An afternoon of history, archival material and community.

Join us for a fascinating Afternoon Exploring Life in British India as expert historian Richard Morgan delves into the complexities of life in British India through two engaging presentations. This special event will take place in the SoG Library and offers a chance to engage with original archival material and connect with fellow family history enthusiasts. Drinks included for those attending in person. 

The afternoon begins with an exploration of the agricultural landscape of colonial India and the lives of those who lived and worked within it. This will be followed by a second presentation on Indian Directories. The floor will be open for an extensive audience Q&A, providing a chance to ask your own questions and dig deeper into this compelling period of history.

Original archival material from our Indian Directories collection will be on display at Wharf Road, offering a unique opportunity to examine authentic documents from the era.

To conclude the afternoon, those attending in person can enjoy a relaxed drinks reception where you can meet other family historians, share stories, and spark new connections over refreshments. Drinks are included in the ticket price.

Crops in India - tea planters and their lives and records 

Tea is since the 1840s the most important commercial crop from India, but over the years indigo (1770s till the 1930s), jute (1860s onwards), coffee (late 19th century onwards), quinine and many other crops have been cultivated in India by the British for sale world-wide. The talk will identify in which part of India each crop was cultivated, who the planters were, and how they can be identified, and what their lives were like (leisure pursuits, etc).

Indian Directories    

These are comparable to volumes of Pigot & Co's Directory or the Post Office Directory in the UK, only better. They are exceptionally useful and provide a remarkably complete picture of British people in India during the period 1803 to 1947. From the late 19th century onwards they provide an annual record not only of the official classes (eg Indian Army, and Indian Civil Service, police), but also planters, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, school teachers, clergy,  pilots, etc. and anyone British who had any reason to be in India. Better still, copies of most of these directories are available in the British Library on Open Shelves. The SoG also holds a number of these volumes.

Tickets are strictly limited.

Contact events@sog.org.uk if you have any questions.  Click here for information about our events.