History

Ulster-Scot Historical Society opens for business as a research department of PRONI

Our first book is published: R.J. Dickson, Ulster Emigration to Colonial America, 1718–1775 (still in print)

The organisation changes its name to Ulster-Scots Historical Foundation

First group visit of American genealogists to Belfast (May 1977)

A membership association, the Ulster Historical and Genealogical Guild, founded

The Foundation publishes the pamphlet, Sources for Genealogical Research in Northern Ireland

Letters from Irish Australia, 1825–1929 prepared by Patrick O'Farrell and Brian Trainor was published.

Dr Brian Trainor undertakes the Foundation's first lecture tour in Australia and New Zealand

We begin to transcribe and digitise vital genealogical records as part of the Irish Family History Foundation's project to create an island-wide database

The Foundation moves from the PRONI grounds at Balmoral Avenue, Belfast to its own premises in central Belfast

The former annual publication 'Members' Interests' becomes the Directory of Irish family History Research

The Foundation publishes Clergy of Connor the first in a series of 12 volumes of updates and revisions of clergy succession lists for the Church of Ireland. The series conculdes with Clergy of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe

Presbyterians and the Irish Language by Roger Blaney is published; it is reprinted on several occasions

The Foundation is given charitable status in recognition for its educational work

The Foundation establishes a partnership with NICOD to offer training/volunteer placements to individuals with disabilities

Publication of a series of books and booklets in partnership with the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society

Fintan Mullan attends the Joint Conference on Confict Resolution and Globalisation Scenarios, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

We pioneer the online availability of Irish church and civil records which would eventually lead to rootsireland.ie an island-wide database of more than 20 million genealogical records

First edition of the pioneering research guide, Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors by William Roulston, is published

The Foundation provides student placements for French and Spanish stagiaires from various universities and colleges in those countries

2006 The Foundation begins to work with Mark Thompson Design on the production of a series of innovative permanent and temporary exhibitions, including Jackson Cottage, Co. Antrim (2011), Benburb Priory, Co. Tyrone (2017), Monreagh Heritage Centre, Co. Donegal (2018), Discover Ulster Scots Centre, Belfast (2018), New Orleans (2018), Savannah (2019) New York (2019) and Livingston Centre, Killinchy, Co. Down (2020)

The Foundation establishes a partnership with New Horizons to offer training/volunteer placements to individuals with learning disabilities

Ulster Historical Foundation was commissioned by the RTE to research the family history of Eurovision Song Contest winner Linda Martin for the TV programme Who Do You Think You Are?

Foundation staff attend the Stone Mountain Highland Games, Atlanta GA at the invitation of Tourism Ireland

Publication of a range of books in association with the R.J. Hunter Trust celebrating the work of a distinguished historian of the Ulster Plantation

Working with Dr Allan Blackstock, summer schools are organised with Ulster University, which include a combination of talks, research opportunities and visits to sites of historical interest

The Foundation joins the affiliates program of Family Tree DNA

The Foundation delivers the Ulster Genealogy and Migration Studies Autumn School in partnership with the Mellon centre for Migration Studies

The Foundation hosts a major conference entited 'Ulster and Scotland: Ulster-Scots Contributions to a Shared Inheritance', with partners: Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), Ulster-Scots Agency, Communities Relations Council, Foras na Gaeilge and Colmcille

The Foundation delivers the South Antrim Living Memories Project, helping to preserve the memories of older generations in three Antrim communities

Family history conferences recommence under a new format; these programmes are extended over following years 2015–19

The Foundation’s representative Dave Miller, an experienced genealogist from Green Bay WI, attends Rootstech 2016 held in Salt Lake City UT

Dr William Roulston is one of the principal presenters at the Celtic Connections Conference held in Minneapolis

Staff undertake an Australian/New Zealand lecture tour, the first since 1998. A reprint of Letters from Irish Australia is produced as part of preparations for the tour

Staff deliver the Irish research programme at the British Institute in Salt Lake City UT, organised by the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH)

The Foundation welcomes a research group from the International society for British Genealogy and Famly History (ISBGFH) to our offices. The group were on a spring genealogical research trip to Ireland

The Foundation establishes a partnership with the Now Group to offer training/volunteer placements to young individuals

Foundation staff participate in events in Ulster and America to mark the tercentenary of the 1718 Migration

The Foundation held the inaugural 'Dr Brian Trainor Memorial Lecture' in memory of our former Research Director. Held at PRONI the lecture was delivered by Dr Cormac Ó Gráda

We move to our current premises in Kiltonga in early March (two weeks before the Covid lockdown was introduced in the UK)

Publication of an award-winning biography of Major-General Oliver Nugent by Nicholas Perry

With the easing of Covid restrictions, we resume conferences and welcome groups to our library

Publication of Anthony Malcomson's massive tome The Maxwells of Finnebrogue and the Gentry of County Down