Local History
Group Name: Local History
Group size: 20
Subject areas: History, Society
Frequency: Monthly
Group type: Research
Resources: Local and national archives, map resources
The purpose of the group
This group meet together to decide on areas of research and then share their findings through short talks.
How this group operates
This group operates via Zoom. The group has a single leader, but all members contribute when deciding on the direction of future research and meetings. Once decisions are made, members undertake their own research and prepare a short talk for the rest of the group. The group works together to decide when each talk takes place. There is also space for short sections on books or places of interest, as well as research techniques and resources.
Sessions
Session 1
Book review
- Agree on the programme for the next few months.
- Members bring in books about local history owned or borrowed and tell others in the group about it. Members discuss their future research and what they will undertake during the year.
Session 2
A virtual visit to a heritage venue
- The group leader researches a place of interest and creates a short talk for the group. This is followed by a group discussion on related places of interest and the research undertaken.
Session 3
Group member talks
- Members present talks based on their own research. Members to find an interesting YouTube video to share at the next session – this should be no more than x minutes long.
Session 4
Christmas video sharing
- Members present their videos and discuss. The group agrees on the theme for the next few months, e.g. sports, schools, religion or entertainment. The Group Leader provides a list of topics within each theme and members select the areas they are most interested in.
Session 5
Theme talks
- Members present their themed talks – no more than ten minutes per member.
Session 6
Theme talks
- Members present their themed talks – no more than ten minutes per member.
Session 7
Research skills
- Group Leader prepares material on research skills – this could be the use of a particular archive or online collections of maps. Members agree on a research theme for the next sessions based on the content of the presentation, e.g. historical maps to create a short show and tell.
Session 8
Show and tell
- All members present one thing that they found out from their agreed topic – allow only 2 or 3 minutes per member. They could share pictures, interesting facts or historical maps. Group leader to prepare a ‘History mystery’. This might be a particular building with a given location. Over the next month, members research their own mystery to present at the next session.
Session 9
'History Mystery’ findings
- All members present one thing that they found out about their own ‘History mystery’ – allow only 2 or 3 minutes per member. They could share pictures, interesting facts or historical maps.
Session 10
Talk from a guest speaker
- The year finishes with a talk from a visiting speaker (with permission from the IGO team). The session concludes with a short review: What surprised us most this year? Or favourite sources or talks. Members discuss ideas for next year’s programme.