Federation of Family History Societies

The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) is an educational charity formed in 1974 and granted charitable status in 1982. Over the years, membership has grown to over 160 societies throughout the world, including national, regional and one-name groups. The principal aims of the Federation are:


 * to co-ordinate and assist the work of societies or other bodies interested in family history, genealogy and heraldry
 * to foster mutual co-operation and regional projects in these subjects
 * to represent the interests of its member societies, and family historians in general, on numerous national and regional bodies.

Benefits
The Federation offers a number of benefits to members, including:


 * FFHS is represented on governmental and national bodies: It is respected as an authentic and audible voice for the many needs and concerns of our member societies and other family historians. See our 'Archives Liaison' pages.
 * FFHS provides news on Family History matters through its e-zine (electronic magazine) and its e-mail mailing list FFHS-News.
 * FFHS provides Insurance cover: Membership includes a cheap comprehensive Public Liability Insurance within the annual subscription; cheap Personal Accident Insurance and Assets Insurance are also available to member societies if required.
 * FFHS offers general advice and assistance: through its Officers and Committees, it can help on a wide range of subjects such as VAT, choosing suitable computer software, publishing and arranging family history events.
 * FFHS gives specialist advice: it produces booklets on specialist topics such as Copyright and Data Protection.
 * FFHS produces free guidelines for societies: examples include those for Society Secretaries, Treasurers, Editors, Project Leaders, Conference Organisers and Lists of Recommended Speakers.
 * FFHS provides a model constitution for UK Societies. This complies with the known requirements of both the Charity Commissioners and the Inland Revenue, allowing Societies to obtain the benefits of charitable status should they wish to do so.
 * FFHS runs one day seminars for officers and task-holders: these include Secretaries, Treasurers, Editors, Projects Co-ordinators, and Web Masters. Getting to Know You seminars are also held to allow new Society committee members to learn more about the Federation, its services and officers.
 * FFHS, through a franchise with S &amp; N Genealogical Supplies, provides GENfair - a 'one-stop shop' where FFHS members can sell their specialist products and collect subscriptions.

Current projects

 * National Burial Index on a county and national basis
 * Monumental Inscriptions transcript for all church &amp; chapel yards, and public cemeteries on a county basis
 * National Inventory of War Memorials (in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum) on a county basis
 * Marriage Indexes on a county basis, particularly for the period 1754-1837

Past projects

 * 1881 Census Project
 * The 'Big-R'
 * The National Burial Index (NBI) for England and Wales
 * FamilyHistoryOnline

Publications

 * FFHS Ezine

Newsletters

 * FFHS-NEWS is a 'one-way' Mailing List which is used to make announcements from the Federation and to publish information of general interest.

To subscribe to FFHS-NEWS, visit: ffhs-lists.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ffhs-news_ffhs-lists.org.uk and enter your email address and name in section [2] of the page

Society Meetings

 * The Autumn General Meeting is being held on Saturday 18th September 2010 at the Thornbury Leisure Complex, Thornbury, Bristol
 * The Annual General Meeting of The Federation of Family History Societies will take place on Saturday 26th March 2011 at the Age Concern Day Centre, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Frequently Asked Questions

 * Q. What are the directions to the society?
 * A.


 * Q. What are the society's hours of operation?
 * A.