England Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

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*Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog '''Family History Library'''] may have printed or microfilmed copies of them.  

===City, university, occupational, and ecclesiastical archives ===

The British Library is the national repository for all published materials in England. Because its collection is so complex, usually only experienced researchers use it. The library has several departments. The following are the most useful to family history researchers:

*[https://librarytechnology.org/libraries/ukpublic/ '''Public Libraries in the United Kingdom''']<br>

Public libraries collect many published sources such as local histories, city directories, maps, newspapers, family histories, and parish registers. You can find addresses for public libraries in:

The [http://www.gro.gov.uk/ General Register Office] (part of the Identity and Passport Service) houses government birth, marriage, and death certificates from 1 July 1837 to the present for all of England and Wales. Copies may be obtained either online or by post from the General Register Office or from the local register office where the event was registered. See [[England Civil Registration]] for address details.  

In England each county has one or more offices that house records about the particular county. Records of genealogical value in these offices include land records, church records, taxation records, probate records, miscellaneous indexes, and collections. Some county record offices have personal or place-name indexes to some of the records in their collection.

County record offices are open to the public. Some require a reader’s ticket. If you write for information, be as concise as possible. The offices are small and have limited staff, so you may have to wait a few weeks for a reply. If staff members are unable to search their records, you may ask for a list of record agents who can search the records for you.  

 

A helpful book that displays maps of record office locations is:<br>  

 

*Gibson, J.S.W. and Pamela Peskett. ''Record Offices--How to Find Them''. [England]: Federation of Family History Societies, c1987. {{FHL|607503|item|disp=FHL Collection}}. (The Wiltshire Record Office has moved.)<br>

 

 

*Church, Rosemary, and Jean Cole. ''In and Around Record Repositories in Great Britain and Ireland''. 3rd ed. Huntingdon, Cambridge: Family Tree Magazine, 1992. (Family History Library book {{FHL|581871|title-id|disp=942 J54cj}}; computer number 0673604.) This gives street and mailing addresses and maps showing the locations of offices.  

*''Record Repositories in Great Britain: A Geographical Guide''. 10th ed. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1997. (Family History Library book {{FHL|970173|title-id|disp=942 J54r}} 1999; computer number 0638954.) This gives street and mailing addresses of the repositories, along with their telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Internet sites.

 

 

Local history society librarians collect and write histories of the people and places in their area. Addresses of local history societies are in the following books:  

 

*Henderson, S.P.A., and A.J.W. Henderson,ed. ''Directory of British Associations &amp; Associations in Ireland''. 13th ed. Beckenham, Kent: CBD Research Ltd., 1996. (Family History Library book {{FHL|802139|title-id|disp=942 E4hd}}; computer number 0054630.)

 

*Pinhorn, Malcolm. ''Historical, Archaeological and Kindred Societies in the United Kingdom: A List''. Isle of Wight: Pinhorns, 1986. (Family History Library book {{FHL|265369|title-id|disp=942 C4h}} 1986; computer number 0370075.) An update to this book was published in 1995.