Branching Out: How to use Maps for Family History

Overview

Old maps can be an amazing source of information for the family historian as well as those studying house or local history. Everything happens somewhere and an old map can provide visual and spatial clues which can help us understand individual, family and community spaces, across time periods. Maps can reveal details of property changes, historic land use, travel, economy, ownership and occupancy. Maps are cultural documents, providing a window on a particular time and place in history.  
 
‘Branching Out’ is a series of online, self-paced 5-credit modules, which focus on key documents, resources and collections for family history research and beyond. They give students an opportunity to study a key topic in depth, using relevant examples and collections.  
This course focuses primarily on British research. Students will learn how to effectively search a number of subscription and free historic mapping websites. Wherever possible, alternative free resources are highlighted; some subscription websites used are available to access for free through local public library services. 
 
Branching Out: how to use maps for family history can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also an optional module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Genealogical Studies at Aberystwyth University. If you have already completed our 3-part series of modules Acorn to Oak: building a family tree, these 5 -credit modules will likely be of interest, as you can explore a particular topic in much greater detail. 

Programme

Activities and tasks will be embedded into each unit so students can practise the techniques they have learned and develop their skills. Students will be encouraged to share their own work and participate in discussions on Blackboard. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard the tutor will be on hand via email to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. They will also participate in the online discussions.  This module contains 1 live webinar. 

Unit 1 – Introduction 

Unit 2 – Ordnance Survey Historic maps   

Unit 3 – Tithe Maps and place names 

Unit 4 – Estate maps and records 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:  

1. Demonstrate an understanding of spatial thinking.
2. Locate and search key online and archival map collections and data.
3. Identify and explain historic map features.
4. Analyse an historic map and complete some further research in order to contextualise the document within a wider socio-historic context. 

Assessments

1. Evaluation of an historic map (20%)
2. Research project 800 words - comparing maps over a key time period (80%) 

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.