTS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS and THEIR DUTIES

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SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF THE RECENT QUESTIONNAIRE

The committee would like to thank each member of the membership who replied to the questionnaire, for their participation. As a result of the varied answers we received, the committee have proposed a number of changes and innovations that are listed below.

Main points : 82 (67%) of the membership replied to the questionnaire from a total membership of 123.

Of the 82 members who replied ..

•  56 members own or have access to a computer, with 86% of these using it for their family history records and research.
• Only 35% of these members attend our monthly meetings.
  
• 95% of members would willingly share their research with other members, with 85% prepared to contribute a full listing of names being researched.

Committee members : Many members (50%) do not know who the committee members are and do not know what they do.  Included in this newsletter is a list of committee members and their duties, a summary of the duties of the Project Officer, current projects and why we undertake research programmes.

Meetings : The majority of members, state that they are satisfied with the Wednesday meetings, with the times to remain at 7-30pm to 9-30pm, so this has been agreed.  Four additional dates are to be added to our programme, so that with the A.G.M. and the Open night, we will have six practical evenings. Please consult the programme of events for details.

Christmas meetings : From and including December 2001, Christmas meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month.

Magazine table : Most members would be interested in a magazine table at the branch meetings.  It is now proposed to provide this facility, where members can bring or exchange information, leaflets, books and magazines.  It was also resolved, that the committee will issue our own "Starter Pack" for new and prospective members.

Committee meetings : The forthcoming meetings are to be held on the following dates ..

• Tuesday April 10th 2001
• Tuesday July 3rd 2001
• Tuesday October 9th 2001
• Tuesday January 8th 2002

Periodically, members, for one reason or another, decide to resign from the committee and of course we have to fill those vacancies.  Shortly, a number of positions will become vacant and will require replacing.  If anyone is interested in joining the committee, will you please contact any of the officials.  It is quite a rewarding job and you will be assisting to run the branch in the most efficient manner.

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LECTURE PROGRAMME & OUT VISIT for the YEAR 2001

Venue COLNE LIBRARY at 7-30pm.

• 17.Jan.2001 DENISE NORTH

  - War is good for your health.

• 31.Jan.2001 Practical Evening.

   

• 21.Feb.2001 BILL TURNER

  - The Burnley Company of the Accrington Pals.

• 21.Mar.2001 A.G.M and Practical Evening.

   

• 18.Apr.2001 JOHN MACKIE

  - Heraldry for Family Historians.

• 16.May.2001 VISIT

  - ASTLEY HALL SOCIETY COSTUME PARTY.

• 30.May.2001 Practical Evening.

   

• 20.Jun.2001 MRS L WILMAN and Ms S A LAWTON

  - Lakeland inscribed, unusual inscriptions and Memorials in the Lake District.

• 18.Jul.2001 Practical Evening and Open Night

   

• 15.Aug.2001 AN ARCHIVIST FROM THE L.R.O

  - Preserving the County's Written Heritage.

• 29.Aug.2001 Practical Evening.

   

• 19.Sep.2001 MISS MARGARET CURRY

  - In the Steps of the Brontes.

• 17.Oct.2001 Dr.EDDIE CASS

  - The Pace Egg Play, an old Lancashire custom.

• 31.Oct.2001 Practical Evening

   

• 21.Nov.2001 STEPHEN EARNSHAW

  - The Civil War in Lancashire.

• 12.Dec.2001 Christmas Festivities

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THE PURPOSE OF PROJECTS

Projects are undertaken to record, transcribe and index information of use to family historians.  They take many forms and sizes, but all are intended to provide a reference for other researchers and as a consequence the results are published whenever possible.

Occasionally, projects are requested from a parish priest to transcribe records which are due to be deposited at the County Record office.  Generally, a group of society members undertake to perform the research work and to work in teams.  It is important to obtain permission to publish the data from the priest or person who has custody of the information.  Much of the research work is now inputted onto data files into computers in order to facilitate access.

In some instances, it is possible to carry out the research work at home and documents, data sheets or microfiche are provided with which to transcribe the work.  Projects can take from a few months to several years to complete and sometimes involve joint efforts with another branch or other societies.  The Project Officer controls and organises the work.

 Examples of current and recent research work are as follows :

• Index of Head of Household from census return
• Transcription of parish registers.
• Memorial inscriptions and burial records.
• Indexes of newspaper articles and announcements, eg births, marriages and deaths
• Indexes of churches, chapels and burial grounds.

Current and forthcoming projects :

• Index to the 1891 census for the Pendle and Burnley areas.
• Index to the churches, chapels and burial grounds in the area.
• Burnley Cemetery Memorial Inscriptions, in conjunction with the Ribble Valley group. There are about 10,000 in total.
• Transcriptions of the parish records at Thornton-in-Craven, in conjunction with the Earby Historical Society.
• St.John's, Great Marsden, burial records.
• St.Bartholomew's, Colne, baptisms.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE Nos and MATERIAL AVAILABLE

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RESEARCH FACILITIES AT COLNE LIBRARY

The branch library material is kept in the Colne Reference library in the glass fronted cupboards marked for the Pendle and Burnley Society.  We also have a set of Ordnance Survey maps kept in the map cupboard and microfiche are kept in the filing cabinets.

An account book, listing the books is kept on the top shelf, right hand side of the top right hand of these cupboards. The books are numbered according to a list begun by an earlier Librarian and added to by succeeding Librarians.  New material is entered in the book and given a reference and classification number before it is put into general use.  These numbers are displayed in a prominent place in the books or documents before they are put into the cupboards.  Also inserted into the books are metal strips that will be detected at the Library exit by a sensor that will bleep if the document hasn't been booked out.

At each monthly meeting, ONLY the LFH&HS. material is available for members to inspect.  Members are allowed to borrow up to three items at any one time giving their name, membership number, telephone number, reference number and name of the borrowed item.  These are to be entered into the booking-out section of the account book, preferably by the Librarian.  After each meeting the Library cupboards will be locked.

Members are encouraged to return borrowed items at the next available meeting. In the event of an item being held over three months, the borrower will be contacted for its return, or alternatively it can be handed to the Colne Reference Librarian, who will return it for them. 

A list of Library holdings, which is updated periodically, is kept on the top right hand shelf and a similar copy is on sale at the bookstall during each meeting at a small charge.  It should be noted that the general public are allowed access to the shelves during normal Library hours, on request and the discretion of the Colne Reference Librarian and although we attempt to keep material in reference number order, the books are sometimes misfiled. 

The Society will accept suitable books for the Library, which members are willing to donate.  Journals will also be accepted upon consultation with the Librarian.  If there are any books that you think the Society Library should hold, the Librarian will be grateful for suggestions.  Sheila Richmond & Ken Lupton (Librarians).

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BRANCH COMPUTER

As you may already know, we have received a Millennium grant of approximately £2000 that has enabled the branch to purchase a PC, a printer and associated software.  The computer has been set up in the lecture room at Colne library and we are in the process of inputting various programmes for the availability of all branch members.  The computer uses the Windows operating system, including Microsoft Word, Works and Excel etc.

The computer will be available at practical evening meetings and members will be given tuition if necessary, in how to use the machine and to access information. A system of booking the computer will be organised at a later date. The information available for research is shown below.

Census returns for the whole of the U.K on CD-ROM.  If anyone would like any further information about the Computer Group or using the branch computer, then please contact either Julie Birchall, Ken Lupton, Derek Mills or David Taylor.

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© LFH&HS Pendle and Burnley Branch 2001