From Family Tree to Family History (Studying Family and Community History) [Paperback]

"The book offers a fresh and enriching perspective on urban life, particularly about how urban planning visions are actually 'lived.' This book will be valuable for those interested in the history of new towns in Britain and elsewhere. Tales of the City also offers a valuable affirmation of the importance of story-telling as a promising vehicle for understanding the complexities of urban living. Ruth Finnegan's work points the way for actively exploring the many different, simultaneous conflicting and parallel, stories told about the 'same' place." Canadian Journal of Urban Research

This is the first volume in a major new initiative in the study of local history, designed to equip students and amateur enthusiasts with a mastery of the basic techniques and concepts required to pursue the subject in depth. From Family Tree to Family History moves from a focus on individual families to the broader patterns revealed by recent research on population, household structures, domestic economies, family relationships and family myths. Suggestions for research are illustrated by numerous examples and case studies, including a fascinating discussion of family life in part of London's East End in the 1880s.

The first volume in a major new initiative in the study of local history, From Family Tree to Family History moves from a focus on individual families to the broader patterns revealed by recent research on population, household structures, domestic economies, family relationships and family myths.