Family history resources

The following catalogues and websites are available for family historians to use free of charge. Some of the websites can only be used in the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office and some require a Plymouth library card and pin number to use at home. Library cards can be obtained from any branch or main library.

• Online catalogue
• Access to archives
• Online databases
• 'All Search' family history index
• Coroners' records
• School records

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• Free find my past.com and 1911 census access
• Free Ancestry.co.uk access

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• 19th Century British Newspapers
• The Times
• Newsbank Newspapers
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• Cyberlibrary

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Online catalogue - search for records

Our online catalogue can be searched to see details of the records we hold. In most cases these include the catalogue description of the records and not online access to them. Where records have been digitised, they can be found by using the online catalogue - database search section below.

• Online catalogue search

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Access to archives - search for records

Access to Archives is a national database of record office catalogues based at the National Archives at Kew in London. All of our online catalogues for records deposited with us before 2005 are listed in full on this site. Again, the catalogue provides a description of the records we hold and not online access to them.

• Access to archives search

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Online databases

A number of collections have been digitised and they can be searched and viewed online using the links below. These collections contain lots of names and can be used to help find records of your ancestors.

• Plymouth City Council, building control plans (planning applications) from 1851 to 1945
• Plymouth area graveyards, grave stone images

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'All Search' family history index

A Plymouth based database for family historians which currently includes about one and a quarter million names. The database cannot be viewed online but can be viewed in our public search room or at events such as the annual family history day. Parts of the database can however be purchased on CD ROM.

• 'All Search' family history index and CD ROMs

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Plymouth Coroners' records

Records of the Plymouth Coroner are available for family historians to use as part of their research. Records over 75 years old have no restriction on access and a list of the people listed in them is available. The reports cannot be viewed online but can be viewed in our public search room.

• A list of inquisitions post mortem reports from 1892 to 1926, showing the name of the person in each report and listed in date order
• Coroners who worked in Plymouth
• Plymouth Corners' records

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Plymouth school records

Records of Plymouth schools are available for family historians to use as part of their research. The main types of records which are of interest to researchers are log books, admission registers and an index of them is available (see below). There is no restriction on access to records that are over 100 years old. The registers cannot be viewed online but can be viewed in our public search room.

• An index of log books and admission registers for Plymouth and West Devon schools

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Find my past and the 1911 census

An online resource for family history research, which now includes records from Plymouth and West Devon Record Office. It also gives access to the UK General Register Office index of births, marriages and deaths from 1837; the UK censuses of 1841 to 1911 and UK outbound passenger lists from 1879 to 1960. The website can only be used for free in the Record Office or in any Plymouth Library.

• Find my past

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Ancestry library edition

Another online resource for family history research. It gives access to the UK General Register Office index of births, marriages and deaths from 1837; the UK censuses of 1841 to 1901 and UK inbound passenger lists from 1879 to 1960. The website can only be used for free in the record office or in any Plymouth Library.

• Ancestry library edition

Find out more about Ancestry Library Edition.

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19th Century British Newspapers

The archives of 48 influential national and regional newspapers representing different political and cultural segments of the 19th Century British society. You can also access this website from home for free using your Plymouth library card.

• 19th Century British Newspapers

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Times Digital Archive

The complete digital edition of The Times (London) from 1785 to 1985. You can also access this website from home for free using your Plymouth library card.

• Times Digital Archive

Find out more about the Times Digital Archive.

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Newsbank Newspapers

Full text articles from a range of local, national and international newspapers including the Plymouth Herald. You can also access this website from home for free using your Plymouth library card.

• Newsbank Newspapers

Find out more about Newsbank Newspapers.

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Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

This website details over 55,000 biographies of notable Britons. You can also access this website from home for free using your Plymouth library card.

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Find out more about the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

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Cyberlibrary

For more information on sources for family history see the Cyberlibrary Family History page.

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