The Wakefield & District Family History Society was formed in 1997 by a small group of people in order to further their interest in family history. We have since grown to a membership of around 500 from around the world.
The objective of the Society is to advance public education in Family History and Genealogy for the benefit of anyone living in the area of the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council or with interests or family in that area.
To fulfil this aim we organise regular monthly meetings with speakers on a variety of topics, training courses and visits to places of interest to family historians. All members receive a quarterly journal, “The Wakefield Kinsman”.
We also transcribe and publish a wide range of records from parishes, censuses, trade directories, newspapers and other sources which provide invaluable information for those researching their family.
Click here to view a map of the area covered.
Monthly Meeting
AGM followed by David Scrimgeour’s ‘ Evolution of Asylum Patient Photography.’
Outwood Memorial Hall. 6 July 2019. Doors open 9.30am for a 10.30am start. Since David’s book, ‘Proper People,’ was published in 2015, he has been studying the photos of the inmates of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum. He will talk about his findings.