Family Tree are delighted to be working with Findmypast to bring you a special webinar demonstrating how newspapers can help us understand the people behind the records – their voices, their choices, and the world they lived in.
Using Historical Newspapers to Enrich Family Stories
Join Jen Baldwin for this fascinating free webinar, as she reveals how historical newspapers can transform your research from a collection of facts into a vivid, human story.
The free webinar is taking place at 4pm on 7 May; the session will also be recorded and made available to all registrants.
Using Historical Newspapers to Enrich Family Stories
Through the remarkable journey of her own ancestor, Archibald McKenzie, Jen brings to life the power of newspaper research, uncovering everything from a violent protest in rural Cork to a beerhouse brawl in industrial Wales.
But this session isn’t about tools or databases. Instead, as Jen explains, “it’s about how newspapers can help us understand the people behind the records – their voices, their choices, and the world they lived in.”
"When I first came across the name Archibald McKenzie in my family tree, I didn’t expect to find a man charged with riot, assaulting a police officer, and serving time in prison," Jen explains. "But what I uncovered through historical newspapers was far more than a criminal record – it was a story of resistance, migration, and survival.
"In this session, I’ll share how I used 19th-century newspaper reports to piece together the life of my 4x great-grandfather, an Irish Catholic who lived through famine, political unrest, and poverty. From a violent protest in rural Cork to a beerhouse brawl in industrial Wales, Archibald’s story unfolded in headlines and court reports – revealing not just what he did, but why he may have done it.
"This isn’t a lecture about tools or databases. It’s about how newspapers can help us understand the people behind the records, their voices, their choices, and the world they lived in.
"It’s about reading between the lines to find empathy, context, and connection."
About the speaker
Jen Baldwin has been working in the realm of professional genealogy since 2010 but has been pursuing her family history since she was ten years old.
She is currently the Research Specialist and North American Content Manager for Findmypast, and her work is featured routinely by media outlets across Great Britain. Jen lectures internationally, writes, and consults on a variety of genealogy related topics, and was part of the research team for Genealogy Roadshow, season two on PBS (US).
Jen is also the host of the A Family History of... podcast.
Each month this popular podcast follows one story across several gripping episodes, and gives listeners the chance to experience history through the eyes of those who lived it. Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Find out more about the podcast at: www.findmypast.co.uk/a-family-history-of