This is a new edition of the bestselling guide to this increasingly popular pursuit. Scotland has the best-maintained records and facilities of any country in the world for undertaking family research, and now that the National Records of Scotland are available online they can be consulted by anyone from whatever country. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors is the National Records' official guide and is written in an accessible style from the unique perspective of a custodian of the records. It details all the latest internet developments, including a chapter on family history on the web. It also points to more traditional resources, explaining step by step how to research records of births, marriages and wills.

Fully updated for 2023, the bestselling original baby names book now has over 8,000 names inside. From each state's most popular names and trends for 2023 to tips about initials, last names and nicknames, Baby Names 2023 includes everything parents-to-be need to know to pick the perfect name for their baby

Contents:
An introduction to "Perspectives on the Renaissance Medal", Stephen K.Scher. Giovanni Bernardi and the question of medal attributions in sixteenth century Italy, Philip Attwood. Changing patterns of antiquarianism in the imagery of the Italian Renaissance medal, John Cunnally. Correct and incorrect: the composition of medallic reverses in late seventeenth century France, Mark Jones. 'Un gran pelago': the impresa and the medal reverse in fifteenth century Italy, Kristen Lippincott. Ancient themes on Erzgebirgishen Medals, Hermann Maue. Text and image: themes on reverses of fifteenth and sixteenth century medals, Graham Pollard. A creative moment: thoughts on the genesis of the German portrait medal, Jeffrey Chipps Smith. Mint and medal in the Renaissance, Alan Stahl. Pisanello's Paragoni, Raymond Waddington. "The Modern Lysippus": A Roman quattrocento medalist in context, Louis Alexander. Visual constructions of the art of war: images for Machiavelli's Prince. Joanna Woods-Marsden.

The story of arms in Western Europe from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution. A treasury of information based on solid scholarship, anyone seeking a factual and vivid account of the story of arms from the Renaissance period to the Industrial Revolution will welcome this book. The author chooses as his starting-point the invasion of Italy by France in 1494, which sowed the dragon's teeth of all the successive European wars; the French invasion was to accelerate the trend towards new armaments and new methods of warfare. The authordescribes the development of the handgun and the pike, the use and style of staff-weapons, mace and axe and war-hammer, dagger and dirk and bayonet. He shows how armour attained its full Renaissance splendour and then suffered itssorry and inevitable decline, culminating in the Industrial Revolution, with its far-reaching effects on military armaments. Above all, he follows the long history of the sword, queen of weapons, to the late eighteenth century, when it finally ceased to form a part of a gentleman's every-day wear. Lavishly illustrated. EWART OAKESHOTT was one of the world's leading authorities on the arms and armour of medieval Europe. His other works on the subject include Records of the Medieval Sword and The Sword in the Age of Chivalry.

The 21 censuses that have been conducted in Britain since 1801, have provided an invaluable insight into Britain's social, political and economic history over the past 200 years. From their original purpose to assess how many men were fit for military duty in the Napoleonic wars, to being a necessary tool for determining government policy, the 10-yearly census return is a fascinating snapshot of the state of the population on a particular moment in each decade. The growth of Britain's cities; the movement of population away from the countryside; the variety of people's occupations; their way of life; and what religious beliefs they hold are all contained within the census reports. With the imminent publication of the 1921 census results, this will prove a useful introduction, both for those interested in general trends in social history, and those researching family history.

Coronations are very public occasions, typically seen as meticulously planned formal ceremonies where everything runs smoothly. But behind the scenes at Westminster Abbey lie extraordinary but true stories of mayhem, confusion and merriment. In this book we travel through over a thousand years of England's history to reveal the real character of its kings and queens. Also packed with facts about how the service, traditions and accessories have changed over the years, Crown, Orb & Sceptre provides both a compelling read and an accessible and irreverent reference guide to one of the most spectacular ceremonies in England's heritage.

By the early 13th century the use of seals in Northern Europe was a generalized phenomenon which involved society as a whole, crossing boundaries of gender, age, religion, and social and professional status. The function traditionally ascribed to seals is the validation of the documents to which they were affixed, but the phenomenon has far wider implications, as is brought out in this collection of studies by Brigitte Bedos-Rezak. In itself a seal could serve as a quasi-amuletic object or a personal adornment, the image impressed from it functioned as a sign conveying identity and power, and the ritual of sealing provided an occasion for the affirmation of status. In her work the author has aimed to use the approaches of statistics, cultural and women's history and semiotics, as well as the 'traditional' skills of art history, law and diplomatics, to show the numerous surviving seals can be used to reach into the history of the Middle Ages, and at the same time to explore and test the interpretative models suggested by semiotics and postmodern theories on symbols, representation and meaning.

Historians and broadcasters Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan tell the real stories of the most powerful men and women in British history. Kings & Queens explores the lives, loves, triumphs and disasters of a monarchy that is the envy of the world. Snow and MacMillan offer a unique insight into those born to rule, whether villains or heroes - from cruel King John and warrior-king Edward III, to our own Elizabeth II: dutiful, discreet and the longest-reigning queen in the world. This is the story of modern civilization through the lens of those who have ruled.

It was only in 1547 that the ruler of Moscow, Ivan the Terrible, was formally proclaimed tsar, emperor, yet in reality the title had long been in use. Professor Vodoff's concern in these articles has been to uncover the significance of such usages, as part of the political vocabulary of medieval Russia, and to reveal the ideolgy behind them. The period covered extends from Kievan times, when the titulature reflects the close relationship - and rivalry - with the Byzantine empire, but the main focus is on the later period, when the different princes competed for the heritage of the Kievan state and the notion of 'Russia' itself became part of the political conflict. This struggle was won by the rulers of Moscow, though only in the face of determined opposition from the neighbouring principality of 'Tver', and its history effectively suppressed or neglected in suceeding centuries, is a major theme in this volume.

Discover how to use FamilySearch.org! Learn how to tackle the largest free genealogy website with this in-depth user guide, newly updated to reflect the site's latest developments. The Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org, second edition, shows you how to find your family in the site's databases of more than 3.5 billion names and millions of digitized historical records spanning the globe. Learn how to maximize all of FamilySearch.org's research tools--including hard to find features--to extend your family tree in the United States and the old country. This comprehensive guide contains valuable FamilySearch.org tips, including: Step-by-step strategies for crafting search queries that find ancestors fast Practical pointers for locating your ancestors in record collections that aren't keyword searchable Detailed overviews of FamilySearch.org's major US, European, Canadian, and Mexican collections, plus records from more than 100 other countries Tips for creating and managing your family tree on FamilySearch.org Expert tips for utilizing user-submitted genealogies, digitized family history books, and the FamilySearch catalog of 2.4 million offline resources you can borrow through a local Family History Center Illustrated step-by-step examples that will teach you exactly how to apply these tips and techniques to your own research Worksheets and checklists to track your research progress Whether you're new to FamilySearch.org or a longtime user, you'll find the guidance you need in the Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org to discover your ancestors and make the most of the site's valuable resources.

It took Henry VIII twenty-eight years, three wives, and a break with Rome before he secured a legitimate male heir. Yet he already had a son - the illegitimate Henry Fitzroy. Fitzroy was born in 1519 after the King's affair with Elizabeth Blount. He was the only illegitimate offspring ever acknowledged by Henry VIII, and Cardinal Wolsey was even one of his godparents. So just how close did he come to being Henry IX?

Praise for the 1st Edition "Easy to read yet filled with facts and information, this is a solid reference guide with everything for the beginner - and perhaps something for the more experienced too." - Family History Monthly "There is a lot of good advice in this book for those starting out." - Ancestors Navigate your way through your family's past Interested in family history? Keen to discover who your ancestors really were? Want to find out more from the comfort of your own home? If so, this book is for you. Walking you through the process of researching, organising and presenting your family tree online, this expert guide makes it simple. So what are you waiting for? Get plugged in and start tracking down your ancestors today! Lay the groundwork - take the first steps on your genealogical journey and start searching for evidence Find out about your ancestors - discover who your predecessors were and where they came from Get to grips with research tools - find the best online and offline archives and dig deeper into your family's past Present your results effectively - compile your findings into a family tree and create a place to host your material online Open the book and find: What clues you can get from photos, letters, diaries and your relatives The best genealogy websites in the UK and around the world How to get the most out of archives and documents Techniques for creating family history charts on your computer The advantages of coordinating your hunt with other researchers Ways to share research online Tips and tricks for building a family history web page Learn to: Get the most out of genealogy websites and resources Store and organise information on yourcomputer Create your family tree and host it online

The Paston letters viewed in the context of medieval women's writing and medieval letter writing. The Paston letters form one of only two surviving collections of fifteenth-century correspondence, in their case especially rich in letters from the women of the family. Clandestine love affairs, secret marriages, violent family rows, bickering with neighbours, battles and sieges, threats of murder and kidnapping, fears of plague: these are just some of the topics discussed in the letters of the Paston women. Diane Watt's introduction seeks to place these letters in the context of medieval women's writing and and medieval letter writing. Her interpretive essay reconstructs the lives of these women by examining what the letters reveal about women's literacy and education, lifein the medieval household, religion and piety, health and medicine, and love, marriage, family relationships, and female friendships in the middle ages. Professor Diane Watt is Head of the School of English and Languages, University of Surrey.

Attractive selection conveys well their recurrent concerns with land, money, civil violence, flirtation, marriage, and the purchase of ginger and lace. MEDIUM AEVUM Vivid first-hand accounts of life in England at the time ofthe Wars of the Roses, presented in their historical context. Essential reading on the English middle ages. Within three generations (1426 to 1485), and through the dark anddangerous years of the Wars of the Roses, the Pastons establishedthemselves as a family of consequence, both in their native Norfolk andwithin court circles. Ambitious and highly mobile - womenfolk as wellas men - they kept in touch by correspondence, usually but notinvariably through the medium of a clerk. These letters, a raresurvival, break upon us across the centuries with the urgency, andsometimes the violence, of their preoccupations: defending property,fighting court cases, making the right alliances, and, on the domesticside, managing their estates, conducting their courtships, stockingtheir cupboards. Selected and presented here with Richard Barber'sinvaluable linking narrative, they bring the middle ages triumphantlyto life.

100 Symbols That Changed The World looks at the genesis and adoption of the world's most recognizable symbols. Universal symbols have been used as a form of communication from the Bronze Age, when the dynasties of ancient Egypt began the evolution of the thousand characters used in Egyptian hieroglyphics. In pre-Columbian America the Mayan civilization set out on a similar course, using pictures as a narrative text. With the adoption of written languages, symbols have come to represent an illustrated shorthand. The dollar sign in America evolved from colonists' trade with the Spanish, and the widespread acceptance of Spanish currency in deals. Merchants' clerks would shorten the repeated entry of "pesos" in their accounts ledgers, which needed to be written with a 'p' and an 's'. A single letter 's' with the vertical stroke of the 'p' was much quicker. Historically correct dollar signs have a single stroke through the 'S'. Symbols are also used to impart quick, recognizable safety advice. The radio activity symbol was designed in Berkley in 1946 to warn of the dangers of radioactive substances - and following the widespread use of gas masks in WWII, the trefoil symbol echoed the shape of the mask. There are many symbols of affiliation, not only to religious groups, but support of political causes or even brand loyalty. Symbols are used for identification, military markings and recognition of compatibility. They allow users to convey a large amount of information in a short space, such as the iconography of maps or an electrical circuit diagram. Symbols are an essential part of the architecture of mathematics. And in the case of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics - the first Games to be held in an Asian country - symbols allowed the organizers to create event signage that wouldn't be lost in translation. The set of Olympic sports pictograms for the Games was a novel solution, and one that was added to in Mexico and Munich. Organized chronologically, 100 Symbols That Changed The World looks at the genesis and adoption of the world's most recognizable symbols.

An exciting new edition of Bella Bathurst's epic story of Robert Louis Stevenson's ancestors and the building of the Scottish coastal lighthouses against impossible odds. 'Whenever I smell salt water, I know that I am not far from one of the works of my ancestors,' wrote Robert Louis Stevenson in 1880. 'When the lights come out at sundown along the shores of Scotland, I am proud to think they burn more brightly for the genius of my father!' Robert Louis Stevenson was the most famous of the Stevensons, but not by any means the most productive. The Lighthouse Stevensons, all four generations of them, built every lighthouse round Scotland, were responsible for a slew of inventions in both construction and optics, and achieved feats of engineering in conditions that would be forbidding even today. The same driven energy which Robert Louis Stevenson put into writing, his ancestors put into lighting the darkness of the seas. The Lighthouse Stevensons is a story of high endeavour, beautifully told; indeed, this is one of the most celebrated works of historical biography in recent memory.

A Los Angeles Times bestseller "Reading The Amazing Baby Name Book feels like discussing name choices with your best friends. A great read when you're looking for a name for a baby (or a pet or a movie character), from the traditional to the unique and unexpected. But also great to read when you have nothing to name at all and are just looking for a smile."--Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost "A must for any new parents or name lovers."--Baker Machado, morning anchor, Wake Up with Cheddar From A to Z and Everything in Between What's in a name? Everything! In this fun, charming, and wonderfully curated collection of baby names, authors Amy Ephron and her daughters, Anna and Maia, share inspired and witty ideas that will spark your imagination, providing parents-to-be with moments of humor, historical context, factual tidbits, and highly opinionated takes on the most creative names from Abacus and Abbie to Zoe and Zuzu! Celebrating inspiration, inclusion, hope, and love--with a little bit of lighthearted attitude thrown in for good measure--this bundle of joy is the perfect gift for you or someone you love.

Whether pasted into an album, framed or shared on social media, the family photograph simultaneously offers a private and public insight into the identity and past of its subject. Long considered a model for understanding individual identity, the idea of the family has increasingly formed the basis for exploring collective pasts and cultural memory. Picturing the Family investigates how visual representations of the family reveal both personal and shared histories, evaluating the testimonial and social value of photography and film.Combining academic and creative, practice-based approaches, this collection of essays introduces a dialogue between scholars and artists working at the intersection between family, memory and visual media. Many of the authors are both researchers and practitioners, whose chapters engage with their own work and that of others, informed by critical frameworks. From the act of revisiting old, personal photographs to the sale of family albums through internet auction, the twelve chapters each present a different collection of photographs or artwork as case studies for understanding how these visual representations of the family perform memory and identity. Building on extensive research into family photographs and memory, the book considers the implications of new cultural forms for how the family is perceived and how we relate to the past. While focusing on the forms of visual representation, above all photographs, the authors also reflect on the contextualization and 'remediation' of photography in albums, films, museums and online.