‘From a Circle to a Society’
The Society originated in 1974 when a group of enthusiastic adult students formed the ‘Leicester Family History Circle.’ By 1981 the group had grown and became the ‘Leicestershire Family History Society.’ In 1987 the Society applied for charitable status. Two years later the first outer groups were started, in Loughborough and Market Harborough.
Progress in the 1990s
Entering the 1990s the Society purchased its first microfiche reader and 1992 saw a name change – to the ‘Leicestershire and Rutland Family History Society.’ Membership was growing rapidly, the Research Centre and library were busy and yet another change of venue led us to Freeschool Lane in 1995. We also launched our first website that same year.
A new millennium of family history
In May 2005 we relocated again, this time to Pilot House in King Street, where we stayed for fifteen years. Our website was updated in 2019. The following year an enforced closure saw us move from Pilot House to a new location on Every Street.
2022 saw the Surnames Interests system revised and standardised and further changes were made to our Constitution in the light of our experiences during the pandemic. We started attending external events and fairs again and Every Street became busier as we restarted our programme of open days, specialist sessions and family history courses.
LRFHS today
Today, we are still in the heart of Leicester and continue to look for ways to develop the Society and to provide a great service for both our members and others.