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Forgotten Women: Researching the Marginalized Women on Your

Family Tree

Join us for a FREE virtual program on January 28th at2:30 p.m. ET!

Even without meaning to, family historians often focus on the men on their family tree. It is usually the men who carry on the surname, the men who join the armed forces and who are more likely to leave wills, vote or rent property, thereby leaving a trail in the documentary record. Merely by virtue of her gender, a female ancestress can become overlooked. Some woman are further on the margins than others. If we, as genealogists, do not research their lives and preserve their memories who will? This presentation will use a series of case studies to describe researching women who spent time in workhouses or asylums, the mothers of illegitimate children, prostitutes and those accused of witchcraft amongst others. The sources used to tell their stories will be described. 

Janet Few is an experienced and well-known British family, social and community historian who has lectured across the English-speaking world and at sea. She is an author of both historical fiction and non-fiction, as well as many magazine articles. In addition, she has worked with the UK 'Who Do You Think You Are?' television programme. As an educator, Janet runs online genealogy and social history courses for Pharos Tutoring and Teaching. She is currently serving as the President of the Family History Federation and is actively involved in several other family history organisations. As someone with a particular interest in women’s history, Janet is part of the A Few Forgotten Women team, who seek to preserve the stories of marginalised women who might otherwise be overlooked by history