Research guides - The National Archives

Research guides - The National Archives
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Research guides
Research guides
Our A-Z index
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Family history
First World War
Second World War
Military and maritime
Social and cultural history
Criminals, courts and prisons
Political and economic history
Foreign and colonial history
Land and maps
Medieval and early modern history
Records for current legal purposes
Online collections
373 guides available
How to look for records of...
Show only guides with all records online
Research guides beginning with:
1939 Register
Keywords:
1939 register
census
datasets
digitised records
online collections
population
statistics
surveys
All records viewable online
Research guides beginning with:
Abbreviations in Merchant Navy records
Keywords:
merchant navy
navy
Adoptions
Keywords:
adoptions
births
African ancestors – an overview
Keywords:
africa
african
emigration
immigration
Agricultural statistics of England and Wales
Keywords:
agriculture
datasets
farms and farming
statistics
Alien arrivals
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Alien entry books
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Aliens’ registration cards 1918-1957
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
America and the West Indies in the Calendar of State Papers Colonial 1573-1739
Keywords:
america
caribbean
colonies
early modern period
state papers
American and West Indian colonies before 1782
Keywords:
america
caribbean
colonies
state papers
American Revolution
Keywords:
america
american revolution
colonies
Apartheid in South Africa
Keywords:
Apprentices and masters
Keywords:
apprenticeship
labour history
master craftsmen and tradesmen
tradesmen
Architectural drawings
Keywords:
architecture
buildings
plans
Architectural history records held by other archives
Keywords:
Armed forces records held by other archives
Keywords:
army
british army
raf
royal air force
royal navy
soldier
wars
Army regiments
Keywords:
army
british army
regiments and corps
Art and artists
Keywords:
art and artists
Asylums, psychiatric hospitals and mental health
Keywords:
asylums (hospitals)
health
health policy
hospitals
lunatic asylums
mental health
Australian and New Zealand ancestors – an overview
Keywords:
australia
emigration
immigration
new zealand
Research guides beginning with:
Bankrupts and insolvent debtors
Keywords:
bankrupts
debtors
insolvency
prisoners
prisons
Beaverbrook papers
Keywords:
beaverbrook
first world war
lord beaverbrook
political history (general)
private papers
second world war
world war one
world war two
Births, marriages and deaths at sea or abroad
Keywords:
births
colonies
deaths
marriages
merchant navy
shipping
Births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales
Keywords:
baptisms
births
deaths
marriages
Births, marriages and deaths in Scotland and Ireland
Keywords:
births
deaths
ireland
marriages
scotland
Births, marriages and deaths in the armed forces
Keywords:
army
births
british army
deaths
marriages
navy
raf
royal air force
royal marines
royal navy
Births, marriages and deaths in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
Keywords:
births
deaths
marriages
Black British social and political history in the 20th century
Keywords:
africa
african
black
black british
caribbean
civil rights
race relations
west indian
Board of Ordnance
Keywords:
army
british army
ordnance (military supplies)
Bomb Census survey 1940-1945
Keywords:
air raids
bomb census
casualties of war
datasets
second world war
statistics
surveys
world war two
Bonar Law papers
Keywords:
andrew bonar law
bonar law
first world war
political history (general)
private papers
world war one
British and Commonwealth prisoners of the First World War and previous wars
Keywords:
first world war
pows
prisoners of war
world war one
British and Commonwealth prisoners of the Second World War and the Korean War
Keywords:
korean war
pows
prisoners of war
second world war
second world war personnel
world war two
British Army and militia 1760-1915
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
British Army casualty lists 1939-1945
Keywords:
army
british army
deaths
digitised records
online collections
second world war
soldier
world war two
All records viewable online
British Army medal index cards 1914-1920
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
British Army muster rolls and pay lists c.1730-1898
Keywords:
army
british army
muster rolls
regiments and corps
soldier
British Army nurses
Keywords:
army
british army
nurses
women's military service
British Army nurses’ service records 1914-1918
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
British Army officers in service after 1918
Keywords:
army
british army
second world war
second world war personnel
soldier
world war two
British Army officers of the First World War
Keywords:
army
british army
first world war
medals
officers (army)
soldier
world war one
British Army officers up to 1913
Keywords:
army
awards
british army
medals
officers (army)
soldier
British Army operations after 1945
Keywords:
army
british army
korean war
regiments and corps
war diaries
British Army operations in the First World War
Keywords:
army
british army
first world war
regiments and corps
war diaries
world war one
British Army operations in the Second World War
Keywords:
army
british army
regiments and corps
second world war
war diaries
world war two
British Army operations up to 1913
Keywords:
army
boer war
british army
crimean war
napoleonic wars
regiments and corps
British Army soldiers in service after 1945
Keywords:
army
british army
soldier
British Army soldiers of the First World War
Keywords:
army
british army
first world war
non-commissioned officer
soldier
world war one
British Army soldiers of the Second World War
Keywords:
army
british army
second world war
second world war personnel
soldier
world war two
British Army soldiers up to 1913
Keywords:
army
british army
pensions
soldier
British Army war diaries 1914-1922
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force disability and dependents’ pensions from the First World War
Keywords:
army
british army
disability pensions
first world war
pensions
raf
royal air force
royal navy
world war one
British military campaign and service medals
Keywords:
army
awards
british army
campaign medals
medals
officers (army)
British military gallantry medals
Keywords:
army
awards
british army
gallantry medals
honours
medals
Research guides beginning with:
Cabinet and its committees
Keywords:
cabinet office
first world war
international relations
second world war
world war one
world war two
Caribbean ancestors – an overview
Keywords:
caribbean
immigration
Caribbean social and cultural history
Keywords:
caribbean
Catholics
Keywords:
burials
catholics
recusants catholic
religious history
Census records
Keywords:
census
datasets
digitised records
online collections
population
statistics
surveys
All records viewable online
Certificates of British citizenship 1949-1986
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
british citizenship
certificates of british citizenship
certificates of naturalisation
immigration
migration
naturalisation
Chancel repair liabilities in England and Wales
Keywords:
chancel repairs
tithes
Changes of name
Keywords:
changes of name
deeds poll
Children’s homes
Keywords:
borstals
children's homes
Civil court cases: an overview
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
law and order
trials
Civil court cases: assize courts 1656-1971
Keywords:
assize courts
civil litigation
courts of law
early modern period
law and order
trials
Civil court cases: Chancery Division since 1875
Keywords:
chancery (court of)
civil litigation
courts of law
law and order
trials
Civil court cases: Chancery equity suits 1558-1875
Keywords:
chancery (court of)
civil litigation
courts of law
early modern period
equity courts
law and order
trials
Civil court cases: Chancery equity suits before 1558
Keywords:
chancery (court of)
civil litigation
courts of law
early modern period
equity courts
law and order
trials
Civil court cases: Court of Common Pleas
Keywords:
civil litigation
common pleas (court)
courts of law
early modern period
law and order
Civil court cases: disputed wills
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
deaths
early modern period
law and order
prerogative court of canterbury
probate
trials
wills
Civil court cases: King’s/Queen’s Bench 1702-1998
Keywords:
courts of law
kings bench (court of)
law and order
queen's bench (court of)
trials
Civil courts: appeal cases after 1875
Keywords:
chancery (court of)
civil litigation
courts of law
law and order
trials
Civil or crown servants
Keywords:
civil servants
crown servants
government employees
royal household
Civilian gallantry medals, honours and other awards
Keywords:
awards
civilian gallantry awards
gallantry medals
honours
medals
Coastguard officers
Keywords:
coastguard
Coastguard stations and administration
Keywords:
coastguard
customs (tax)
shipping
Colonies and dependencies 1815-1870: using Colonial Office indexes to locate correspondence
Keywords:
british empire
colonies
Colonies and dependencies 1820-1850: using Colonial Office registers to locate correspondence
Keywords:
british empire
colonies
Colonies and dependencies 1850-1926: using Colonial Office registers to locate correspondence
Keywords:
british empire
colonies
commonwealth of nations
dominions (british)
Colonies and dependencies from 1782
Keywords:
british empire
colonies
commonwealth of nations
dominions (british)
Companies and businesses
Keywords:
business history
companies and businesses
industry
labour history
Company and business history records held by other archives
Keywords:
business history
companies and businesses
industry
labour history
trade and industry
Conscientious objectors
Keywords:
conscientious objectors
first world war
second world war
world war one
world war two
Coroners’ inquests
Keywords:
coroners
deaths
inquests
Country court death duty registers 1796-1811
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Court of Exchequer
Keywords:
courts of law
early modern period
equity courts
exchequer
law and order
Court of King’s Bench records 1200-1702
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
kings bench (court of)
law and order
queen's bench (court of)
trials
Court of Requests records 1485-1642
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
early modern period
equity courts
law and order
requests (court of)
trials
Court of Star Chamber records 1485-1642
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
early modern period
equity courts
law and order
star chamber (court of)
trials
Court of Wards and Liveries 1540-1645: land inheritance and disputes
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
deeds (property ownership)
early modern period
land
land ownership
wards and liveries (court of)
Courts martial and desertion in the British Army 17th-20th centuries
Keywords:
army
british army
courts martial
deserters (armed forces)
first world war
second world war
soldier
world war one
world war two
Courts of law records from the medieval period: general eyres 1194-1348
Keywords:
civil litigation
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
eyres (general)
general eyres
law and order
medieval period
trials
Courts of law records held in other archives
Keywords:
civil litigation
convicts
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
law and order
trials
Crime, prisons and punishment 1770-1935
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Crimean War – an overview
Keywords:
crimean war
wars
Criminal court cases: an overview
Keywords:
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
law and order
trials
Criminal court cases: assize courts 1559-1971
Keywords:
assize courts
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
early modern period
law and order
trials
Criminal court cases: Crown courts since 1972
Keywords:
central criminal court
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
crown courts
law and order
magistrates' courts
old bailey
trials
Criminal court cases: King’s/Queen’s Bench 1675-1988
Keywords:
courts of law
criminal courts
kings bench (court of)
law and order
queen's bench (court of)
trials
Criminal court cases: Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)
Keywords:
central criminal court
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
law and order
old bailey
trials
Criminal courts: appeal cases
Keywords:
courts of law
crime and criminals
criminal courts
law and order
trials
Criminal transportation
Keywords:
australia (transportation to)
convicts
crime and criminals
prisoners
transportation (punishment)
Crown, church and royalist lands 1642-1660
Keywords:
church lands
civil war (english)
early modern period
estates (landed gentry)
land
land ownership
Customs officers
Keywords:
customs (tax)
inland revenue
Research guides beginning with:
Death duties 1796-1903
Keywords:
administrations of probate
death duties (tax)
deaths
duties and taxes
legacies (probate)
probate
taxes and duties
wills
Deaths in the First and Second World Wars
Keywords:
casualties of war
deaths
first world war
second world war
world war one
world war two
Disability history
Keywords:
civil rights
disability
Discovery help
Keywords:
Dissolution of the monasteries 1536-1540
Keywords:
abbeys
church lands
dissolution of the monasteries
early modern period
monasteries
religious history
Divorce
Keywords:
annulment of marriage
courts of law
divorce
Doctors and nurses
Keywords:
doctors
hospitals
medical services
nurses
patients in hospital
Domesday Book
Keywords:
datasets
digitised records
domesday book
land
land ownership
medieval period
online collections
statistics
surveys
All records viewable online
Durham Home Guard 1939-1945
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Research guides beginning with:
Economic policy and government spending in the 20th century
Keywords:
cabinet office
economic history
financial records of government
taxation
treasury
Education history records held by other archives
Keywords:
colleges
education history
schools
universities
Electoral registration
Keywords:
electoral registers
Emigration and emigrants
Keywords:
america (emigration to)
australia (emigration to)
canada (emigration to)
emigration
migration
new zealand (emigration to)
Empire and Commonwealth records held by other archives
Keywords:
british empire
colonies
commonwealth of nations
dominions (british)
Enclosure Acts, awards and maps
Keywords:
enclosure (land)
land
land ownership
maps
Enslaved people and slave owners
Keywords:
abolition of slavery
british empire
caribbean
colonies
slavery
Environmental History
Keywords:
conservation
contaminated land
environment
environmental pollution
land
land ownership
pollution
Evacuees
Keywords:
evacuation
home front
second world war
world war two
Excise and Inland Revenue officers
Keywords:
excise (tax)
inland revenue
Research guides beginning with:
Famous wills 1552-1854
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Film, television and performing arts records held by other archives
Keywords:
actors
film
television
theatre
Find an archive
Keywords:
First World War – an overview
Keywords:
first world war
wars
world war one
First World War soldiers’ service and pension records
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Fleet Air Arm personnel
Keywords:
fleet air arm
navy
royal navy
second world war personnel
Foreign affairs before 1509
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
international relations
medieval period
Foreign Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office correspondence 1920 onwards
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
Foreign Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office records from 1782
Keywords:
commonwealth of nations
control commission
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
treaties
Foreign Office correspondence 1782-1890
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
Foreign Office correspondence 1891-1905
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
Foreign Office correspondence 1906-1919
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
Free online records: digital microfilm
Keywords:
admiralty
convicts
crime and criminals
digitised records
foreign affairs
free online records
home office
navy
online collections
All records viewable online
French lands of the English kings
Keywords:
early modern period
france (english lands in)
land
land ownership
French muster rolls from the Battle of Trafalgar 1805
Keywords:
digitised records
high court of admiralty
online collections
trafalgar (battle of)
All records viewable online
Funds in court
Keywords:
courts of law
dormant funds
funds in court
legacies (probate)
money in chancery
probate
Research guides beginning with:
Garden history records held by other archives
Keywords:
garden history
German Foreign Ministry and Italian documents 1867-1945 captured by the British
Keywords:
german foreign ministry
nazi germany
second world war
world war two
Glossary for Discovery
Keywords:
catalogue (discovery) help
discovery (catalogue) help
Government film-making and the film industry
Keywords:
film
propaganda
Government surveys, statistics and other datasets from the National Digital Archive of Datasets, 1963-2010
Keywords:
datasets
digital datasets
digitised records
national digital archive of datasets
online collections
statistics
surveys
All records viewable online
Research guides beginning with:
High Court of Admiralty
Keywords:
admiralty
colonies
courts of law
high court of admiralty
shipping
trials
Historical education policy and administration: childcare, schools for disabled children and other special services
Keywords:
disability
education history
schools
Historical education policy and administration: elementary and primary schools
Keywords:
education history
poor laws
schools
Historical education policy and administration: inspection reports
Keywords:
colleges
education history
inspection of schools
poor laws
schools
Historical education policy and administration: secondary schools
Keywords:
education history
schools
Historical education policy and administration: teacher training
Keywords:
education history
schools
teachers
Historical education policy and administration: technical and vocational further education and schools of art
Keywords:
colleges
education history
Historical NHS patient records
Keywords:
health
hospitals
medical patients
patients in hospital
Home Guard personnel
Keywords:
home front
home guard
second world war
world war two
Home Office correspondence from 1782
Keywords:
crime and criminals
health
home office
poverty
Hospitals
Keywords:
health
hospitals
medical patients
medical services
patients in hospital
Household Cavalry soldiers’ service records 1799-1920
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Houses
Keywords:
architecture
buildings
houses
title deeds
Research guides beginning with:
Immigration and immigrants
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
british citizenship
immigration
internees
migration
naturalisation
passengers
Indian Army personnel
Keywords:
army
first world war
indian army
second world war
world war one
world war two
Indian indentured labourers
Keywords:
indentured labour
indian indentured labour
labour history
Inquisitions post mortem: land ownership and inheritance in the medieval and early modern periods
Keywords:
early modern period
inquisitions post mortem
land
land ownership
Intellectual property: patents of invention
Keywords:
intellectual property
inventions
patent office
patents of invention
Intellectual property: photographs, artwork, literature, music and advertising registered for copyright 1842-1924 (and 1887-1955)
Keywords:
art and artists
copyright registration
intellectual property
photographs
stationery office
Intellectual property: registered designs 1839-1991
Keywords:
copyright registration
design manufacturing
diamond marks
intellectual property
registered designs
Intellectual property: trade marks, 1876-1938
Keywords:
intellectual property
patent office
registered designs
trade marks
Intelligence and security services
Keywords:
espionage
intelligence and security services
mi5 and mi6
security services
special operations executive
International boundaries
Keywords:
borders (international)
boundaries (international)
colonies
diplomacy
foreign affairs
international relations
maps
Internees
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
first world war
immigration
internees
migration
pows
prisoners of war
second world war
world war one
world war two
Ireland’s Easter Rising 1916
Keywords:
courts martial
easter rising (ireland)
ireland
Irish ancestors – an overview
Keywords:
emigration
immigration
ireland
Irish maps c.1558-c.1610
Keywords:
digitised records
early modern period
ireland
maps
online collections
All records viewable online
Research guides beginning with:
Jacobite Risings 1715 and 1745
Keywords:
jacobites
scotland
Jewish people and communities in Britain and its former colonies
Keywords:
anglo jewish history
emigration
immigration
jewish history
migration
Research guides beginning with:
Labour history records held by other archives
Keywords:
industry
labour history
trade unions
Land and property for charitable use: trust deeds, 1736-1963
Keywords:
charitable trusts
conveyance of land
deeds (property ownership)
early modern period
land
land ownership
trust deeds
Land and property ownership: conveyances by feet of fines 1182-1833
Keywords:
conveyance of land
deeds (property ownership)
early modern period
fines (land conveyances)
land
land ownership
Land and property ownership: enrolment and registration of title 1227-c1930
Keywords:
conveyance of land
deeds (property ownership)
early modern period
land
land ownership
title deeds
Land and property requisitioned for war in the 20th century
Keywords:
first world war
land
land ownership
requisitioned land
second world war
world war one
world war two
Land ownership records and deeds: an overview
Keywords:
land
land ownership
Land ownership, use and rights: common lands
Keywords:
common land
land
land ownership
Land use, value and ownership: Valuation Office Survey 1910-1915
Keywords:
1910 valuation office survey
datasets
finance 1909-1910 act
land
land ownership
maps
statistics
surveys
taxation
valuation office
Landed estates
Keywords:
estates (landed gentry)
land
land ownership
Lawyers
Keywords:
attorneys
barristers
lawyers
solicitors
League of Nations
Keywords:
first world war
foreign affairs
international relations
league of nations
world war one
Letters and papers of Henry VIII
Keywords:
early modern period
henry viii
political history (general)
state papers
Living people
Keywords:
electoral registers
living people
missing people
Lloyd George papers
Keywords:
david lloyd george
first world war
lloyd george
political history (general)
private papers
world war one
London Metropolitan Police
Keywords:
metropolitan police
police
Looted art 1939-1961
Keywords:
art and artists
digitised records
foreign affairs
international relations
online collections
second world war
world war two
All records viewable online
Research guides beginning with:
Manorial documents and lordships and how to use the Manorial Documents Register
Keywords:
early modern period
land
land ownership
manorial documents register
manors
Manors and manorial records
Keywords:
early modern period
land
land ownership
manors
maps
Maps and plans
Keywords:
early modern period
maps
plans
Maps and plans: an overview
Keywords:
land
maps
Maritime births 1867-1960
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Maritime deaths 1781-1968
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Maritime history records held by other archives
Keywords:
merchant navy
navy
royal navy
shipping
Maritime marriages 1854-1972
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Markets and fairs
Keywords:
charters
fairs
markets
Medieval and early modern family history
Keywords:
early modern period
medieval period
Medieval and early modern soldiers
Keywords:
army
british army
early modern period
medieval period
officers (army)
soldier
Medieval customs’ accounts
Keywords:
customs (tax)
excise (tax)
inland revenue
medieval period
pipe rolls
taxation
Medieval financial records: pipe rolls 1130-c.1300
Keywords:
economic history
exchequer
financial records of government
pipe rolls
Medieval maritime personnel and ships
Keywords:
medieval period
navy
Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1914-1918
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Merchant Navy medals and honours
Keywords:
awards
campaign medals
gallantry medals
honours
medals
merchant navy
Merchant Navy officers
Keywords:
crew lists
merchant navy
officers merchant navy
Merchant Navy seamen in service before 1914
Keywords:
apprenticeship
crew lists
merchant navy
Merchant Navy seamen in service since 1918
Keywords:
crew lists
merchant navy
second world war
second world war personnel
world war two
Merchant Navy seamen of the First World War
Keywords:
apprenticeship
crew lists
first world war
merchant navy
world war one
Merchant Navy seamen registers 1835-1857
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Merchant Navy seamen registers 1918-1941
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Merchant Navy ships wrecked or sunk
Keywords:
first world war
merchant navy
navy
second world war
shipping
world war one
world war two
Merchant Navy ships’ records: movement cards 1939-1945
Keywords:
digitised records
merchant navy
online collections
second world war
shipping
world war two
All records viewable online
Merchant Navy ships’ records: registration of merchant ships
Keywords:
merchant navy
navy
shipping
Merchant Navy ships’ records: crew lists, musters and log books
Keywords:
crew lists
log books (ships)
merchant navy
shipping
Merchant trade records: port books 1565-1799
Keywords:
customs (tax)
merchant navy
port books
taxation
Middlesex military service appeal tribunal 1916-1918
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Military and maritime records: an overview
Keywords:
merchant navy
military
wars
Military maps of the First World War
Keywords:
first world war
maps
world war one
Military maps of the Second World War
Keywords:
maps
second world war
world war two
Militia
Keywords:
army
british army
medals
militia
pensions
soldier
volunteer soldiers
Mines and mining
Keywords:
business history
coal mining
industry
labour history
mining
Research guides beginning with:
Napoleonic wars and the war of 1812 – an overview
Keywords:
napoleonic wars
wars
National Farm Survey of England and Wales 1941-1943
Keywords:
agriculture
datasets
farms and farming
land
land ownership
maps
national farm survey
statistics
surveys
Naturalisation case papers 1801-1871
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Naturalisation, registration and British citizenship
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
british citizenship
certificates of british citizenship
certificates of naturalisation
immigration
migration
naturalisation
Nazi persecution and the Holocaust
Keywords:
control commission
foreign office
holocaust
jewish history
nazi germany
second world war
war crimes
world war two
Newspapers
Keywords:
newspapers
press
Nonconformist and non-parish births, marriages and deaths 1567-1969
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Nonconformists
Keywords:
baptisms
births
deaths
early modern period
marriages
nonconformists
religious history
North American ancestors – an overview
Keywords:
america
america (emigration to)
canada (emigration to)
emigration
north america
Research guides beginning with:
Oaths of loyalty to the Crown and Church of England
Keywords:
early modern period
lawyers
nonconformists
oath rolls
religious history
sacrament certificates
Olympic and Paralympic Games and sporting history
Keywords:
olympics
paralympics
sport
Ordnance Survey
Keywords:
maps
ordnance survey
Original Acts of Parliament and Royal Assent
Keywords:
acts of parliament
legislation
parliamentary archives
Other countries and territories – an overview
Keywords:
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
Outlaws and outlawry in medieval and early modern England
Keywords:
crime and criminals
early modern period
law and order
medieval period
outlaws
Overseas maps and plans
Keywords:
borders (international)
boundaries (international)
british empire
colonies
international relations
maps
plans
Research guides beginning with:
Parliament
Keywords:
legislation
parliament
political history (general)
Passenger lists
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Passengers
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
emigration
immigration
migration
passengers
Passports
Keywords:
british citizenship
emigration
immigration
migration
naturalisation
passport
People in business and trades
Keywords:
business history
industry
labour history
trade and industry
tradesmen
Photographs
Keywords:
photographs
Police
Keywords:
metropolitan police
palestine police
police
royal irish constabulary
transport police
Political history in the 16th and 17th centuries
Keywords:
16th century
17th century
early modern period
political history (general)
Political history in the 18th century
Keywords:
18th century
early modern period
political history (general)
Political history in the medieval era – an overview
Keywords:
medieval period
political history (general)
Political history in the modern era, 1782 onwards – an overview
Keywords:
19th century
20th century
political history (general)
Poverty and the Poor Laws
Keywords:
paupers
poor laws
poverty
workhouses
Prime Minister’s Office records
Keywords:
prime ministers
second world war
world war two
Prisoner of war interview reports 1914-1918
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Prisoners and convicts
Keywords:
central criminal court
convicts
courts of law
crime and criminals
law and order
old bailey
prisoners
trials
Prisoners and prison staff
Keywords:
Prisoners of war in British hands
Keywords:
boer war
crimean war
first world war
pows
prisoners of war
second world war
world war one
world war two
Prisoners of war: selected records 1715-1945
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Prisons and prison staff
Keywords:
law and order
prison staff
prisons
Privy Council since 1386
Keywords:
early modern period
foreign affairs
law and order
legislation
privy council
Propaganda
Keywords:
first world war
propaganda
second world war
world war one
world war two
Public health and social policy in the 19th century
Keywords:
epidemics
health
political history (general)
Public health and social policy in the 20th century
Keywords:
diseases
health
medical services
mental health
political history (general)
welfare
Public rights of way, roads and other highways
Keywords:
land
land ownership
maps
ordnance survey
public rights of way
rights of way
Research guides beginning with:
Railway employment records 1833-1956
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Railway workers
Keywords:
railways
trains
Railways
Keywords:
railways
trains
Recommendations for military honours and awards 1935-1990
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Records of the Dawn Sturgess (Lord Hughes) Independent Inquiry
Keywords:
dawn sturgess independent inquiry
inquiries
All records viewable online
Records of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Keywords:
grenfell tower inquiry
inquiries
Records of the Hutton Inquiry
Keywords:
hutton inquiry
inquiries
Records of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)
Keywords:
independent inquiry into child sexual abuse
inquiries
All records viewable online
Records of the Infected Blood Inquiry
Keywords:
infected blood inquiry
inquiries
Records of veterans of nuclear testing (the contents of the Merlin database)
Keywords:
merlin database
nuclear test veterans
All records viewable online
Refugees
Keywords:
aliens (foreign nationals)
emigration
immigration
jewish history
migration
refugees
Religious houses and their lands c.1000-1530
Keywords:
abbeys
church lands
monasteries
religious history
Research and development in the British Army
Keywords:
army
british army
ordnance (military supplies)
Research and development in the Royal Air Force and civil aviation
Keywords:
air transport
aviation
civil aviation
raf
royal air force
Research and development in the Royal Navy
Keywords:
navy
ordnance (military supplies)
royal navy
shipping
Royal Air Force airmen service records 1912-1939
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Air Force combat reports 1939-1945
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Air Force nurses
Keywords:
nurses
raf
royal air force
second world war personnel
women's military service
Royal Air Force officers’ service records 1918-1919
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Air Force operations
Keywords:
combat reports (raf)
first world war
raf
royal air force
royal flying corps
royal naval air service
second world war
squadrons (royal air force)
world war one
world war two
Royal Air Force operations record books 1911-1963
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Air Force personnel
Keywords:
campaign medals
courts martial
pows
prisoners of war
raf
royal air force
second world war personnel
Royal Air Force squadrons
Keywords:
raf
royal air force
squadrons (royal air force)
Royal Flying Corps airmen
Keywords:
royal flying corps
Royal Flying Corps officers
Keywords:
officers (air forces)
royal flying corps
Royal grants in letters patent and charters from 1199
Keywords:
charters
early modern period
land
land ownership
letters patent
patent rolls
royal grants
Royal Household and Wardrobe
Keywords:
crown servants
early modern period
royal household
royal servants
royal warrant holders
tradesmen
Royal Irish Constabulary, 1836-1922
Keywords:
ireland
police
royal irish constabulary
Royal Marines officers
Keywords:
first world war
officers (royal marines)
royal marines
world war one
Royal Marines other ranks
Keywords:
first world war
royal marines
world war one
Royal Marines’ service records 1842-1925
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Naval Air Service officers
Keywords:
first world war
officers (air forces)
royal naval air service
world war one
Royal Naval Air Service officers’ service records 1906-1918
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Naval Air Service ratings
Keywords:
first world war
royal naval air service
world war one
Royal Naval correspondence using the ADM 12 indexes and digests
Keywords:
admiralty
royal navy
shipping
Royal Naval Division personnel
Keywords:
first world war
royal naval division
royal navy
world war one
Royal Naval Division service records 1914-1919
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Naval dockyard staff
Keywords:
dockyard
navy
royal navy
Royal Naval Reserve officers’ service records 1862-1964
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
royal naval reserve
All records viewable online
Royal Naval Reserve personnel
Keywords:
first world war
navy
royal naval reserve
second world war personnel
world war one
Royal Naval Reserve service records 1860-1955
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
royal naval reserve
All records viewable online
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel
Keywords:
first world war
navy
royal naval volunteer reserve
world war one
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve service records 1903-1922
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Navy commissioned and warrant officers
Keywords:
courts martial
navy
officers (royal navy)
royal navy
Royal Navy commissioned and warrant officers’ pensions
Keywords:
first world war
navy
officers (royal navy)
pensions
royal navy
world war one
Royal Navy commissioned and warrant officers’ pensions: claims by next of kin for unpaid monies 1830-1860
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
pensions
royal navy
All records viewable online
Royal Navy nurses
Keywords:
navy
nurses
royal navy
second world war personnel
women's military service
Royal Navy officers’ service record cards and files c.1840-c.1920
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Navy officers’ service records 1756-1931
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Navy operations and correspondence 1660-1914
Keywords:
admiralty
navy
royal navy
Royal Navy operations and policy after 1945
Keywords:
admiralty
fleet air arm
navy
royal navy
Royal Navy operations in the First World War
Keywords:
admiralty
first world war
navy
royal navy
world war one
Royal Navy operations in the Second World War
Keywords:
admiralty
navy
royal navy
second world war
world war two
Royal Navy ratings enlisted after 1918
Keywords:
campaign medals
medals
navy
royal navy
second world war
second world war personnel
world war two
Royal Navy ratings of the First World War
Keywords:
first world war
medals
navy
royal navy
world war one
Royal Navy ratings up to 1913
Keywords:
medals
navy
royal navy
Royal Navy ratings’ pensions 17th-20th centuries
Keywords:
first world war
navy
pensions
royal navy
world war one
Royal Navy ratings’ service records 1853-1928
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Royal Navy ships of exploration logs and journals 1757-1904
Keywords:
admiralty
digitised records
log books (ships)
navy
online collections
royal navy
shipping
All records viewable online
Royal Navy ships wrecked or sunk
Keywords:
first world war
navy
royal navy
second world war
shipping
world war one
world war two
Royal Navy ships’ log books
Keywords:
admiralty
log books (ships)
navy
royal navy
shipping
Research guides beginning with:
Schools
Keywords:
education history
schools
Sea charts
Keywords:
admiralty
charts (maps)
maps
Seals
Keywords:
heraldry
seals
Searching for records using Discovery
Keywords:
catalogue (discovery) help
discovery (catalogue) help
Second World War – an overview
Keywords:
nazi germany
second world war
wars
world war two
Sexuality and gender identity history
Keywords:
civil rights
gay and lesbian history
gender
lesbian and gay history
lgbtq
sexuality
Sir Anthony Eden’s private office papers 1935-1946
Keywords:
digitised records
diplomacy
foreign affairs
foreign office
international relations
online collections
political history (general)
private papers
second world war
world war two
All records viewable online
Slavery and the British transatlantic slave trade
Keywords:
abolition of slavery
british empire
caribbean
colonies
slavery
Soldiers in African forces under British control
Keywords:
africa
african
army
british army
british empire
colonies
wars
Sorting and filtering your search results
Keywords:
discovery help
help
Spotlight On: Census
Keywords:
Spotlight On: Illustrated London News
Keywords:
State Papers Domestic 1547-1649: Tudor and Stuart government papers
Keywords:
16th century
17th century
civil war (english)
early modern period
political history (general)
state papers
State Papers Domestic 1642-1660: Government papers from the Civil Wars and Interregnum
Keywords:
17th century
civil war (english)
commonwealth 1649-1660
early modern period
political history (general)
state papers
State Papers Domestic 1660-1714: Stuart government papers after the Restoration
Keywords:
17th century
18th century
early modern period
political history (general)
state papers
State Papers Domestic 1714-1782: Hanoverian government papers
Keywords:
18th century
early modern period
jacobites
political history (general)
state papers
State Papers Foreign 1509-1782: Government papers on foreign affairs
Keywords:
16th century
17th century
18th century
diplomacy
early modern period
foreign affairs
international relations
state papers
State Papers Ireland 1509-1782: government papers on Irish affairs
Keywords:
16th century
17th century
18th century
early modern period
ireland
state papers
Research guides beginning with:
Taxation
Keywords:
economic history
financial records of government
inland revenue
taxation
Taxation before 1689
Keywords:
early modern period
economic history
exchequer
financial records of government
hearth tax
medieval period
taxation
The South African War, 1899-1902 (or Second Boer War) – an overview
Keywords:
africa
african
boer war
south african war
wars
The Troubles in Northern Ireland
Keywords:
ireland
northern ireland
Tithes
Keywords:
datasets
land
land ownership
maps
statistics
surveys
taxation
tithes
Towns and cities
Keywords:
cities
towns
Treasury Board letters and papers 1557-1920
Keywords:
early modern period
economic history
financial records of government
inland revenue
taxation
treasury
Research guides beginning with:
UFOs
Keywords:
ufos
Understanding digital records
Keywords:
catalogue (discovery) help
discovery (catalogue) help
Understanding your search results
Keywords:
catalogue (discovery) help
discovery (catalogue) help
Research guides beginning with:
Victoria Cross registers 1856-1944
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Victorian prisoners’ photograph albums 1872-1873
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
photographs
prisoners
All records viewable online
Villages and the countryside
Keywords:
countryside
national park
parish
rural
villages
Volunteers and Territorials
Keywords:
army
british army
home front
militia
officers (army)
regiments and corps
soldier
territorial army
volunteer soldiers
Research guides beginning with:
War crimes 1939-1945
Keywords:
control commission
nazi germany
nuremberg trials
second world war
war crimes
world war two
What can I use Discovery for?
Keywords:
catalogue (discovery) help
discovery (catalogue) help
Where to go for birth, marriage and death certificates
Keywords:
births
deaths
marriages
Wills 1384-1858
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Wills and administrations after 1858
Keywords:
administrations of probate
death duties (tax)
duties and taxes
prerogative court of canterbury
probate
taxes and duties
wills
Wills and administrations before 1858
Keywords:
administrations of probate
death duties (tax)
deaths
duties and taxes
early modern period
prerogative court of canterbury
probate
taxes and duties
wills
Wills of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel 1786-1882
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Women in the British Army
Keywords:
army
british army
first world war
soldier
women's military service
world war one
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps service records 1917-1920
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Women’s Land Army
Keywords:
home front
land girls
second world war
second world war personnel
women's land army
world war two
Women’s Royal Air Force personnel
Keywords:
first world war
raf
royal air force
second world war personnel
women's military service
world war one
Women’s Royal Air Force service records 1918-1920
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Women’s Royal Naval Service personnel
Keywords:
first world war
royal navy
women's military service
world war one
Women’s Royal Naval service records 1917-1919
Keywords:
digitised records
online collections
All records viewable online
Women’s suffrage
Keywords:
civil rights
suffragettes
suffragists
votes for women
Workhouse inmates and staff
Keywords:
paupers
poor laws
workhouses
Working with posters
Keywords:
All records viewable online