Zoom Talk: Mapping Alchemy for Genealogists with Sophie Kay

Where would we be without maps? But how often do you apply them to your family history research challenges?

In this session, prepare to be persuaded that maps really are genealogical gold!

Focusing on Sophie’s Outlier Method and Ancestral Walks techniques, we’ll unite historical maps with historical records in order to spot research errors, separate out namesakes, understand our ancestors and bring their worlds to life, all using freely available Ordnance Survey maps. Examples will focus on UK towns for the period 1800-1950 but these methods can be applied to any place or era where suitable maps and address data are available.

This is a practical and engaging introduction to using mapping methods in your family history research.

From DNA to historical maps, from research methods to historical occupations, Dr. Sophie Kay, a trained geneticist, is a professional genealogist at Khronicle® (www.khronicle.co.uk) who loves all manner of family history research challenges.

Besides her presentations to family history societies worldwide, Sophie has delivered talks for RootsTech, the Society of Genealogists, the Federation of Family History Societies, and Family Tree Magazine (UK) for whom she wrote her Research Skills Workbook (2024), and to which magazine she is a frequent contributor.

Sophie is the Ancestry and Genealogy Expert for the archaeology programme, Time Team. She has previously taught courses in historical mapping techniques and research methodology at Pharos Tutors, and was the specialist DNA Tutor for the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies.

AGRA member Sophie has a family history blog at The Parchment Rustler (www.parchmentrustler.com), where she shares tips, tricks and strategies for making the most of your ancestral research journey.

There will be a handout and the talk will be recorded and in the members' area for one month.

Please log in from 7.15pm and enjoy chat with the other participants before the talk starts.

Please ensure you use your real name when joining our Zoom events. Participants appearing as 'Zoom User' or similar will not be admitted, as this helps us prevent scammers from joining.

To Get the Zoom Link

Any society member who would like to receive the Zoom link for this talk needs to submit their name, email address and membership number via  https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/contact stating "Please send me the Zoom links" .  Then you will automatically be emailed monthly with the Zoom links for all the Zoom events during that month.  You can then attend any Zoom event that you wish to without any booking.

Please request Zoom links earlier rather than just before the talk. Our Contacts volunteer checks messages regularly but is inevitably sometimes out.

All Zoom Talks, Workshops and Discussion Groups are members-only events.

But Society membership only costs £10 a year (£12 joint members).  https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/about/membership/our-membership/#options