Family history is only one part of your personal heritage – there's more to your background than who your ancestors were. This differs from most books on the market as it places this process on an equal footing with the social history that surrounds each generation, as much as the technical know-how on which records to examine, and where. This book takes you on a unique journey back in time, examining the houses, streets, communities and ways of life that shaped the world around us, and in particular the precise circumstances that made us who we are today. Furthermore this book will not just explain how and where to undertake this personal detective process – it shows you how to organize and shape your findings, and create your own personal archive using the latest technology and online resources, and how to add your store of knowledge to the emerging social networks that allow us to create a People's Archive and tell the forgotten story of the past that never makes it into the textbooks. AUTHOR: Dr Nick Barratt obtained a PhD in history from King's College in London in 1996, editing the 1225 Exchequer pipe roll and several Exchequer receipt rolls from the 1220s in the National Archives. Nick started work in television whilst working at the BBC as a specialist archive researcher for a number of programmes. Nick is a prolific reviewer and commentator on all aspects of history, notably family history. He has worked with a variety of companies, celebrities and TV presenters often compiling their family history, including the triple BAFTA nominated BBC – Who Do You Think You Are? From Richard Bacon to Richard Hammond, Victoria Beckham to Catherine Zeta Jones, Nick's research has been used for all features of publicity. SELLING POINTS: .Written by the celebrated presenter, acclaimed family historian and passionate genealogist, Nick Barratt .Covers aspects of personal heritage including how to process oral history, family memorabilia and memories so that we reach a better understanding of our recent past .Covers areas such as investigating ancestral homes, and family occupations .Step by step guide to building our family tree, using online resources, and the more complex are of genetic genealogy .Includes “how-to” research methods in a comprehensible and accessible format ILLUSTRATIONS 50-60 b/w illustrations *