This blog has been languishing over the past few years, due
to the lack of research on the One-Name Study. That doesn’t mean nothing has
been happening. In the past year, I have
still extracted index entries from several new databases, as well as dealt with a
few PARRY queries, plus 12 "Newswatch" entries from other Guild Members. So that’s some data collected.
We have a new Regional Representative for Warwickshire, who
is establishing regular meetings (so already demonstrating she’s a better RR
than I was ☺ ) I’ve attended the two meetings held so far, as well as the
Guild Conference in March and a seminar in October. At the seminar, a member presented me with a list
of Parry entries that appear in their study, with a request to see if I can add
any more information. At a local meeting. another member used some PARRY entries to illustrate how
he’d been able to identify unknown pieces of information in the Civil
Registration Indexes, before presenting me with some ‘homework’ to solve the
rest. Those are two outstanding tasks.
And the lack of time for systematic research has been
frustrating.
I’d already decided to try to spend more time on the One-Name Study during this coming year but now I have an added incentive, thanks to members who have suggested a Guild Blogging Challenge.
The aim is to write ten blog posts over three months - so
basically one a week. We'll be sharing our blog posts publicly but also have a Facebook
group where we can discuss the posts and encourage each other regarding our
research, as well as our writing. It’ll
be a great help towards achieving a few of the ‘pillars’ in a One-Name
Study, namely those of publicity, of publication, and of preservation.
Some people already have an idea of what they’re going to
write about. Others, including myself,
are still working out where to start. I won’t say “I haven’t a clue”, as a few
ideas are beginning to form. But, since I’m restarting research after a long break,
it will be interesting to see how things develop over the coming weeks.
A classic case of “watch this space”
Either way, I’m grateful for what I see as the Guild’s greatest
resource - the members - who constantly help, encourage, inspire and motivate
each other.
