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Tracing your family history is a fascinating activity which needs to be
done carefully and methodically in order to achieve results and may
entail years of research using libraries and record offices nationwide.
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The Archives
and Heritage Service on the 6th Floor of Birmingham
Central Library has an extensive range of
material for tracing families in the Birmingham area but a more limited
amount for families originating from elsewhere.
There is also a
fee-paying service (£25 per hour or part of an hour from 1 April 2009)
for specialist research and queries:
Doreen Hopwood
The Genealogist
Central
Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
Tel:
0121 303 3390 or 303 4549 (overseas: (+) 44 121 303 3390 or (+) 44 121
303 4549)
Fax: 0121 233 4458
(overseas: (+) 44 121 233 4458)
E-mail:
genealogist@birmingham.gov.uk
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Ancestry Library Edition is now available on computers in Birmingham
Libraries.
Trace your family history using records from England,
Scotland and Wales censuses from 1841 to 1901, birth, marriage and death
records and UK parish and probate records.
New! The
1911 Census is also available online now. You can pay online to download
census records or buy PayAsYouGo vouchers.
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"Interested in your family history but don't
know where to start?"
We will show you how
Birmingham Library Services can help you in our special
Family History Workshops. Beginners and specialists sessions on Saturdays
(once a month) £5 per person, per session.
Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. For more
details see contact details above.
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International Genealogical Index (IGI):
These microfiches, mainly of baptisms and marriages prior to 1875, cover many
churches in Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man
and the Caribbean.
More information about the
International Genealogical Index
General
Registrar's Office Indexes (GRO/St. Catherine's House):
These commenced on 1st July 1837 with the introduction of civil
registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths in England and Wales.
Microfiches of the quarterly or annual indexes from 1837 to the present
day are held. There are also microfiches of the Adoption Index 1927
onwards, the Civil Partnership Index 2005 onwards and the Overseas Index.
As well as indexes of civil registration the following indexes from the
General Registrar's Office are now available:
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Births:
Army returns 1796 - 1965
Consular returns 1849 - 1965
UK High Commission returns prior to 1981
Births abroad 1966 - 2006
Marriages:
Army returns 1796 -1965
Consular returns 1849 - 1965
UK High Commission
and Article 18 marriage deposits
Marriage abroad 1966 - 2006
Deaths:
Army returns 1796 - 1965
Consular returns 1849 - 1965
UK High Commission returns 1950 - 1965
Deaths abroad 1966 - 2006
Please note that information about Births, Marriages and Deaths
abroad can be consulted as soon as the General Register Office makes it
available to us. The latest release date can be checked on the
GRO website.
War Deaths:
Boer War - Natal and South African Field forces.
World War 1 - Army
Officers, Army other ranks, Navy.
World War 11 - Army Officers, Army
other ranks, Naval Officers, Naval ratings, RAF, Indian Services.
Regimental Records (and records from the Ionian Islands): Births and
baptisms - from Regimental
Registers 1761 - 1924
Marriage (press
numbers only)
Ionian Islands (Civil and Regimental 1818 -1864)
Marine and Air Records:
Marine births and deaths 1837 - 1965
Air births and deaths 1947 - 1965
Census:
Microfiche copies of the ten-yearly returns are available for the Birmingham
area from 1841 to 1901. There is a microfiche of the name indexes to the
1881 census (for the whole of England and Wales) and for various counties
for 1851. Published census returns for other areas are also held. The 1911
census is available in part at
www.1911census.co.uk and
www.findmypast.com. You can download copies of census forms by paying
online or purchasing 'pay as you go' vouchers. These
are now available from Birmingham Central Library.
CD Rom - These include the National Burial Index and
Soldiers Who Died in WW1 and WW2.
Ancestry Library Edition is now available for hourly sessions, free
of charge, on computers in Birmingham libraries. This includes records
from England, Scotland and Wales, censuses from 1841 to 1901, birth,
marriage and death records and UK parish and probate records.
Ancestry Library Edition website.
Directories:
British and Irish Trade Directories can be
found on the open shelves with coverage from the late 18th century to the
late 20th century. Local telephone directories from 1906 are also held.
More information about
Trade Directories
Newspapers:
Microfilm copies of local newspapers from the mid 18th Century to the present
day are available. Original copies are served where there is no microfilm
and the condition is suitable. Prior notice may be required. Biographical
newscuttings have been abstracted from these and there is an index of
obituaries from Aris's Birmingham Gazette up to 1861.
Parish Registers:
Most Church of England parish registers for Birmingham are available on
microfilm in the open access area. However, for some parishes the
researcher will need to consult the original register in the archive
search room. There are some non-conformist registers and also a large
number of printed parish registers for other areas throughout England. We
do not hold original Catholic registers. The majority of these are held at
St Chad's. Contact the Rev. John Sharp, Archivist, Cathedral House, St
Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 4EU. Tel: 0121 230 6252.
More
information about
Parish Registers
Wills:
The National Wills Index from 1858 to 1998 is available and also
Birmingham wills from 1858 till 1941 are found in the archive search room.
Some wills and indexes from earlier times are also held.
Monumental Inscriptions:
There is a wide selection of published transcripts relating to burial grounds
in Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire.
Indexes to Cemetery Burials:
These are held for all local authority cemeteries in Birmingham from the dates
of opening to the mid 1980s (1973 for Brandwood End).
Burial and Cremation records
Army, Navy and Air Force lists:
These cover the Officer Class only.
Burgess Roll and Electoral Registers:
Are available
for Birmingham from 1832 to 2001. Current electoral registers for
Birmingham are available from the Elections Office, 2nd Floor, 150 Great
Charles Street, Birmingham, B3 3HS. Tel: 0121 303 2731
More information
about
Electoral Registers
Burkes Peerage and
Landed Gentry:
There is a near complete set of these
on the open shelves.
Coroner's Inquests:
A Coroner's Court Roll is available on microfilm from 1839 -1875. Original
coroner's inquest files from the Birmingham Coroner are held from 1875
onwards. Inquests over 75 years of age are available in the archive search
room. To enquire about inquests less than 75 years, please contact the
Coroner's Court, 50 Newton Street, Birmingham B4 6NE. Tel: 0121 303 4274.
There are also some scrapbooks of inquest newscuttings from 1876.
All of the above material and much else is available to users of the library.
A CARN (County Archive Research Network) ticket is required for access to
the archive search room. Details of this are available at
Archive Ticket Requirements or by phoning 0121 303 4549.
There is
also a resident genealogist working within the service from Monday to
Wednesday to carry out research on a fee-paying basis. Appointments to see
her should be made in advance. Her contact details are:
Mrs D
Hopwood, Genealogist
Floor 6, Central Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
Tel: 0121 303 3390
E-mail:
genealogist@birmingham.gov.uk
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If you are researching your family tree you can carry out an online
Genealogy Survey of the available electronic burial and cremation register
records.
Please note We are not
responsible for the content of
other organisations' websites.
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