We’d love to see you there — whether you’ve got lots to share or just fancy a catch-up, you’ll be very welcome.

Come along to the new Activities Room on Saturday and bring us up to date.

Please note the earlier start time, as the library closes promptly at 16:00.

It’s a long time since we last met at Elgin Library so we thought we would start with a chance to catch up with each other again. What has been happening in our family history worlds since we last met? Have we broken down some brick walls or, more likely, have we acquired some new ones?

Image advertising our next Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturday, 4th April 2026 from 1:30 pm — 3:30 pm in the Activities Room of the Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin, IV30 1HS. This will be an in-person meeting only. It’s a long time since we last met in the Activities Room at Elgin Library so we thought we would start with a chance to catch up with each other again. What has been happening in our family history worlds since we last met? Have we broken down some brick walls or, more likely, have we acquired some new ones? Come along to the new Activities Room on Saturday and bring us up to date. Please note the earlier start time, as the library closes promptly at 16:00. We’d love to see you there — whether you’ve got lots to share or just fancy a catch-up, you’ll be very welcome.

Join us for our next Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturday, 4th April 2026 from 1:30 pm — 3:30 pm in the Activities Room of the Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin, IV30 1HS.
For more details, please visit: anesfhs.org/meetings-eve...
#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Elgin #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Graphic advertising our upcoming Edinburgh Group that will feature a recorded talk by Chris Paton entitled "Researching Your House". The meeting will be on Saturday, 28th March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT). The in-person meeting will take place at the Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh. The meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom. More details can be found on our website: https://anesfhs.org/meetings-events/events/event/495-edi2026mar

Our next #Edinburgh Group meeting on 28th March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT) either online or in-person. More details here: anesfhs.org/meetings-eve...

#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

It’s just one of the fantastic benefits we’re able to offer visitors to our Research Centre — and we’d love to welcome you in!

These are valuable genealogical records from all over the world. These images of original documents can help you break down brick walls and discover completely new branches of your tree.

That means when you visit us, you can access millions of digital records that you won’t find from home — records that are only viewable at a FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library like ours.

Did you know our ANESFHS Research Centre is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library?

anesfhs.org/about-us/res...

#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Everything will be back up as soon as the move is complete. Thanks for your patience!

After the move the website will identify as anesfhs.org (but anesfhs.org.uk links will still work). This relocation is temporary whilst some compatibility issues are resolved and the server will revert to anesfhs.org.uk later in the year.

Website maintenance notice

Our website will be taking a short break while we relocate our server. As a result, the site will be unavailable for a while starting 08:00 GMT on Wednesday 18 March.

#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Citizens understood this well into the mid-twentieth century. Aberdeen’s story is preserved with rare clarity in the craftsmen’s records, revealing values—duty, skill, fellowship, and civic responsibility—that continue to anchor their lasting influence.

The Seven Incorporated Trades shaped far more than Aberdeen’s working life — they helped forge its character, its standards, and its civic conscience.

Join us on Saturday, 21st March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT) for Graeme Nicol's talk, "Seven Incorporated Trades — A History". The Seven Incorporated Trades shaped far more than Aberdeen’s working life — they helped forge its character, its standards, and its civic conscience. Citizens understood this well into the mid-twentieth century. Aberdeen’s story is preserved with rare clarity in the craftsmen’s records, revealing values—duty, skill, fellowship, and civic responsibility—that continue to anchor their lasting influence. Our Aberdeen in-person meetings are held at the Fountainhall (formerly Rubislaw) Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB. The talk will also be broadcast over Zoom. Watching from the comfort of home? If you're a member, please log in to our website and visit the following link to register: https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-events/aberdeen-meetings/event/487-abd2026mar If you're not a member of the Society, you can send an email to syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk to request an invitation link.

Join us for our next #Aberdeen meeting on Saturday, 21st March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT) at the Fountainhall Church Centre. This meeting will also be available via Zoom. Details here: bit.ly/4um5s2A
#Aberdeenshire #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Graphic advertising our upcoming Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturdday, 7th March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT). This is an online only meeting and this is the first part of our DNA Matters meetings. For this March meeting, Helen Taylor, always a popular speaker on DNA matters, is going to help us get a better understanding of what our DNA tells us and how we can use it. There will be DNA hints and Ancestry tree tips together with handouts. In the course of her talk she will be giving us a live demonstration and also a quick demonstration to show us how the Leeds Method can help us find a person on a missing line. For more info: https://bit.ly/40r2JY9

Yes, DNA matters! It’s becoming increasingly important to us as genealogists and most of us now need to acquire a better understanding of it.

For more details and to pre-register for the meeting, please visit: bit.ly/40r2JY9

#Aberdeen #Scotland #Aberdeenshire #DNA #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Graphic advertising our upcoming Australia/New Zealand Group meeting on Saturday, 7th March 2026 from 4 pm — 6 pm (AEDT) / 6 am - 8 am (GMT). Most of us use it. Many of us rely on it. But are we really making the most of everything that ScotlandsPeople offers? If you're struggling to find ancestors or relatives on Scotland’s People then David Stephen’s session will will share practical tips and tricks to help you search smarter and avoid some of the common pitfalls that can waste both time and credits. David has been researching his family history for 35 years and has done a lot of his research using Scotland’s People. Having grown up in Cowie, near Stonehaven, and his father’s line being primarily fisherfolk from the coastal villages between Aberdeen & Montrose using Scotland’s People has helped him find a lot of his forebears. More details: https://bit.ly/3OCLL6r

Most of us use it. Many of us rely on it. But are we really making the most of everything that ScotlandsPeople offers?
Join our Australia/New Zealand Group meeting this Saturday to find out more. More details here: bit.ly/3OCLL6r
#Aberdeen #Scotland #Aberdeenshire #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

A graphic announcing that the February issue of our Journal is now available on our website. It includes the following articles: The Lonely Grave of May Mowatt, Cholera Victim The Schoolmaster's Children The Sangsters of Cruden The Thom Family of Dunnottar A Recipe for Haggis Raspberry Brandy From North-East Scotland to New Jersey The Sleighs of Aberdeenshire—and elsewhere Family Legends: Fyvie Castle, Gerrards and Florences A Spooky Coincidence: Ingrams and Thirds Lion Tamers and Polar Bear Ticklers Loss of the Watt Family and the Fishing Boat, Rose, 1899 Illness and Home Cures of Henrietta Mackenzie North-East Scotland Fishing Villages and the Great Shetland Fishing Notes on Using the British Newspaper Archive

The Society's February Journal is now available to members on our website. If you're not a member of the Society, joining is easy! Full details here: www.anesfhs.org.uk/about-us/mem...

#Aberdeen #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

This Saturday (24th January 2026), Ken Nisbet, whose many hats include Chairman of the South of Scotland Branch of the Western Front Association, will show what sources can be used to research your relative taken prisoner during the two major conflicts of the 20th century. The situation prior to the Great War, and the role of the Hague and Geneva Conventions, will also be covered. A consistently popular and engaging speaker, Ken is well regarded for sharing practical insights into a wide range of research resources, along with guidance on how best to access and use them. His talks are informative, accessible, and full of ideas that members can apply immediately to their own family-history research. Our Edinburgh Group in-person meetings take place from 2 pm —4 pm (GMT) at the Royal Scots Club, 29 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE. We’ll be in the ground-floor Ellesmere Room, as is now usual. If you're planning on attending the in-person meeting, please drop us a quick note at edinburgh@anesfhs.org.uk. The meeting will also be available via Zoom. For the online meeting, pre-registration is required. Members can log on to the website and visit the following link: https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/.../edinb.../event/494-edi2026jan If you're not (yet!) a member and would like to attend, please send a message to edinburgh@anesfhs.org.uk to request an invitation link.

Join our Edinburgh Group this Saturday (24th January 2026) for Ken Nisbet's talk entitled "Researching British Prisoners of War, 1914-1919 and 1939-1946". Full details here: anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-eve...

#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Edinburgh #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #MilitaryRecords

Full details on course and booking information here: bit.ly/3KShvmz

Six weekly sessions, online via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere. Thursday evenings, 7–9 pm (GMT).

The course covers statutory records, census returns, church records, military sources, and an introduction to DNA, showing how they fit together in practice

Designed for complete beginners, those returning to family history after a break, or anyone wanting a clearer understanding of Scottish records.

A graphic advertising our upcoming course entitled "A Beginner's Course to Researching Your Family's Story and History". This is a six-week online course tutored by Ken Nisbet. The course will be on Thursday nights from 7 pm to 9 pm (GMT) from Thursday, 29th January 2026 to Thursday, 5th March 2026 (inclusive). The cost for the course is £46.00 / £42.00 (concession). To register your interest, please contact us at syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk.

Thinking about starting your family history in the New Year?

Our Beginner’s Course offers a clear introduction to Scottish genealogy and how the key records fit together. More details here: bit.ly/3KShvmz

#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

More details here: www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-eve...

If you’ve hit a dead end, bring it along. If you’ve had a breakthrough, we’d love to hear that too. And if you simply want a friendly room of fellow researchers to natter with, you’ll fit right in.

Come for the genealogy… stay for the company!

Our London meetings take place at the Crown Court Church of Scotland Hall, Russell St., London WC2 5EZ.

Graphic advertising our London Group Meeting on Saturday, 22nd November 2025 from 12 pm—2pm (GMT) at the Crown Court Church of Scotland Hall, London WC2 5EZ. This is an in-person meeting where we'll discuss brick walls and have a general genealogy chat.

Our London Group is meeting in person on Saturday, 22nd November 2025 from 12 pm—2 pm for a Brick Walls and general genealogy chat. This will be a time to swap stories, share tips, and commiserate over ancestors who refused to be helpful.
#Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #London #Genealogy

www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-eve...

If you're not a member of the Society and wish to join the online meeting, please email us at syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk to request an invitation link.