PLEASE NOTE THIS TOUR IS NOW FULLY BOOKED!

When?

• 19-23 October 2020 (Monday morning until Friday afternoon)

What is included?

• Picnic lunches, guides, tips and donations, entry fees, up front information/training per email, and all arrangements.

How much does it cost?

• Approximately R 800 per person payable before 31 August 2020.  This assumes that you will use your own transport or lifts provided by the group to reach the various archives.  (Read below for some reduction.)

What is the size of the group?

• 10-15 (including the co-ordinator).

Institutions & Archives to be visited?

• 2 days at the Transvaal/National Archive in Pretoria (TAB).
• 1 day at the GSSA library, housed at the Heritage Foundation (Erfenisstigting) in Pretoria.
• 1 day at the archive of the Reformed Church (Hervormde Kerk.
• 1 day at the National Library (legal deposit library).
• NB - The LDS in Parktown remains closed for the remainder of 2020. Instead we will be spend a full day in the National Library where many scarce books, newspaper clips etc. can be found.

How do I book - This tour is fully booked but remember there will be another one next year (2021)

What is the aim of GSSA  offering these tours?

• To assist beginner genealogists (but also more advanced GSSA members) when visiting archives; GSSA supports members who join one of the tours for the FIRST TIME by subsidising them with R500 if they pay the full deposit during January or February..... or until the subsidy is used up (the reduction is applicable to the full tour price – the deposit still is R 200);
• To build team spirit upong members and branches.

What are the pre-conditions for participants?

• It is recommended that you have access to the internet for a little training and plenty of information per email.
• As a beginner researcher you really need to be interested in genealogical research in your or other particular families and need to be prepared to read and work through the emails you receive during the months before leaving. 
• Should you be a more advanced researcher, you are also more than welcome to join in as you waste no time on all the arrangements.  The information and training will prepare you for everything.  Should you classify yourself as novice researcher, you’ll be provided with some extra user-friendly information for beginners – almost 50% of the participants usually make use of this “Beginners’ Training”.
• You need to be a paid up GSSA member of any branch of your choice.  It is accepted if you may want to renew your membership or to join a little later – e.g. whenever your branch has its first meeting.  You could be assisted to join if necessary.
• To be on this or other tour mailing lists as an Interested Participant. Remember you are not obligated to take the tour but bookings, however, are only done by paying the deposit.
  

For more information or to be added to the mailing list please email me by clicking on my name Ellen Harmse

The Natal Midlands Branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa is based in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Kwa Zulu Natal and the location of the Pietermaritzburg Archives.

The branch is currently under the curatorship of the KwaZulu-Natal Family History Society (KZNFHS).

KZNFHS/GSSA meets on first Saturday of every month (except December and  January) at 9:30am for 10:00am, at the Hilton Library, Hilton Ave, Hilton. We alternate between speakers and workshops on all things related to Genealogy.

Extensive research sources are available to researchers at all meetings. Members have a wide range of genealogical interest of settlers to Natal including those from St Helena and India.

We are fortunate to have members who are specialists in their respective fields, such as Shelagh Spencer on early British settlers, Dr Krish Moodley on Indian settlers, Dr Mike O’Connor on Irish ancestry, to name a few.

The Chairman is willing to open the library at other times on request.

The Durban and Coastal Branch presently has 37 members all enjoying doing research on their families. Some have made great progress and have even published the results of their research. Many are having fun doing voluntary work for the Society creating more and easily accessable research information.
They volunteer and help with: The transcription of the RSA 1984 Voter's roll;  The photographing of Gravestones; - The transcription of cemetery registers. Our Branch completed the Stellawood cemetery registers (114 000 entries) which is now available on CD.

Recently our members completed an index of all marriages registered in Natal from 1845 to 1955 (421 874 names) which will be available on the internet soon. We have monthly get togethers on the second Saturday of each month which are held at the Durban Family History Centre where we have access to the wealth of research information it houses.   We often invite speakers on related subjects to address us.  

The Johannesburg Branch of the GSSA serves family history researchers in the central Johannesburg area with a high interest in overseas research and strong ties to the arrivals of  the 1820 Settlers’ the  O’Byrne Settlers (Natal); German Settlers; Swedish Norwegian and Dutch Settlers and lastly but by no means least, the Scottish Missionary Society.

Our members’ interests all vary, with several people just getting started with research in SA trying to get to that point where they can start on the origin of their settlers overseas. The goal is a common one - to get as far back as possible; to make sure our information is correct; keep our histories secure and confirm or disprove family legends.

Our branch members’ level of experience varies considerably with several people just getting started with research in SA and trying enthusiastically to get to that point where they can start on the origin of their ancestors and in many cases, begin using overseas records. Others are well experienced researchers with many years of genealogical triumphs or disasters under their belts. Regardless of your level of experience, join us and we will get you on the right track to pursue your genealogical journey. Our main goal this year though, is through various activities and courses, to teach the public about this fascinating science and more importantly to encourage members to publish their work through Familia - the ideal avenue for such work.

Calendar: The 2022 calendar promises interesting talks, including an organized visit to the Holocaust Museum as well as a refresher course on using FamilySearh. We also have a two part training course starting in May.  This year four meetings will be held at the Church Hall, the other meetings will be held at outside venues, so keep in touch or download our Calendar. Meetings begin at 2.30pm on the 3rd Saturday monthly at St Columba’s Church Hall, Parkview (secure parking) finishing off with tea and cake and plenty of discussion about genealogical research.  If you are interested in attending any of our functions, let us know through the Contacts page.

Publication: The Branch Newsletter Tree Topics is published and circulated monthly followed by a flyer before each event. We recently introduced a feature called ‘Challenge of the Month’ in which members are invited to join a collaborative email group for submission of their research problem for discussion and assistance. We hope to showcase our first in the next issue.

Projects: This year we have planned for a Cemetery Recording to take place in October. The more interest and participation we have in recording, the better. On a more personal side, Doreen Piner who has been a Committee member for a number of years is continuing with her work on the Voter’s Roll which she does through the N. Tvl Branch.

Library: The branch Library includes a complete set of Indexes to Estate Files for each Archives depot; various Publications on Family Histories; Guides to Genealogical Research; Cemetery Recordings; CDs etc., Appointments to make use of the library are easily arranged.

Our Roots: We take this opportunity to remember former Committees through whose enthusiasm our predecessor, ‘The Southern Transvaal Branch of the GSSA’ was founded on 19^th January 1988 by Chairman Con Roeloffze, Vice Chairman Robert Laing, Secretary Valda Napier as well as Willem Hefer, Frik van Rensburg, Hans Hatecke, Bill Olivier and Shirley Roeloffze.  By April 1990 under the Chairmanship of Conrod Mercer we introduced the ‘Genealogist of the Year Award’, now run by the National Executive Council. Another achievement was the Cemetery Recording Project initiated by the Late Peter Holden, which aims at recording every headstone throughout South Africa, a project which became so large it was taken over by the NEC.