Northern Ireland Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

:The National Archives was created in 1988 by merging the State Paper Office (created in 1702) and the Public Record Office of Ireland (created in 1867). Records at the National Archives include Church of Ireland parish records, gravestone inscriptions, census returns, probate records, deeds, Tithe Applotment books, rebellion and outrage papers, convict reference files, and other historical and genealogical sources. Some records, or indexes, have been digitized and are searchable on the archives' website.<br>

:The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has a fairly complete collection of church records (all denominations) for all of Northern Ireland as well as some records for the counties of Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan. The office's holdings also include estate papers, gravestone inscriptions, census records, Tithe Applotment books, valuation lists, and other historical and genealogical sources.  Some records, or indexes, have been digitized and are searchable on the PRONI website.<br>

:The National Library is Ireland's main repository of filmed Catholic parish registers. Other records on deposit at the National Library include newspapers, city and regional directories, estate records, the Householders Index, and Griffith's Primary Valuation. The library's staff does not do commissioned searches. An online database, [http://sources.nli.ie/ Sources: a National Library of Ireland database for Irish Research] should be searched before visiting the library.<br>

:NIPR (formerly known as the Northern Ireland Publications Resource) is Northern Ireland’s '''National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications''', a systematic collection and catalogue of all books, journals, pamphlets and reports published in Northern Ireland. As Northern Ireland has no National Library, no local institution is legally responsible for collecting all material published in Northern Ireland. Prior to the creation of NIPR, there was no reliable way of finding out what was published in Northern Ireland, who was collecting it, and where it was held.

:With funding from the British Library, the Library and Information Services Council for Northern Ireland set out to redress the situation and officially launched the Northern Ireland Publications Resource (NIPR) in October 2000. The aim of the project was to collect every book, pamphlet, journal and periodical published in Northern Ireland since January 2000, preserving them for posterity and make them available for consultation by the general public. After a successful initial two-year pilot scheme, further funding was provided by the Northern Ireland Executive to continue the scheme.

:Main library in Belfast containing many genealogical records for the area including County Antrim. The Linen Hall has fantastic resources to support genealogy and the study of family histories attracting researchers locally and from around the world. From ‘how to’ guides for those beginning their genealogy journey, to gravestone inscriptions, military lists, passenger lists, lists of clergy, and information on surnames, place-names and street directories. Unique to the Linen Hall, the Blackwood Pedigrees of handwritten family trees and the Belfast News Letter Birth, Death and Marriage Index 1737-1863 are fascinating resources which bring family history to life.<ref>"Irish and Local Studies", at Linen Hall, https://www.linenhall.com/collections/irish-local-studies/, accessed 30 March 2023.</ref>

:The Library of the Queen's University has extensive archival records relating to the Northern Counties of Ireland.  It is also the repository of most religious records that are Protestant in nature.

:Its database includes a selection of parish baptism registers covering the period 1796 to 1924, and parish marriage registers from 1823 to 1901 for the six counties that now make up Northern Ireland.

:The death records collection is made up of graveyard inscriptions, burial registers and a comprehensive index from the Irish Wills Calendars for the six counties plus Donegal, Louth and Monaghan.

:In addition, it holds extracts from the 1841 and 1851 Irish census as well as 'church censuses' and school registers.

:Search over 2 million records incl. birth, death & marriages (BMD), census records, street directories and more.