We are delighted to be sponsoring the 2023 AGRA Conference at Downing College.
They have made the following announcement:
The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) are delighted to announce that the 2023 AGRA conference line up for Navigating Your Family History: Journey’s with Ancestors is now officially live.
Curated alongside industry experts Dr Helen Doe (Fellow of the Centre for Maritime Historical Studies), Penguin Press publishing director Richard Atkinson and Dr Sam Willis (BBC, The Silk Road), this year’s event features a packed programme of informative and engaging presentations and themed panel discussions, proudly sponsored by FamilySearch.
The third AGRA Conference will explore the theme of navigating your family history with topics from migration to navel and military records
Attendees will be able to learn about all this and more over the conference, at prestigious Downing College, Cambridge on 8 and 9 September.
AGRA Chair said: “AGRA Members and Associates look forward to welcoming anyone with an interest in family history research, whether a professional or keen amateur, to our 2023 Conference. We are thrilled that Dr Sam Willis will be speaking, heading a list of experienced presenters for our programme of talks. Our last conference at Pembroke College, Oxford was a great success and our experienced organising team have been working hard to assemble a packed programme, including new Expert Panel Sessions. Our theme, Navigating Your Family History – is designed to do just that, encompassing a broad spectrum of topics from ship to shore, across the seas and beyond. We look forward to welcoming new and returning friends and faces.”
The conference embarks with a drinks reception in the Fellows Garden followed by a sit-down dinner provided by Downing College, who pride themselves on offering fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce. Dinner will be followed by guest speaker historian, author and broadcaster, Dr Sam Willis. One of Britain’s best-known historians, Willis, a Fellow in Maritime and Navel History, has made numerous TV series for the BBC and National Geographic, published more than fifteen books as well as presenting The Mariner’s Mirror Podcast and co-presenting the chart-topping podcast Histories of the Unexpected.
The following day, attendees can then navigate through the programme on offer. Keynote speaker, Dr Helen Doe, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Vice Chairman and Trustee of the British Commission for Maritime History and since 2018 has been a member of the Council of Experts for the National Historical Ships, a government advisory body, offers her insight into maritime history in the ninetieth century.
Discover how author and publisher Richard Atkinson, turned amateur genealogist and uncovered a remarkable ancestor who was a purveyor of provisions to the British army, and family who were merchants and planters in Jamaica, involved in the slave trade, as he discusses his book Mr Atkinson’s Rum Contract.
Additionally, attendees can find out about Researching British Prisoners of Napoleon in French Archives from Anne Morddel, who will examine the range of resources available for this in British and French archives including the published memoirs of individual prisoners of war. Set sail from 1863 London and follow the voyage of the Mermaid to New Zealand with Maggie Gaffney as she discusses the 93 day experience of 280 assisted immigrants in Far Away to a Strange Land. Where’s Cousin Jack? is the question posed by Lesley Trotter in her talk on emigration from Cornwall, highlighting less well-known databases and locally held collections, name-rich publications and sources.
The conference will also be live streamed for those unable to attend in person, further details on how to purchase these will be announced soon. For more details on the conference, the line up and to stay up to date visit the AGRA Conference website: agra.org.uk/conference/.
The 2023 AGRA Conference, Navigating Your Family History: Journey’s with Ancestors, takes place at Downing College, Cambridge on the 8 and 9 September. Tickets for the conference are on sale now and open to the public. Prices range from £45-£320 including a package deal which includes a day ticket to the conference, drinks reception, dinner, one night accommodation and breakfast. Early bird discounts are available if booked before 30 April. For all ticket pricing and booking visit: eventbrite.co.uk/e/agra-conference-2023-tickets-465282060167
