Undergraduate module guides

Information about locating relevant archive material held elsewhere in the UK.

Web-based searching

National Register of Archives         http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/
Summary digital version of long-established paper-based resource.
More comprehensive, but more summary information.
You can only search by corporate name, personal or family name, or place, not by subject or keyword
Simple format - search results give standard, summary information about collections. 

A2A - Access to Archives                http://www.a2a.org.uk/
Catalogues relating to archives held in England. 
Can provide very detailed information, but is not comprehensive.
Complex results - including several levels of information.  Search results may be collection-level descriptions or entries to individual items.  Read guide to database first.

Archives Hub                                                http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/
Database gateway to archives held in universities and colleges.
Free text search.  Clear layout - split screen - lists of search results with links to summary or more detailed collection-level descriptions.

Specialist databases
Providing information on sources within historical themes - eg Genesis (sources for women's history).
Your tutor may be able to suggest sites within your area of interest.

A good list of thematic and specialist sites relating to archive resources can be found on the History Online website - at http://www.history.ac.uk/ihr/Resources/Type/archive.html

ARCHON                               http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/
Contact details for record repositories in the United Kingdom and also for institutions elsewhere in the world which have substantial collections of manuscripts.
Includes website addresses.   It is always worth looking at the website of a record office you are planning to visit, or even one which you think might have relevant material - many have online catalogues or guides.

Things to think about:

  • Are there resources which are in a record office that you can get to easily
  • Will there be any problems reading the records?  - handwriting pre c. 1750 uses some different letter forms, and some records will be in Latin.  Some 19th century handwriting (eg in private letters) is just illegible!
  • Have transcripts of the records been published?
  • Always ring or e-mail before visiting a record office - places may be limited, or records stored at a distance from the reading room.
  • Bring pencils (or a laptop) rather than pens