Wales Archives and Libraries

Wales Archives and libraries

Many repositories contain information useful for Welsh genealogy. Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations, such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.

Online sources exist that may be used before visiting an archive or library. The Family History Library and family history centres may have copies of the records you need on microfilm or microfiche.

Contact the repository you plan to visit several weeks in advance to obtain a reader’s ticket, to reserve a seat or a microfilm reader, and to learn about hours, services, and fees.

National Archives and Libraries
The National Library of Wales. This library houses church, nonconformist, court, probate, census, tax, and 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:


 * The National Library of Wales
 * Aberystwyth
 * Ceredigion
 * SY23 3BU
 * Wales


 * Website: National Library

National Archives
The National Archives collects records of the central government, such as parliamentary papers and law courts from 1086 to the present. It is located in England but has many Welsh records. These records can provide you with much information but are best used after you have gathered information elsewhere. You must have a reader’s ticket to use this collection, but you may apply for one when you arrive. You can contact this office at:


 * National Archives Ruskin Avenue, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU England Website: National Archives

For a detailed list of the records housed in the National Archives, see:


 * Kew Lists: Public Record Office. Norwich, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1986–88. (Family History Library ;) The Current Guide is on Family History Library

For another helpful guide to the National Archives, see:


 * Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office. 4th. ed. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990. (Family History Library

Information is also accessible through the GenUKI website.

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. Copies of the office’s records are housed at the Family Records Centre in London. See Wales Civil Registration- Vital Records for the address.

The Family Records Centre also has copies of census records from 1841 to1891, nonconformist chapel records, probate records, Regimental Registers, and Chaplains’ Returns.

The British Library
The British Library collects all materials published in England and Wales. It also has a manuscript department. You need a reader’s ticket to use materials in this facility. Because the library’s collection is so complex, usually only experienced researchers use it. You can contact this library at:


 * British Library at St. Pancras 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB England Website: British Library

The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
This organization houses the Manorial Documents Register (see Wales Court Records) and the National Register of Archives (NRA). The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts has been working to inventory records that are in archives and private collections. The commission’s finding aid, the National Register of Archives (NRA) at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/, includes over 191,000 lists of manuscript collections and close to 5,000 finding aids and annual reports from various repositories. These lists are indexed. Searches can be made in these indexes via the Internet. The Family History Library has some of the published indexes. These indexes are divided into three sections by person, business, and organization. Look in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under "Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts." Also check the Locality Search under:


 * WALES - HISTORY - SOURCES - INDEXES


 * GREAT BRITAIN - HISTORY - SOURCES

The NRA may be used to learn about estate records that are in private hands and at various record offices. Many of the records described by the commission have changed hands since being examined. For information about the current location of records surveyed by the commission see:


 * The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Guide To The Location Of Collections Described in the Reports and Calendars Series 1870–1980. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1982. (Family History Library ;)

You can contact this commission at:


 * Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts Quality House, Quality Court Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP England Website: Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

There are a links from the commission’s home page to both the Manorial Documents Register and the National Register of Archives.

County Record Offices
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 ;)
 * Mortimer, Ian, ed. Record Repositories in Great Britain. 10th ed. Kew, Surrey: PRO Publications, 1997. (Family History Library )

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.sibmas.org/idpac/europe/ukb003.html


 * 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.merthyr.gov.uk/english/leisureandculture/libraries/pages/default.aspx

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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 &amp; Associations in Ireland. 13th ed. Beckenham, Kent, England: CBD Research Ltd., 1996. (Family History Library .)
 * Pinhorn, Malcolm. Historical, Archaeological and Kindred Societies in the United Kingdom : A List. Isle of Wight: Pinhorns, 1986. (Family History Library ;) 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 .)

Specialist Archives

 * Mundus: Gateway to missionary collections in the United Kingdom
 * Ebbw Vale Works Archive Trust, Unit 15 Cwm Draw Industrial Estate, Newtown, Ebbw Vale NP23 5AE Telephone: 01495 350941 Email: ev_works_at@btinternet.com The reading room is open twice a week with guide on hand to help with questions.

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 Family History Library 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 http://www.proquest.com/products_umi/descriptions/National-Inventory-187.shtml. 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 To find the Family History Library call numbers, look in the Author/Title Search of the microfiche version of the Family History Library 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.

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


 * WALES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES


 * WALES, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES


 * WALES, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES


 * GREAT BRITAIN - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES