WEA Course Information Sheet 2014-15
Course title: Trace Your Ancestors
Course reference: C2334140
Tutor(s): Gill Groom
Venue: Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street, Lincoln LN2 5AB
Start date: 21 April 2015
Half Term 26 May
End date: 09 June 2015
Number of sessions: 7
Hours per session: 2
Fee:
£53.90
Day(s)/time(s): Tuesday
10.30 - 12.30
Level:
Title of qualification to be gained (if any):
Awarding body (if any):
Essential materials
Students will find a folder (not provided) would be useful to store the handouts and other
documents you will collect through your own research
Course aims:To explore key documents and sources for researching family history along with
effective research skills
Course description: This 7 week course provides you with the basic skills and knowledge needed to
start researching your own family history through historic archives and Internet sources. You may be a
complete beginner or have some experience already.
Each week the course explores a new topic to develop the skills and knowledge needed to trace your
ancestors and find out more about their lives. Copies of original documents will be used for short case
studies and activities. You will discover the background and use of key historic records and develop
effective research and recording methods.
The tutor is an experienced genealogist
Any prior knowledge or entry requirements? No previous knowledge or experience of the subject
is needed but basic computer skills would be an advantage
Course content: what topics will the course cover?
• Getting started - what do you already know?
• Primary and Secondary Sources - recognising the difference
• Background and use of key historic records, including:
• Census records 1841-1911 — what they are, how to interpret them
• Birth, marriage & death registration - searching online indexes, sending for certificates
• Parish registers - church records online and in archives
• Wills - how to find if your ancestor left a will, what wills might tell us
• Military service records - focussing on WW1
• The topics are illustrated with copies of original documents and short case studies/activities
Teaching, learning and assessment methods: tick those to be used 
Demonstration
Project work
Question and
answer
Presentation
 Discussion

Research
Activity outside
class time
Field trip
 Group work
 Role play
 Observation
 Individual
work
Written work
 Practical work
Other (state)
How will I receive feedback on my learning progress and achievement? Progress will be

assessed from group and individual activities. Feedback may be written and/or verbal
Learning outcomes: these are the intended outcomes and may be revised in discussion with the
class. Students are encouraged to think about and identify their own individual outcomes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Recognise the difference between primary and secondary historical sources
1.
2.
Use UK census records 1841-1911 as a source of information about a family
3.
Use UK birth, marriage, death (BMD) certificates as a source of information about an
individual or family and search an online BMD index
4.
Find if an ancestor left a will after 1858 and identify where to find pre-1858 wills
5.
Identify sources of WW1 military records
Reading and information sources:
• Handouts covering the key points of each week’s topics are provided.
• The tutor’s website includes links to all the websites covered in the course along with many other
sites to explore.
A ‘Further Reading List’ will be provided.
Suggestions for progression to further study or for using the skills and knowledge gained:
• Students will be able to use the skills and knowledge gained on the course to continue their own
family history research online, in archives and libraries.
• The tutor provides suggestions for further reading and online resources to extend students’
research skills and knowledge.
• Students may choose to join a local family history society or genealogy group.
A ‘Next Steps’ course is available, subject to demand, which extends learning from this course with
topics on a range of further historical records.
You can read about your entitlements and responsibilities as a WEA student in our leaflet, Services for
Students here http://www.wea.org.uk/courses/information This includes information on fees, learning
support and financial support.
As part of your first course you accept a learning agreement. This applies to all courses you take in this
academic year. You should have a copy of the learning agreement (the tear-off portion of your enrolment
form), but if not please ask for a copy from your tutor.
You can enrol online for some courses http://www.wea.org.uk/courses or contact
WEA Lincolnshire and Rutland, Greetwell Place, Lime Kiln Way, Greetwell Road, Lincoln LN2 4US
Tel: 01522 522472 Lincolnoffice@wea.org.uk
The Workers’ Educational Association is a charity registered in England and Wales, number
1112775, and in Scotland, number SC039239, and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales, number 2806910. Our Registered Office address is 4 Luke Street, London,
EC2A 4XW.
www.wea.org.uk