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Wales Archives and Libraries

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National Library of Wales

National Library of Wales:
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3BU
Wales

The National Library of Wales. This library houses church, nonconformist, court, probate, census, tax, land records, newspapers, maps, photographs, pictures and many private archive and manuscript collections. You must have a reader’s ticket to use the collections. However, the ticket may be obtained as you enter the library or by applying online. You can write to this library at:

Website: National Library
National Library of Wales.jpg

Newspaper Archives

Most newspapers have archival records that can be accessed. Unfortunately Wales no longer has a National Newspaper. However there are many local and regional newspapers, as well as on line newspapers. The following websites provide lists of Local and Regional Newspapers that can be a rich source of archival information:

List of Newspapers in Wales

Welsh Newspapers on line


Office for National Statistics

The Office for National Statistics (formerly known as the General Register Office) is responsible for government birth, marriage, and death certificates from 1 July 1837 to the present for all of Wales. See Wales Civil Registration for more details.


County Record Offices

Main article: Record Offices in Wales


All Welsh counties have an archive that contains records about its particular area. Genealogical records 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 the staff does not have the time to search their records, ask for a list of record agents who can search the records for you.

Books listing addresses for the county records offices are:

  • Istance, Jean and E. E. Cann, comp. Researching Family History in Wales. Birmingham: The Federation of Family History Societies (Publications) Ltd., 1996. (Family History Library British 942.9 A3i;)
  • Mortimer, Ian, ed. Record Repositories in Great Britain. 10th ed. Kew, Surrey: PRO Publications, 1997. (Family History Library British 942 J54r 1997)

Public and Academic Libraries

Public libraries collect many published sources such as local histories, city directories, maps, newspapers, family histories, and parish registers. Some also have manuscript collections. Academic libraries house family papers, estate records, and other historical and genealogical material. You can contact the following academic libraries at:

University College of North Wales Library
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG
Wales
Internet: http://www.theatrelibrary.org/sibmas/idpac/
University College of Swansea Library
Singleton Park
Swansea, West Glamorgan SA2 8PP
Wales
Internet: http://www.swan.ac.uk/
Merthyr Tydfil Central Library
High Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AF
Internet: http://www.merthyrlibraries.co.uk/

For addresses of public libraries and other university libraries, see the publication British Archives listed in "Special Archives".

Family and Local History Society Libraries

Family and local history societies collect and write histories of the people and places within their area of interest. Some of these societies have libraries.

Addresses of some sources are listed in the following books:

  • Henderson, S.P.A,. and A.J.W. Henderson, ed.Directory of British Associations & Associations in Ireland. 13th ed. Beckenham, Kent, England: CBD Research Ltd., 1996. (Family History Library book 942 E4hd.)
  • Pinhorn, Malcolm. Historical, Archaeological and Kindred Societies in the United Kingdom : A List. Isle of Wight: Pinhorns, 1986. (Family History Library book 942 C4h 1986;) An update to this book was published in 1995.

Special Archives

City, occupational, and ecclesiastical archives also hold family history information. Holdings and services vary widely. Addresses for libraries and archives can be found in:

  • Foster, Janet, and Julia Sheppard, British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. 3rd ed. New York: Stockton Press, 1995. (Family History Library book 942 J54f 1995.)

Specialist Archives

Inventories, Registers, Catalogs, and Schedules

Most archives have publications that describe their collections and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before you visit or use the records so you can use your time more effectively. Many published inventories, guides, catalogs, and directories for archives and libraries are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under:

WALES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
WALES, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
WALES, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
GREAT BRITAIN-ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES-INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS-INDEXES

For a microfiche collection of calendars and finding aids for many British archives, libraries, and museums, see the National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United Kingdom and Ireland (NIDS) at https://www.proquest.com/products-services/film/national-inventory-of-documentary-sources-in-the-united-kingdom-and-ireland1.html. It provides a detailed listing of the boxes, folders, or sometimes individual documents contained in various collections.

To use NIDS start with the name and subject index available on microfiche and compact disc (London: Chadwick-Healey, 1986–; Family History Library fiche 6341118; compact disc 1313 no. 10.) To find the Family History Library call numbers, look in the Author/Title Search of the microfiche version of the FamilySearch Catalog for:

NATIONAL INVENTORY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

Currently, the only Welsh repositories included in NIDS are the National Library of Wales, the Anglesey Record Office, the Clwyd Record Office, the Dyfed Archives Service, and the Gwynedd County Record Office. Other Welsh record offices, as well as record offices in other parts of the British Isles, will be added in the future.

Many repositories outside Wales have land and property records relating to Welsh places. When searching indexes to the National Inventory of Documentary Sources, try a search for the county in Wales where your ancestor lived to see how many English record offices have records that may help you. If the indexes have no related entries then go to the individual repository schedules that have information about the general area where your ancestor lived.[1]

For more information on archives and libraries look in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

WALES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
WALES, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
WALES, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
GREAT BRITAIN - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES

External Links

References

  1. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Research Article: Wales (Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President, 2000), 9-12.


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