Marg Doherty (Queensland)

Margaret has researched her family history since the late 1970s. Retirement following a public service career has given her more time for family history research and the pursuit of history as a student.

In 2012 Margaret completed a Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History at the University of New England, Armidale. Currently she is studying for a Master of Philosophy researching the lives of Queensland’s Returned First World War nurses after the war.

From 2008 until 2015 Margaret was President of the Genealogical Society of Queensland. She is the current President of History Queensland, an umbrella group for family and local history societies and for several years she has been the Secretary, Australasian Federation of Family History Societies (AFFHO).

Margaret believes in the value of joining local societies and what can be learnt from them. She is currently a member of Queensland Family History Society, Toowoomba and Darling Downs Family History Society, Genealogical Society of Queensland, Society of Australian Genealogists, Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Brisbane History Group and several United Kingdom societies.

Margaret’s passion is learning more about the role of women in society, and their achievements.

Unlock the Past Cruises – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 10th 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th & 17th cruises

Presentations

  • Finding grandma – Often female ancestors are not researched either because they are too difficult to find or because they are seen to have uninteresting lives. In this session Margaret will provide some hints on finding your female ancestor and will discuss how knowing social history can assist.
  • Nursing as a respectable profession – Nursing was considered an early respectable profession for single middle-class female. This presentation discusses the history of nursing, with an emphasis on Australia and provides suggestions for finding your nursing ancestors.
  • Australian women and the professions – Education for women in the nineteenth century provided women with opportunities to enter professions including teaching, nursing and medicine. Available sources including websites will be discussed along with social history to provide ideas for searching early Australian women in the professions.
  • Women and war – In the nineteenth century, war was considered a male sphere. This changed last century when women began to take on roles in military service as well as their traditional role on the homefront. This presentation will discuss sources including websites that will assist you to find out information on your women at war.