Mike Sharpe

UK-based researcher and writer with a passion for unearthing the past and telling a good story.
Worcestershire, UK

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About Me

Professional genealogist, writer and lecturer working across the UK, specialising in research in Birmingham and the West Midlands region. I am a Member of the Association of Genealogists & Researchers in Archives (AGRA), the organisation representing the leading professional genealogists in the UK, where I'm also a Council Member. Member of the Society of Genealogists (London) and several local and family history societies. I make regular presentations on various aspects of genealogy, lecture on family history, and write for family history magazines. I am the author of three books on genealogy: Family Matters - A History of Genealogy; Tracing Your Birmingham Ancestors; and Tracing Your Potteries Ancestors, all published by Pen & Sword. I have undertaken extensive research for US clients wishing to trace their British ancestry, including projects for Trace.com and for the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). I was a British coach for Trace.com’s Coach’s Corner at the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah in February 2019, and have fulfilled similar roles at Rootstech London, October 2019, and Rootstech 2020 in SLC, February 2020. I live within easy reach of all major record offices and repositories in the English Midlands and also make frequent visits to London archives (TNA, LMA, SoG). Research packages are available to meet all pockets and requirements, as well as a contract research option charged at an hourly rate. I also welcome enquiries from researchers and professional genealogists overseas who are looking for a local link or partner for research in Britain's industrial heartland. As well as specialist research, I offer a writing and editing service to turn your findings into a full-colour book or photo-album to share with family and friends.

Languages

Speak

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English

Services

Lecturer/Seminars

Oral History/Interview

Project Management

Reunion Planning

Locations Researched

Gloucestershire (UK)

Herefordshire (UK)

Leicestershire (UK)

Lincolnshire (UK)

Nottinghamshire (UK)

Oxfordshire (UK)

Shropshire (UK)

Staffordshire (UK)

Warwickshire (UK)

Worcestershire (UK)

Derbyshire (UK)

Time Periods

1600

1700

1800

1900

2000

Specialties

Anglican/Church of England/Episcopalian

British Military

Emigration & Immigration

House Historian

Archives & Location

Nearby Archives

Gloucestershire Archives (United Kingdom)

Gloucestershire Archives holds the archives for the county of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. The archives are held at Alvin Street in Gloucester and run by Gloucestershire County Council. More recently, the Archives at Alvin Street have been rebranded as the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub.

Herefordshire Archives and Record Centre (United Kingdom)

Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre hold approximately 8,000 archive collections, occupying over two miles of shelving. Their archives date back to the twelfth century, and can help you research almost any aspect of Herefordshire past.

Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service (United Kingdom)

Explore Worcestershire past with our archive collections and archaeology services for family historians, community projects, developers and more.

Shropshire Archives (United Kingdom)

We are the archives and local studies service for the historic county of Shropshire. This includes the borough of Telford and Wrekin. We preserve and make accessible documents, books, maps, photographs, plans and drawings relating to Shropshire past and present.

Library of Birmingham (United Kingdom)

The Library of Birmingham is a public library in Birmingham, England. It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square, beside the Birmingham Rep and Baskerville House. Upon opening on 3 September 2013, it replaced Birmingham Central Library.

Warwickshire County Record Office (United Kingdom)

The office collects, preserves and makes available the historic records of Warwickshire and its people. We have records dating from the 12th century onwards and our collections cover a wide variety of historical documents, from old title deeds to recent baptism registers. Records are deposited with us on a regular basis, and we keep all records in a secure and safe environment so that they will be preserved for future generations.

Staffordshire Record Office (United Kingdom)

Staffordshire Record Office is the county record office for Staffordshire, England. It is run by Staffordshire County Council, and is located in Eastgate Street, Stafford, behind the William Salt Library. Some records are held offsite at a store also in Stafford.

National Archives (United Kingdom)

The National Archives is the official public archive of the United Kingdom government, with holdings encompassing more than 1,000 years of history.

Guildhall Library (London) (United Kingdom)

Located in London, the Guildhall Library is a reference library specializing in the history of London, with over 200,000 titles spanning seven centuries.

Society of Genealogists (London) (United Kingdom)

The Society of Genealogists (SoG) is located in London. Their holdings contain thousands of records unique to the society library.

Dudley Archives and Local History Centre (United Kingdom)

Dudley Archives and Local History holds the archives for the town of Dudley. The archives are held at Tipton Road, Dudley, and run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Bodleian Library - University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford is the principal library of the University. There are 27 libraries in the Bodleian Libraries group, consisting of over 13 million printed items, as well as digital items.

Stoke on Trent City Archives (United Kingdom)

The role of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service is to locate, collect and preserve archives relating to past and present life in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent and to make them available to the people of Staffordshire and its visitors.

Wolverhampton City Archives (United Kingdom)

Wolverhampton City Archives holds a wealth of information that can aid family historians in their search to find their Wolverhampton ancestors.

Academics & Certifications

Academics
An education or degree conferred by a 4 year institution or other educational body
Academics
An education or degree conferred by a 4 year institution or other educational body
Academics
An education or degree conferred by a 4 year institution or other educational body
Certification
A certification conferred by a certifying body, not a 4 year institution
Certification
A certification conferred by a certifying body, not a 4 year institution
Certification
A certification conferred by a certifying body, not a 4 year institution

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