So often we get caught up in our daily schedules and workloads that we forget to take time out to have a bit of fun. This can also be true of our genealogy projects, and I’m guilty of this, as are many other genealogists. We get so concerned with finding facts and deciphering dates that we forget to have fun with genealogy. I was recently reminded of how much fun genealogy can be when I was searching for online archives. My search led me to a website that I have to absolutely share with you – British Pathé. Perhaps you are already familiar with this website, if not it is both a valuable genealogical resource, and a fun place to visit – especially if you like nostalgia.

What is British Pathé?

As a genealogical resource the British Pathé is indeed worth its salt. The website is an online archive containing over 90,000 videos which contain footage from newsreels, social history documentaries, sports footage, music and entertainment spanning the period from 1896 to 1976. If you wish, you can purchase films or still footage photographs as well. But this is just as much a place to have fun as to research at! There’s something for everyone here. Like the Beatles? Watch the clip of their first interview after they had arrived in New York – the screaming young (and some old) girls, the Pan Am sign in the background, and just watching the young (and full of themselves) Beatles hamming it up for the cameras was really fun to watch.

Some of the funniest clips are of 1920’s female boxers (perhaps the older girls who were at the Beatles’ arrival), or if that fails to amuse you try watching the 1940’s public information films which chastise inconsiderate commuters who elbow their way onto the bus just to go to the pub. There is an endless amount of entertainment here, and more than just entertain, these historical films give us a glimpse into the lives and social mentalities of our ancestors.

But there is some serious footage here as well; war scenes from 1914 – 1914, the Bombardment of Tripoli, Concentration Camp footage and a ranting speech by Hitler from the War and Revolution section. One of the most touching pieces shows a group of young boys examining the names of their brothers and fathers on the First World War Roll of Honor in Chew Magna Village in Somerset, England. Other sections include; Religion and Politics, Fashion and Music, Historical Figures and Celebrities, Sports and Leisure, and Lifestyle and Culture.

Of Special Interest to Genealogists

Of particular interest to genealogists would be the cinema news reel that British Pathé has produced. It spans the years 1910 – 1970, and contains hundreds of hours of archived footage from all over the United Kingdom. They are especially interested however in having users of the site help them identify people and locations in their films, and even the story behind the footage if known. If you spot your ancestor in any of the footage, they would be especially happy for you to contact them via Email at localhistory@britishpathe.com.
So, if you get stuck in a research rut, take some time out to spend a few moments browsing through the archived footage at British Pathé – who knows, you might even find your ancestor there. Happy Ancestor hunting!