"GENEALOGITIS" - by John R Yelland

"Genealogitis" or Family Historian's Syndrome as it is more commonly known, is a foul disease. It can strike anywhere at any time, but usually afflicts the middle-aged or elderly, although some youngsters under the age of sixty have been known to contract it.

It starts off in a mild way, usually in the hope of obtaining an Ancestral Visa or some such document, but once it has gained a foothold in the victim's system, it takes over completely and, after years of suffering ends in the grave. It normally strikes in a family after one of the parents or grandparents have died and is easily diagnosed by the cry, ". . . . .if only I had asked Mother (or Father) while they were still alive!" which is wailed at frequent intervals.

Thereafter, the victim usually withdraws from public life and is to be found skulking in musty archives or at bitterly cold and bleak graveyards. Occasionally they venture forth to a monthly GSSA (Genealogical Society of South Africa) meeting where they appear to find solace in sharing their troubles with those similarly afflicted. At such times the sufferers seem to go into a slight remission and become almost human. However this is short-lived and thereafter it is back to the "salt mines" (in this case spelt with a silent "archives"), where they are to be seen scurrying about oblivious to all else and burying themselves under stacks of old files and tatty bits of paper. Occasionally they are to be observed leaping skywards shouting such classical sayings as "Eureka" or "Bingo", but these are few and far between.

"Genealogitis" is an addictive disease and the more a victim gets by way of genealogical data, the more they (he or she) craves. To deprive an afflicted person of his or her daily 'fix' of genealogy is to bring out withdrawal symptoms of the worst kind. Unfortunately for them, there is very little hope of a cure, but the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints has taken pity on these sufferers and has opened clinics in virtually all the civilized countries around the world. In Durban the clinic is located in the basement of their Church on the corner of Silverton and Vause Roads with the entrance off Montgomery Lane. Ample secure off-street parking for motor cars is provided and, if needs be, an ambulance bus can be accommodated. Who knows someday sufferers from as far afield as Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone or even Empangeni may decide to seek group therapy and come to Durban by 'bus. . . .

The clinic is called a Family History Centre (just to allay the suspicions of irate spouses and/or family) and is open on Wednesday afternoons from 13h00 (1 o'clock) to 16h00 (4 o'clock) and on Thursdays from 09h00 (9 o'clock) to 12h00 (12 o'clock) in the morning and in the evening from 18h30 (half-past 6) to 21h00 (9 o'clock) in the evenings. They also open from 10h00 (10 o'clock) to 16h00 (4 o'clock) on the first Saturday of every month. Unfortunately, they are closed on all Public Holidays.

The accommodation provided at the clinic (or should we say Family History Centre) comprises a Reception/Printing area with two wards adjacent.

The Library, which shares one of the wards is fairly comprehensive and contains such diverse reading matter as Index lists of all the old Provincial Death Notices from Estate files (which are located in the Reception area), a complete set of "South African Biography:" Vols. I to IX, "South African Genealogies:" Vols. 1 to 6 (i.e. from 'A' to 'R"), Shelagh Spence's "British Settlers in Natal " Vols 1 to 7, "Genealogical Research Directories" from 1987 to 2003, Esme Bull's "Aided Immigration from Britain to South Africa: 1857 to 1867", "British Residents at the Cape: 1795 to 1819", "The 1820 Settlers Handbook", "The Huguenot Heritage" and "The Huguenots in South Africa."

In addition, there are the De Villiers / Pama "Genealogies of Old South African Families", Pama's "Groot Afrikaanse Famielie Naamboek," bound copies of GSSA's "Familia" from 1864 to 1984, plus Phillimore's "Atlas and Parish Registers."

Also there are numerous privately published Family Histories that have been donated by former "patients" or have been bought by the FHC from donations given by grateful patrons who have sought relief from their terrible afflictions. There are back copies of various overseas monthly magazines dating back almost twenty years. Finally there are a large number of German genealogical books, the names of which are too complicated to record. In fact, there is something for everybody if you care to browse. . .

With regard to the two wards provided - these are on an outpatient basis, for daily use only. One is a General Ward and is equipped with such items as microfiche and microfilm readers. The former are for viewing, inter alia, the microfiche of the International Genealogical Index or IGI by which it is more commonly known. This IGI is an index of approximately 200m records of births, baptisms and marriages from church parishes all over the world. Also available on microfiche are the transcribed records of the 1881 Census of England, Wales and Scotland, limited numbers of the 1991 Census and the Town and Street Guides to the 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871 Census returns. Also on permanent loan to the local Library are the micro-films covering the Natal Marriages and Natal Immigration Records.

The other ward is for Intensive Care. There, computers are provided for the use of the really badly smitten. These computers are used for reading the CD-ROM disc library covering the IGI, plus the Ancestral File records, American Military service records for Korea and Vietnam and the US Social Security records. In addition the transcribed and indexed 1881 Census is available in the same format and there is a Genealogical Library Disc covering all the records held by the Genealogical Society of Utah in Salt Lake City where the LDS Church has its headquarters in the USA.

Finally, in the reception area, there is a microfiche-cum-microfilm printer whereby copies of all the above-mentioned records may be obtained. For instance, if you desperately require a copy of a baptism or marriage record from a microfilm of a parish register, it can be printed out on this machine. Likewise, with the British Census records dating back to 1841 - these can be printed out from the relevant microfiche or micro-films, which are most useful in tracing back other members of the same family.

With regard to copies of Death Notices, these can be ordered from the LDS Church Centre in Johannesburg. This takes about 3-4 weeks to obtain and there is a small charge for this service.

On the subject of costs, there is no charge for the use of facilities provided other than nominal charges for the printing and, of course, postage charges when films or microfiche are ordered from Johannesburg or from Salt Lake City. All work is done for free by volunteers as the LDS Church has no wish to profit from those afflicted by this terrible disease and their addiction to this dreadful habit. . .

In conclusion, if you think you are one of those afflicted, the Family History Centre will always welcome you and, although it is highly unlikely that you will be cured, it is possible that some of the side effects can be alleviated.

See you there. . .!