Clearly, an early start is mandatory
I had some errands to run this morning, so I didn't actually get started with my research until around noon. My plan was to rummage around the census records. I was looking up some family tree information and figuring I would start getting some population figures for Preston beginning with the 1801 census and running through the 1901 records.
After I deposit everything except my notebook and pencil into a locker and sign in, I went directly to the Census Resources corner. All the census data is on either microfiche or microfilm. The records are indexed by street name, so once I had the correct record labels noted, I picked out a microfiche reader and selected my first document.
Now, I've never used a microfiche reader before. But I have looked at microfilm and I figured fiche was easier. I sat down at the machine (which had no operating instructions) and looked it over. When I couldn't figure out where the "on" switch was, I decided I needed to get help.
I queued up at the information desk to get help. The man running the desk was helping an older lady figure out a location name. I was quite taken by the fact that he had an American accent. So taken, in fact, that my mind was not prepared for when another gentleman came up and offered help. As a result, I must have come across as a bit thick, because it took me a few seconds to shift my mind away from the eavesdropping I had been doing and toward what the man with the extremely quiet and very posh accent was saying. He was very nice and helped me get the machine going. It actually was quite simple to use and I probably should have just figured it out on my own. But the employees are there to help and there is nothing wrong with ignorance.
I spent a little over an hour working on the family stuff. I love researching Steve's family tree. Hunting down clues and following trails through the census and birth/marriage/death records is quite fun for me. It's particularly exciting when I find a skeleton in the family closet. Like an unmarried mother or a birth coming just four months after a wedding.
Anyway, my research for my thesis hit a snag. The census records only go to 1841, not 1801. In addition, I found no compilation data with the census records. There was nothing saying: The population of Preston in 1841 was X amount. It would take me forever to have to count manually, so I obviously need to make friends with the helpful people at the information desk. But I wanted to do some more online research of the office's catalogue, so I decided to turn my attention to the plethora of books housed there.
A quick look in just two sections yielded nearly half-a-dozen books of interest to me. Excited at this unexpected find, I grabbed one of the books and went to find a seat to examine it. And that's when I discovered an early start is a must. Not a single seat was available. Old-age pensioners filled every chair. I underestimated the popularity of local history here in Preston.
I walked back to the micro readers and pondered sitting there to look at the books, but opted against it. There really wasn't room to read a book at the machines, and I doubt my taking up space at one would be appreciated. So with a hint of remorse, I put the book back on the shelf.
Tomorrow, I'm going to have to get there in the morning and grab a chair before the old-age pensioners are back in force.
After I deposit everything except my notebook and pencil into a locker and sign in, I went directly to the Census Resources corner. All the census data is on either microfiche or microfilm. The records are indexed by street name, so once I had the correct record labels noted, I picked out a microfiche reader and selected my first document.
Now, I've never used a microfiche reader before. But I have looked at microfilm and I figured fiche was easier. I sat down at the machine (which had no operating instructions) and looked it over. When I couldn't figure out where the "on" switch was, I decided I needed to get help.
I queued up at the information desk to get help. The man running the desk was helping an older lady figure out a location name. I was quite taken by the fact that he had an American accent. So taken, in fact, that my mind was not prepared for when another gentleman came up and offered help. As a result, I must have come across as a bit thick, because it took me a few seconds to shift my mind away from the eavesdropping I had been doing and toward what the man with the extremely quiet and very posh accent was saying. He was very nice and helped me get the machine going. It actually was quite simple to use and I probably should have just figured it out on my own. But the employees are there to help and there is nothing wrong with ignorance.
I spent a little over an hour working on the family stuff. I love researching Steve's family tree. Hunting down clues and following trails through the census and birth/marriage/death records is quite fun for me. It's particularly exciting when I find a skeleton in the family closet. Like an unmarried mother or a birth coming just four months after a wedding.
Anyway, my research for my thesis hit a snag. The census records only go to 1841, not 1801. In addition, I found no compilation data with the census records. There was nothing saying: The population of Preston in 1841 was X amount. It would take me forever to have to count manually, so I obviously need to make friends with the helpful people at the information desk. But I wanted to do some more online research of the office's catalogue, so I decided to turn my attention to the plethora of books housed there.
A quick look in just two sections yielded nearly half-a-dozen books of interest to me. Excited at this unexpected find, I grabbed one of the books and went to find a seat to examine it. And that's when I discovered an early start is a must. Not a single seat was available. Old-age pensioners filled every chair. I underestimated the popularity of local history here in Preston.
I walked back to the micro readers and pondered sitting there to look at the books, but opted against it. There really wasn't room to read a book at the machines, and I doubt my taking up space at one would be appreciated. So with a hint of remorse, I put the book back on the shelf.
Tomorrow, I'm going to have to get there in the morning and grab a chair before the old-age pensioners are back in force.
We are all at the AGI between 8-8:30 each morning, and stay there until it closes at 3. It does help to have one's advisor sitting there aware of when we get in!! But there's so much, six hours/day for eight weeks is not going to be enough for me. Sigh. Hope I can avoid the microfiche ...
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