Birmingham History Menu

Birmingham Archives and Heritage has a wide range of printed collections and material relating to the history of Birmingham available in the open access area, in addition to archival material served in the Archives Searchroom.

Available in the Open Access Area

Birmingham Collection of reference books on various topics
Trade and residential directories and trade literature
Local Newspapers and newscuttings
Maps and atlases
Church records and history and many parish registers on microfilm
Birmingham censuses
Birmingham Electoral registers and voting lists
County histories
Local History periodicals
Photo books

To search the library catalogue for material go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/libcat. Other indexes with additional material are available in the open access area and Archives Searchroom. To search for archival material, try our Online Catalogue at http://calmview.birmingham.gov.uk or www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a.

Other resources

We have a wide range of photographs of Birmingham. Many are part of the Warwickshire Photographic Survey that are served in the Archives Searchroom.

Photographic Collections in the Central Library
Digital Birmingham Photo Archive
Black History Collection
Black History in Birmingham
Chinese History in Birmingham
Irish History and Family History
Birmingham’s villages – the history of some of Birmingham’s suburbs

Of interest

Lunchtime Local History Lectures
History of Birmingham Canals
FAQs about Birmingham past and present
Chronology of Birmingham 1883 - 1950
Famous People from Birmingham
The Murder of Mary Ashford
Birmingham or Brummagem?
Local History Speakers
Local History Societies

Online history resources

Web sites for Birmingham's heritage
Digital Birmingham Photo Archive
Revolutionary Players
Digital Handsworth
Digital Ladywood
Connecting Histories
J.R.R.Tolkien
'Lest we Forget' Online Exhibition - the history of Birmingham during World War 2
Nelson in the Bull Ring
Contrasts in a Victorian City
Sources for the study of the Slave Trade in Birmingham Central Library

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry library edition

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.