RQG NEWS: ISSUE #07 | FEB 2026

Join us in Birmingham for RQG Conference 2026

RQG's biannual conference is fast approaching and we are delighted to welcome you to the historic Birmingham & Midland Institute on Saturday, 25 April.

Everybody is welcome - members, students and non-members alike - for a day of engaging talks and discussion.

If you're planning to attend, do book your ticket, and in the meantime here's a preview of what to expect from this year's conference.

In February's newsletter:

RQG CONFERENCE 2026: Exploring the Past, Embracing the Future
OUR VENUE: The Birmingham & Midland Institute
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Professor Rebecca Probert, Dr. Sophie Kay and Professor Julia Laite will join us in April
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME: Meet the first half of our conference speakers
RQG JOURNAL: Catch up with our latest Journal articles
WHAT'S NEW IN THE WORLD OF GENEALOGY?: News, events & more
DAVE ANNAL shares another top genealogical tip

Exploring the Past, Embracing the Future

25 April 2026

Building on the success of previous years, our 2026 conference invites attendees to reflect on the changing landscape of genealogy.

Our conference speakers will consider the foundations of genealogical research alongside the new methodologies and technologies shaping the field.

Networking is a core element of the conference, with plenty of opportunities to connect with peers. It promises to be a full and engaging day in a superb setting.

Our 2026 venue & speakers

Our 2026 venue is a fitting setting for a genealogy conference (if we do say so ourselves). The Birmingham & Midland Institute was founded in 1854 to promote education, debate and the exchange of ideas. Charles Dickens was an early champion and later president of the Institute.

The current building (built in 1899) remains an active centre for learning and research. Its impressive library of over 120,000 volumes (and the Midland Ancestors History Centre) will be open to delegates on the day.

Over the years, the Birmingham & Midland Institute has welcomed a remarkable range of speakers and visitors from leading scientists and writers to campaigners and public figures.

We’re pleased to confirm our distinguished keynote speakers:

Professor Rebecca Probert
(University of Exeter)
Researching bigamy through family history records

Dr. Sophie Kay
(Khronicle®)
Ethics and You: a people-centred guide to genetic genealogy

Professor Julia Laite
(Birkbeck, University of London)
How family history can change the way we think about history (and the world)

We’re also delighted to announce the first four speakers from our wider 2026 programme:

Michael Tobias
DNA Case Study – The Unknown Fathers

Justine Gallagher
Poverty, Parenting and Prostitution: Children admitted to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Industrial School (1880-1891)

Elizabeth Walne
Will bots tell your story? AIOs, GEO and getting your ancestors a click

John Cleary
Who drew that tree? A Regency family tree mystery

Keep an eye out for next month’s newsletter when we’ll confirm the full conference speaker line-up and sessions throughout the day.

RQG Journal's latest article

If you haven't caught up already, Anne-Maree Whitaker makes use of digitised newspapers to verify family legend in the latest RQG Journal article. The subject of the article is Engelbert Schuller, a French-born builder who settled in Australia.

We’re always looking for new submissions. Please contact our editorial team if you’d like to contribute.

What's new in the world of genealogy?

RootsTech 2026, the world's largest genealogy conference, will take place from 5-7 March in Salt Lake City and online. You can plan ahead by registering and building your own schedule (200+ new classes are available online).

The following week, on 14 March, the Family History Show is returning to Severn Hall, Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire. Later on in the year, subsequent events will be held at Aintree Racecourse (9 May) and Kempton Park Racecourse (3 October).

Exactly one week before RQG Conference 2026, the long-awaited 1926 Irish census will be released online. The National Archives of Ireland have worked tirelessly to digitise and transcribe the first census conducted after the foundation of the Irish Free State. It will be freely available from 18 April.

And on the very same day (18 April), the FHF Really Useful Family History Show will be held in St. Ives.

With more than 40 years of genealogical experience under his belt, our very own fount of knowledge Dave Annal is back again with another tip of the month.

Dave Annal's Top Genealogical Tip

Our ancestors’ signatures can be a highly effective problem-solving tool. Comparing signatures on a marriage record and an original will can help us to work out whether two people with the same name are the same person or not.

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