Nat Archive(Kew) - 1st Visit Tips

[BenB]

Hi
It rained! so I made my first visit.

On entering the Archive Building there is a security desk to your left they directed me just opposite where I completed a short form, produced my identification passport & collected my reading ticket. It is free and once issued it lasts for 3 years, only cost involved in replacing it!!. They will accept other forms of ID (d/Licence,& bank card)but I think are happier with one that has a photo.

Turn to your left a walk through. On the left is the public restaurant and cyber cafe, to your right the shop & a Museum display, beyond this and to the right is the cloak room.
The building is air conditioned but with all the electrical equipment does get hot, dump unwanted clothing in a locker and keep the key safe. A would not suggest walking round in your undies it does not get that warm!
Also leave in the locker, folders, bags, & pens. On the walls are clear plastic carriers in which to keep pencils, paper, note book, and the like which are permitted

Return to the foyer and you then swipe your readers ticket after a bags search. Its easier to look through the plastic bags!!

Go up the stairs (their is a lift & the place is wheelchair friendly) I turned to the left and went through a long.....
reading room to the record copying dept. It is here that you register your digital camera, basically a copywrite form & brief terms & conditions.

Then find yourself an information point and they will allocate you a seat in an area in which your camera can be used.
Now is the tricky bit for it depends on what you are researching.

I was after Army/Navy, Service Records quite a lot of which are on Microfilm. This room is back to the stairs passing through the Research Enquiries Room. In which is a help desk surrounded by loads of red bound registers .
On entering the Microfilm reading room there is a large display with very helpful idiot guides on How to....stop and have a look at these. I wish I had!

Clutching in my hand some previously acquired ADM Nos*. which I thought would make my research into finding my GG Grandfather William Bennett's service record easy. I found blue box which gives you a reader to use then I found films and got to work. The ADM's 159/20-35* (microfilm) were of little help and gave me three possibles Bennett's. Off to the help desk in the micro room and they suggested further searches.
It was then things went a bit pear shaped infact not looking very good at all.

Q-Did I know his service number?
A-No. ADM 313/52 etc has maybe turned up four possibles with a Reg No, a company of F,N,or A.
Under heading R I had DP, & LofS with some dates from 1803?to 08? (What these abbreviations mean are anyones guess!)

Q-Did I know what Division he was in.
 A-No but his children were born in 1873 through until 1878 maybe 1882 in Portsea(Portsmouth)

Q- So he was serving in that period so if you go to the registers book ADM 157 that will give you attestation numbers to look at they are alphabetical
A-OK

ADM157 left me with about 30-35 microfilms to look through. My enthusiasm had taken a severe bash.

Try the Research Enquiry Room. So of I went.

I outlined as best as I could what I was after, and tried to remember using my notes, and what I had done upto then. This chap huffily showed me in his red registers that what I had already done, and directed me to ADM159 which I later found out to be service registers 1842-1936 subject to the 75year disclosure rule and  not available.

Im getting really depressed now.
So I wandered back to the Research Enquiry Desk and explained it all again.
Q-Can you help me with my gggrandfather William Bennett he was a bugler in the Royal Marine Artillery in the mid to late 1800's.etc etc?
A-You say the children were born in Portsmouth (Portsea)well he was in the Portsmouth Division. I would suggest you order ADM158/101.2.3 they are alphabetical description books.
What a lovely lady!!

I completed my computer order and waited the required half an hour. Nothing in my seating box, I waited another twenty minutes nothing.
Off to a help desk.
"As they are large items they will be in the Map & Large Document Room on Level 2"
I am sure I did not see on the screen a prompt to say where they would be delivered.
I got them, looked at them, and in the first book found my man I now have the date he commenced service 18.05.1868 and when he ceased 18.5.1879 together with a personal description.
I recorded the details in my notebook and took photo's without any problems.

Having the dates I then was off to order his service records. Too late it was 1655hrs five minutes after the deadline!!!
So I left for home.
I hope it rains again soon so I will not be needed to work and carry on my research, into ADM157/289 Discharged & Service History.

The people at the Research Enquiry Desk all appear to be doing their own research and I felt a bit awkward in disturbing them.
This may explain why that one chap was a bit sharp with me.
In general though all were helpful and patient with me, even if I was confused.
Even the chap sitting next to me who showed me how to load my first microfilm (it goes under the bit with the two aluminium prongs) to the chap who showed me how to order the stuff on the computer.  

Well I hope this may help you. It does go on a bit.

BenB

[Amy K]

Thanks for posting that BenB, very interesting and very useful.

[honeybun]

On my first visit there new visitors were asked to take a short (20 minute) tour round with a guide who explained where everything was and how to order documents etc. before letting you loose on the research.

It helped a lot in finding my way around the building and locating things, and I assumed that this was normal for new researchers.

Next time you go you could join the tour, which is interesting in its own right.

Honeybun.

[Boongie Pam]

Thought I'd post a topic about my 1st visit to the PRO.

Apologies for bad spelling, and terrible grammar - I've had a few pints.

Reet!

Now, I'm not new to record offices per se, I've done Carlisle, and the NAS in Edinburgh, as well as the GROS and Scottish & Edinburgh rooms at the Edinburgh Lending rms.  I've done the FRC as well BUT nothing as BIG as PRO.

With the FRC you're kind of at home with birth, marriages and deaths no problem understanding about them - we all experience at least 2 of those events.  Census great, no hassle.

But the PRO, phewy - I was scared, very scared.

Got there about 11:00h today (saturday) it was quite quiet.  Registered with the online system very helpful chap at the door explained what we had to do. 

You can do this in advance:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/registration/

Register then go to reception show ID (passport, drivers licence, bank card work/student ID) get your card and you're off.................

Except....

I forgot pencils.  (no pens allowed)

So into the shop, buy pencils.

Got me water, got me cough sweeties, got me new pencils, got me notes....

Dump the bag in the cloakroom.

To the security desk...... (this is enough to put anyone off believe me!  Short of a body cavity search I'm sent back to the cloakroom).  No drinks or cough sweeties allowed!

Okay, I'm there, card in hand through the turnstiles and I'm off............ 

Up the stairs to find one information man with a queue of 6 aussies.  This is why they say research your queries before you go.  I had, so found the folder for series BT merchant navy stuff.

Anyway keeping the rample short!  It took about 40 minutes to get settled from front door to microfilm in hand.  Even then I wasn't sure what I was looking for.

The problem is that you are looking at info that wasn't collected for what we want it for, it ain't genealogical.  Personally, I think it takes a day to familiarise your self with the records the whole set up before you can get going.  I got going great guns but I was dragged off the printer at 5pm sadly before I'd collected a fraction of what I could.

My advise to anyone thinking of going and also to myself for next time is get the leaflets, most are available here...

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/

And there are many books on specifics, I got one about Merchant Seaman to help me through particular series of docs.

Some points I thought were worth knowing are that to print it costs 20p but the minimum you can spend is £5 and get £4.20 worth of copies - but there isn't anyway round this. 

Make sure they hold what you want.  Remember it may be offsite so order in advance if you can.

It takes a day to really get confident so don't overestimate what you'll come away with, disappointment may stop you coming back.


I'm sure there are other things and people here who are experienced with the place - share you're tips!

All the best,

Pam
 

[honeybun]

When I visited Kew for the first time earlier this year, I was asked to join a guided tour for "newbies" which we were expected to take - no option.  I was a bit frustrated as I thought it would waste valuable searching time, but I was grateful afterwards.  We had a short tour of the building showing us where everything was and how to order documents, photocopies etc.  It's always worth looking at the website before you go and downloading anything relevant.

In the end the tour saved me time and was well worth it.  I assumed that it was always done for new researchers, but it appears not as I have already seen another message much the same as yours.

And yes it is scary when you first go in!

Honeybun

[Jane Masri]

Yes, ladies,
I went to Kew on a whim last January and found it pretty daunting.  I know they have gone to great lengths to simplyfy everything with step-by-step guides on how to find everything but I think Pam hit the nail on the head by saying that, 'it aint genealogical', and it's not categorised in that way.  I really had a problem following the instructions from one book to another to files to drawer etc, it just wasn't logical!  Now I realise why
Jane

[Frances]

I too was not given any option as to whether or not I wanted to take the tour. Our tickets had been ordered online and they were ready when we arrived with only the ID checks to pass through. The only thing was they would not let us have  the cards, we were given them by the guide when he arrived to conduct  us around. We  did find it a frustrating to wait what turned out to be for nearly 40 mins. This was because we just missed one group and the next tour guide did not arrive at all, so to us a precious hour had passed by. After a three hour train journey it was not encouraging!

I have been back since then with much more success than the
first time, but I think it can be a very intimidating place. Its great though in the hot weather with its air-conditioning. I have roasted at the FRC, especially pulling those books around!!

One golden rule, do as much research as you can before you go.

Happy Hunting to you all,

Frances

[English Jen]

Blimey ... I'm going up there next month for the first time (well, second, but I was only 11 at the time and they wouldn't let me in!!!).  I'm getting petrified now.  I'm trying to find out stuff from the PRO website, but I keep getting lost in THAT.  I've already got my pencils ready (not pens).  I just don't know where to start!!!!  The only info I have is that my grandad was a fisherman and during WW2 he was either called up or volunteered (helpful eh?) and went into the Navy.  My mum did have his medals ... but alas they are gone.  He didn't die during WW2 as he died in 1971, a year before I was born.  That is ALL the info I have, is it going to be a wasted journey?

[BenB]

Hi Jen
Do not panic!!
 
Royal Navy Reserve ratings records I believe are still with the MOD not at NAR(only released on payment & proof of relationship)
1924-1939 Royal Navy Records DR2A Bourne Ave Hayes Middx
3rd Sept1939-todate Naval Pay HMS Centurion Gosport Hamps

So Dad's records may not be at the NAR, Kew.

However the NAR I believe do hold details of gallantry medals issued to navy personnel. When I was there last I saw some 'How to leaflets'  but  unfortunately did not pick any up.

I am no expert on Naval stuff, it may be prudent to put a plea out for help in these pages

BenB