About 'The Hub'                    Contact: micksouthwick@blueyonder.co.uk

The Hub was created in 2010 by Michael Southwick, aka 'HistoryMick', to enable historians, genealogists and archaeology enthusiasts to easily navigate their way around the virtual North-East.  It is aimed at the keen amateur rather than the high brow academic, and is low-tech and user-friendly.  The idea is to bring together the many and varied information sources on this wonderfully rich and interesting region of ours for the mutual benefit of both the source providers and their users.

'Source providers' include record offices, archives & libraries, museums, register offices, local & family history societies, archaeology groups, course facilitators, publishers, writers and, in fact, anyone out there who has information to share with the rest of us - be it a life's work into the Roman history of the North of England to a few weeks' research into a family surname.  The site will not shy away from commercial bodies / activity if, as a result of such involvement, there is benefit to be had by all - though I do not intend to ruin the look of the website with a myriad of untidy ads.

As well as providing an 'Information Station', the site acts as a base for my own activities in the above fields (modest and distinctly un-academic as they are).  Readers may well remember me from my days as editor of The North-Easterner Magazine during 1994-2004, and I intend to provide as happy an interface with you all through The Hub as I did in those halcyon (!) days.  So, yes, I will bring the odd booklet, or whatever, to your attention as and when I get round to publishing them - mainly via the excellent Lulu self-publishing website at www.lulu.com .

But, most importantly, there will be a two-monthly newsletter for you to purchase.  It is pretty much the only way I'll be making any money from this venture so I hope you will tag along!  This will only be available directly from myself as a pdf document (an e-magazine, if you like) to keep costs and hassle to a minimum.  This little effort will provide essential back-up to The Hub's activities, expanding on topical issues, offering lots of newsworthy 'fillers', advising readers of the minutiae of the historical world, and, well, probably best check out the link on the first line of this paragraph!

Oh, and by the way, I've moved house since my North-Easterner days - my new address is: 20 California, Winlaton, Blaydon-on-Tyne, NE21 6LY.

Donations

The information on this website is provided free of charge.  You can always subscribe to the e-Newsletter for a few pounds per year, but the site itself doesn't cost a penny.  However, if you find the website useful and would like to help me to maintain and expand my services, then you may like to consider making a donation of whatever amount you want.  In this respect I would invite you to make use of the DONATE button on the homepage (PayPal or credit card payments).  If you'd prefer to send a cheque, postal order or cash, then make it payable to 'M.Southwick' and send it to the above address (please note that I cannot accept responsibility for any cash lost in the post).  Thank you for your support and encouragement - any donations are most welcome and greatly appreciated!

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