Oral History Project

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May 212013
 

Niamh Dillon, a British Library staff member, is researching a Ph.D thesis at Goldsmiths College, University of London on migration within the British Empire in the 20th century, and more particularly on the lives of British people living in India in the period leading up to independence from Britain. She is hoping to record interviews with people who experienced life in India before independence, and their subsequent experiences after moving to Britain post-independence.

If you would be willing to help her with a recorded interview please contact her by email at n.dillon@gold.ac.uk or niamhdillon@hotmail.com, or by post to Niamh Dillon, National Life Stories, British Library, 96 Euston Road, LondonNW1 2DB

All recordings will be conducted in accordance with the ethical principles laid down by the Oral History Society. With the interviewees consent, the recordings will be archived at the British Library where she has been managing oral history projects since 2003

Training workshops in using India Office Records family history sources

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May 212013
 

Training workshops will be held on 9 July and 21 August 2013. Taking into account comments made on some evaluation forms by attendees of the long-established introductory sessions in family history, APAC Reference Services working in tandem with the Families In British India Society (FIBIS) are delighted to present specialized sessions looking at biographical sources for military personnel. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required. If, therefore, you believe you have European ancestors who served in the Indian sub-continent whether as officers or private soldiers, please book your free place by contacting hrs-training@bl.uk. Depending on the level of interest shown, we plan to offer repeat sessions at regular intervals. The next session will be held on the afternoon of 4 September 2013.

Book a place on the training workshops

Asian and African Studies enquiries
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7873
Fax: +44 (0)20 7412 7641

E-mail: hrs-training@bl.uk

Researching the Armies of British India

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Apr 052013
 

Spaces are still available for the following training session on 10th April 2013 at 14:00

Researching the Armies of British India

APAC Reference Services working in tandem with the Families In British India Society (FIBIS) are delighted to present a specialized session looking at biographical sources for military personnel. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required. If, therefore, you believe you have European ancestors who served in the Indian sub-continent whether as officers or private soldiers, please book your free place by contacting hrs-training@bl.uk

View event details

Roll of Indian Police officers 1861-1947 added to FIBIS database

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Dec 062012
 

The Roll of the Indian Police contains the names of 1,711 officers, who, from 1861, served as Superintendents, and from 1893 as Assistant Superintendents, and above. Compiled in 1985 by former officer Basil La Bouchardiere using the India Office records, it includes the province and dates of service for each man, allowing further research to be conducted at the British Library using the Histories of Service series (V/12).

Researching Ancestors who served in the Armies of India – 10 Jan 2013

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Sep 192012
 

Title: Researching Ancestors who served in the Armies of India – 10 Jan 2013
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB (map and directions)
Link out: British Library India Office Records training workshops
Description: APAC Reference Services working in tandem with the Families In British India Society (FIBIS) are delighted to present a specialized session looking at biographical sources for military personnel. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required. If, therefore, you believe you have European ancestors who served in the Indian sub-continent whether as officers or private soldiers, please book your free place by contacting hrs-training@bl.uk
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2013-01-10
End Time: 17:00

British Library closures next week

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May 042012
 

Just in case some of you are planning to visit the British Library to do some research next week,  a reminder that all British Library Reading Rooms will be closed on Monday 7th May and will re-open on Tuesday 8th May. The British Library have also made the following announcement:

Alert – Planned Industrial Action – Thursday 10 May

Members of the Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS) have voted for a one-day strike on Thursday 10 May 2012 over changes to public sector pensions.

The British Library at St Pancras plans to be open for visitors to its public areas and exhibition galleries. However, there is likely to be significant disruption to our Reading Room services as follows:

  • We may have to open later than usual
  • We may not be able to open some Reading Rooms
  • We may only be able to accommodate a maximum of 5 requests per person
  • No transfers will be possible between Reading Rooms.
  • We may have to close early at 17.00 (rather than 20.00)

We do plan to open the Boston Spa Reading Room and the Newspaper Library at Colindale, but there may be disruption to our services.

We urge you to check any changes to the Library’s opening hours and available services. We will keep you updated here, and via Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you for your understanding.

Via:  bl.uk > Alert – Planned Industrial Action – Thursday 10 May

A guide to materials relating to India at the British Library Western Manuscripts Collections

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Apr 122012
 

Dorota Walker’s guide to India-related material in the British Library (non IOR) manuscript collections (as detailed in FIBIS Journal 27) is now available online as a searchable pdf.

The index, called ‘A guide to materials relating to India at the British Library Western Manuscripts Collections’ can be downloaded from the following link:

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/familyresearch.html

The pdf is listed on the right-hand column of the page, under the heading ‘PDF Files’.

The main guide is in chronological order. Use the comprehensive indexes to locate material:

  • Name index – begins on p723 of the document (also numbered Index page 1)
  • Place index – p846 (p124 of the index section)
  • Subject index – p893 (p171)

Users may find the search function useful (either the binoculars icon on the left hand side of the screen or ctrl+F).

Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 17 Jul 2012

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Apr 052012
 

Title: Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 17 Jul 2012
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Link out: Click here
Description: APAC Reference Services are again offering a free 75-minute introduction to the Department’s family history sources. Anyone is welcome to attend – participants do not have to be holders of a Library Reader Pass. The emphasis is on explaining the background to their holding returns of baptisms, marriages and burials of European Christians from all over South Asia, and providing practical guidance on how to use the name indexes.

To book a place, please contact:

Email: hrs-training@bl.uk
Tel. +44 (0)20 7412 7865
Fax +44 (0)20 7412 7641
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-07-17
End Time: 17:00

Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 20 Jun 2012

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Apr 052012
 

Title: Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 20 Jun 2012
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Link out: Click here
Description: APAC Reference Services are again offering a free 75-minute introduction to the Department’s family history sources. Anyone is welcome to attend – participants do not have to be holders of a Library Reader Pass. The emphasis is on explaining the background to their holding returns of baptisms, marriages and burials of European Christians from all over South Asia, and providing practical guidance on how to use the name indexes.

To book a place, please contact:

Email: hrs-training@bl.uk
Tel. +44 (0)20 7412 7865
Fax +44 (0)20 7412 7641
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2012-06-20
End Time: 17:00

Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 17 May 2012

 blog, Past events  No Responses »
Apr 052012
 

Title: Training sessions in using India Office Records family history sources – 17 May 2012
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Link out: Click here
Description: APAC Reference Services are again offering a free 75-minute introduction to the Department’s family history sources. Anyone is welcome to attend – participants do not have to be holders of a Library Reader Pass. The emphasis is on explaining the background to their holding returns of baptisms, marriages and burials of European Christians from all over South Asia, and providing practical guidance on how to use the name indexes.

To book a place, please contact:

Email: hrs-training@bl.uk
Tel. +44 (0)20 7412 7865
Fax +44 (0)20 7412 7641
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2012-05-17
End Time: 12:15

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