The Society of Genealogists is to be a partner of the forthcoming History For Ukraine event, which brings historians and genealogists from around the world together in solidarity to raise vital funds for Ukraine with a 24-hour event, broadcast online and across social media.

A host of famous faces have already pledged their support for the event, including Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, Dr Fern Riddell, Professor Kate Williams, Dr Janina Ramirez, and Earl Charles Spencer. They will be joined by the Society’s Genealogist Else Churchill and Chief Executive Dr Wanda Wyporska, as well as professional historians and genealogists from around the world to stage a programme of informative talks and discussions on a huge variety of topics.

The event also has the support of a number of prominent organisations, including The National Archives, the Royal Historical Society, and the Family History Federation, along with over 200 volunteers and local history groups.

History For Ukraine was the idea of genealogist Natalie Pithers, who describes the event as “a combination of Live Aid and Red Nose Day, but for history”.

Natalie added:

“The people of Ukraine can’t afford for us to wait! They need this help right now, and this unique event provides the history community with an opportunity to come together and help in the best way they can.”

History For Ukraine is like Live Aid for history lovers. There is a stellar line-up of leading historians and genealogists from all over the world, and over 24 hours, they’ll be live-streaming their talks for your entertainment.

There’s no charge to watch, and throughout the live stream, we’ll be inviting you to donate to their JustGiving page, with all funds being passed to the British Red Cross Society’s DEC Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal.

 

Speakers from the UK will include:

  • Earl Charles Spencer – Journalist, broadcaster, founder of the Althorp Literary Festival, and bestselling author
  • Professor Kate Williams  –  Lecturer, CNN’s royal historian, regularly appears on both American and British networks and the New York Times bestselling author of three biographies and one novel.
  • Dr Janina Ramirez – Oxford Academic HMC, BBC documentary maker (arts & History), writer (kids & factual); President Gloucester History Festival
  • Professor Suzannah Lipscomb –  Professor Emerita. Broadcaster. Author of The Voices of Nîmes and The King is Dead. Co-editor of What is History, Now? Host of Not Just the Tudors.
  • Suzie Lennox – Explorer of Macabre Britain and author of Britain’s Forgotten Body Snatchers
  • Saul David – Leading military historian, broadcaster, author of fiction and non-fiction books and founder of the Military History Club.

 

Speakers from the US will include:

  • D. Joshua Taylor – Genealogist, President of the New York Genealogy and Biography Society, Host of The Genealogy Road Show (PBS)
  • Judy G. Russell – aka The Legal Genealogist, international speaker
  • Amy Johnson Crow – Host of Generations Cafe podcast & #52ancestors challenge

 

Speakers from Australia and New Zealand will include:

  • Dr Jayne Persian – Co-founder of Australian Migration History Network, and author of Beautiful Balts: From Displaced Persons to New Australians
  • Fiona Brooker  – Chief Memory Officer and Genealogist at Memories in Time, Co-host of Talking Family History, Past President of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists
  • Michelle Patient – Australian genealogist and DNA specialist, co-host of Talking Family History, Past President of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, and DNA consultant for the Australian SBS TV series “Every Family Has A Secret”.

 

With more contributors still to be announced!

The event is scheduled for Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th March 2022 online and streaming

Further details and ways to get involved can be found at https://historyforukraine.co/