Archives & Libraries

For many people the first access they have with history outside of school is in the local library. Libraries are often the repository of huge swathes of local knowledge and expertise, while national libraries hold the key to pulling local knowledge together. In many places across the UK the library is a positioned in close proximity to the local archives, and even when they are not the two bodies have much in common and much to complement each other.  In this section information and articles will support the use and understanding of these two important history supporting bodies and inform those working in the sector.

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  • Public History Courses

    Article

    What is Public History? Public History is about understanding how the past has affected, and is used by, the present. It brings history to life and helps us understand the relationship between the past and the public at present. Public History can involve history in the community, and a Public...

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  • Using Medieval Sources

    Multipage Article

    In this short video Professor Mark Ormrod, Dr Jessica Lutkin and Dr Jonathan Mackman discuss their work on the England's Immigrants 1330-1550 project and give an idea of how they use primary medieval sources in their historical research.

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  • The Institute of Historical Research

    Article

    The following podcasts are from an interview between Dr Andrew Foster, chair of our Public History Committee with Professor Miles Taylor, Director of the Institute of Historical Research. The podcasts look at the work of the IHR - what it aims to do for the historical profession and wider public, the...

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  • Challenges facing The National Archives and the archives sector

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    Podcast of a second interview between Dr Andrew Foster from the Historical Association and member of The National Archives' Strategic Academic Stakeholder Forum and Oliver Morley, Chief Executive and Keeper, The National Archives, which took place on 6 December 2011. The interview covers the strategic challenges faced by The National...

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  • Untold Lives - Sharing Stories from the Past

    Article

    Untold Live - British Library History Blog The British Library's collections contain stories of people's lives worldwide, from the dawn of history to the present day. They are told through the written word, images, audio-visual and digital materials. The Untold Lives blog shares those stories, providing fascinating and unusual insights...

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  • Archive Dissertation

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  • Why and how institutional archives should market themselves

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  • Challenges to archives in the digital age

    Multipage Article

    In this podcast Dr Nick Barratt discusses the challenges to archives in the digital age.

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  • The East of England Regional Archive Council

    Article

    The East of England Regional Archive Council was formed in 1999 and represents  users of archives as well as custodians of archives working within the East of England.  The East of England Region consists of the six geographical counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.  Members of the...

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  • The 1669 Return of Nonconformist Conventicles

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    The survey of Return of Conventicles completed during the summer of 1669 on the instructions of Archbishop Sheldon is the most important source available for studying the earliest periods of religious dissent after the Restoration, because with the exception of the Quakers, only a handful of records belonging to dissenters...

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  • Newspaper Collection

    Article

    Richard Heaton's collection of newspapers consists of over 800 free searchable extracts and full transcripts of English and Irish, Georgian and early Victorian Regional newspapers. It is one the largest free collections on the web full of unique material bringing you one step closer to your ancestors and their world,...

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  • Cataloguing guidelines for community archives

    Article

    Cataloguing guidelines for community archives The Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG) has developed a set of cataloguing guidelines for community archives.Download the Cataloguing Guidelines for Community Archives (PDF).See a sample catalogue based on the guidelinesAbout the new guidelinesThere are an increasing number of community heritage groups round the country, building...

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  • The Royal Historical Society (RHS)

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  • The Institute of Historical Research (IHR)

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  • The National Archives (TNA)

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  • The British Library

    Article

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  • The School of Advanced Study

    Article

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  • The British Film Institute

    Article

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  • Making History

    Article

    Making History Making History, developed by the Institute of Historical Research, is dedicated to the history of the study and practice of history in Britain over the last hundred years and more, following the emergence of the professional discipline in the late 19th century. Contents This website contains cross-referenced entries...

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  • Census of Ireland, Dublin 1911 - National Archives of Ireland

    Article

    The household returns and ancillary records for the censuses of Ireland of 1901 and 1911, which are in the custody of the National Archives of Ireland, represent an extremely valuable part of the Irish national heritage. Click here to go to the site: National Archives of Ireland

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