Local By Tania Martin
DIGGING up family history has just been made easier with the help of Emerald Museum.
Hills historians Jan Shaw and Jenny Coates have set up a dedicated family history research centre at the museum.
The pair has also put together a collection of resources to help those who want to trace their family history.
However, the research is confined to histories of families that lived in area such as Avonsliegh, Clematis, Cockatoo, Emerald, Gembrook, Macclesfield, Menzies Creek and Mt Burnett.
Ms Shaw said some of the tools available at the museum for researching family histories include electoral role extracts from 1903-1936, cemetery records and births and deaths registries.
This new family research service is open for everyone to use for $5.
The museum is open on Wednesdays from 10am to 12.30pm and on Sunday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. It is situated at Nobelius Heritage Park, Crichton Road.
Ms Shaw said the museum is also looking for any donations of unwanted certificates, journals, photographs or newspapers that pertain to the local area.
She said all donations would be catalogued and then preserved in good quality files in a controlled temperature which would be in keeping with good museum practices.
“Alternatively, we can scan or photograph documents that you don’t want to part with,” Ms Shaw said.
Those interested in finding out more about the museum’s new family research service can call 5968 2152.
