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Saturday 25 November 2017

Pictures and Maps

Writing up your family history can be enhanced by pictures and maps.
Too often they are copyright or watermarked. That's fine, but so many pictures from old books are out of copyright.
It was wonderful that one of my links sent me the details of the 'Digital Library of America', I'm now enjoying the search for new pictures and maps that can illustrate my family history.
I've even discovered Sergeant Wayne A Cuffley, a very distant relative, has provided photographs to the USAF and these are available on the site.
Its amazing how the availability of knowledge has increased over the last ten years.

Thursday 23 November 2017

NWKFHS Library Christmas Closures

The Library will be open on Wednesday 20th December when you can research and enjoy Janet's Christmas fare provided by the 'Tea Club'.
On Wednesday 27th December the Library is CLOSED.
On the Wednesday 3rd January the Library is OPEN. Have a happy new year and don't forget its our 40th Anniversary year.
Have a Happy Christmas.
Best wishes David

Friday 17 November 2017

Syd Jordan Cartoons


If you or your parents played sport in the South East London area were they recorded by Syd Jordan. Syd Jordan who died in 1972 drew sketches of sportsmen from the local clubs.
It was seeing a cartoon of my father and his brother playing bowls for Woolwich Polytechnic (later know as Thames Poly and now Greenwich University) Bowls club who beat Bexleyheath Conservative Club that reminded me of these wonderful sketches. I'm fortunate that I too have a cartoon from my rugby playing days.
Syd was born in 1894 at Plumstead and died in 1972. His sketching started in 1919 for a Crayford works magazine before moving to work for the Kentish Times (The Mercury 27 November 1997).
He was not only a cartoonist but had been trained as an engineer working for Vickers during both world wars. In the 1920's he was the licensee of a pub in Bexleyheath.
If anyone else can add to Syd Jordan's biography or know where a collection of his sketches can be seen other than in old newspapers I would like to hear.

David

Thursday 16 November 2017

Dartford Branch meeting 2 November 2017

Peter Jones gave a talk on 'The Masons and 300 years of the Grand Lodge of England' explaining their history and the work in the community.
The next Dartford meeting on the 2nd December has a talk by Rupert Matthews entitled 'The Biography of Father Christmas'
If you want to learn more about all the North West Kent FHS branches and their meetings see the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/North-West-Kent-Family-History-Society-185363068176998/