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Birmingham Metropolitan District Council

Contents
Principal Public Libraries with family history resources
Research services
Registrar General's Index
Census records
Directories
Electoral registers
Poll books
International Genealogical Index
Unpublished indexes
Parish registers
Periodicals
Published transcripts
Other materials
Guides to collections
Record Office address
Other information

Library Services URL: http://www.birmingham.gov.uk
Chapman County Codes (BS 6879): WMD, WAR
2. Principal Libraries with Family History resources

Central Library
Local Studies and History Service
Floor 6
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
Tel: 0121 303 4217
Fax: 0121 303 4458
Email: -
Contact: -

Opening hours:

Monday: 0900-1700
Tuesday: 0900-1700
Wednesday: closed
Thursday: 0900-2000
Friday: 0900-1700
Saturday: 0900-1700

Other Libraries:

Birmingham City Archives, Floor 7 of Central Library.
Tel: 0121 303 4217.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday: 0900-1700. Thursday: 0900-2000. Wednesday: closed.

Sutton Coldfield Library, 45 Lower Parade, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Tel: 0121 354 2274
Fax: 0121 354 4504. Please contact for further details.

3. Research Service

Service available? Yes

Fee-based? Yes

Provided by local Record Office? -
4. Births, Deaths and Marriages

Registrar General's Indexes from 1837 (microform), or Registrar General for Scotland's Computerised Index from 1855.

Locations GRO Index for England and Wales. Births, Deaths and Marriages 1837-1996. Overseas indexes. Local Studies and History

5. Census returns

1841 Birmingham area
1851 Birmingham area, Warwickshire, some published indexes for other areas
1861 Birmingham area, Warwickshire
1871 Birmingham area
1881 Whole of England and Wales
1891 Birmingham area
All in Local Studies and History

6. Directories

6(a) County and Regional Directories

Large collection of County Directories covering 19th and 20th centuries
All in Local Studies and History

6(b) City and Town Directories

Birmingham Directories 1767-1973/74
London Directories 1677, 1805-7, 1808-1990
Large collection of directories of other towns
All in Local Studies and History

6(c) Telephone Directories


7. Electoral registers and polls books

7(a) Electoral Registers

Birmingham Burgess Rolls 1838-present
Birmingham Parliamentary Electoral Rolls 1832-present
Early rolls on microfilm, later ones 1920- hard copy
Local Studies and History

7(b) Poll Books

Collection of poll books mainly Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire 1705-1868
Some Local Studies and History, some Archives

8. International Genealogical Index (IGI)

1992 fiche version. England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands. Local Studies and History

9. Unpublished Indexes

Index of obituaries in Aris's Birmingham Gazette, 1741-1860s
Index to biographical newscuttings, 1872 - present
Arch: Name index to Apprenticeship Indentures, 17th-20th centuries; General name (personal and place) indexes to holdings of city Archives; Name index to Wills proved at the Birmingham Probate Registry 1858-1941

10. Parish Registers

Original Parish Registers for Birmingham Diocese in Birmingham City Archives
Microfilm copies of a substantial number of them in Local Studies and History
Large collection of printed transcripts of Parish Registers of other areas
A few microfiche transcripts
These are also in Local Studies and History

11. Periodicals (excl. newspapers)

Coat of Arms. Complete set
The Genealogist. Complete set
Genealogical Magazine vol 1-8, 1897-1904. Complete set
Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. Complete set
Family History 1979-present
Genealogists' Magazine. Complete set
Family Tree Magazine. Complete set
Midland Ancestor. Complete set
Harleian Society. Complete set + Parish Register series (all in Local Studies and History)
Index Library. Complete set
Army, Navy and Air Force Lists
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

12. Published Transcripts of Archival Material

Calendars of State Papers
Historical Manuscripts Commission Reports
Transactions of many Record Societies (too many to list separately)
All in Local Studies and History

13. Other material

National Wills Index 1858-1947
Monumental Inscriptions for Birmingham, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Parishes
Name Indexes to Birmingham Public Cemetery Burials
Manuscript material (not indexed by name) in City Archives includes registers of Nonconformist churches, Birmingham school records (inc. admission registers), c.1880- , Coroner's Inquests 1876- , Court records 19th-20th centuries, hospital records, 18th-20th centuries

14. Guides to Collections

No comprehensive guide available at present. Guide to City Archives in preparation.

15. Local Record Offices

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Other information