Workshop 4: Digging Deeper: researching, resources and catalogues
Thursday 3rd July
Nottinghamshire County Archives
Workshop Leaders: Peter Lester (Nottinghamshire Archives), Sarah Colborne
(University of Nottingham Manuscripts & Special Collections), Ruth LewisJones (Lakeside Arts Centre) and Charlotte Pratley (Culture Syndicates)
University of Nottingham’s Manuscripts and Special Collections:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections
Online Catalogue:
Contains records from over 700 archive collections; some only have a top-level record, others are
described in great detail. You can also browse collections by type/subject.
http://mssweb.nottingham.ac.uk/catalogue/
Name Indexing and Transcriptions:
Many documents in Manuscripts and Special Collections contain valuable information about people
and families in Nottinghamshire. For many years, our dedicated volunteers have been indexing and
transcribing the details from some of these sources. This is an ongoing project and the indices will be
updated as more transcriptions are completed.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/collectionsindepth/nameindex/na
meindex.aspx
Collections in Context:
This series of resources gives in-depth information about particularly significant collections held by
Manuscripts and Special Collections, or subject areas featured in our holdings.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/collectionsindepth/introduction.aspx
Research Guidance
These units give advice relating to using and understanding old records. They use examples from the
collections held by The University of Nottingham, but researchers using archives from any English
record office will find the advice relevant. Each unit includes a list of further reading for researchers
who need a more comprehensive approach.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/researchguidance/introduction.aspx
Historic Collections Online
A selection of images and documents from the collections held by Manuscripts and Special
Collections. The resource is designed to give access to a broad range of material from across the
subject spectrum, and particularly focuses on visual material.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/exhibitions/historiccollectionsonline.aspx
Visiting the Reading Rooms at the University of Nottingham:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/readingroom/introduction.aspx
Support for Community Archives:
The Community Archives and Heritage Group supports and promotes community archives in the UK
and Ireland.
http://www.communityarchives.org.uk/index.php
Letter in the Attic:
Letter in the Attic is a collection of letters, diaries, memoirs and other personal papers related to
Brighton and Hove. The collection was created by an appeal to the general public by QueenSpark
Books in a project that ran from 2007-2008.
http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/category/letterintheattic
The National Archives:
Host a number of different databases including records held by The National Archives and records
held in other archives. This page has links, for example, to WW1 soldiers’ and soldiers’ pension
records, and alien entry books, on ancestry.co.uk.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/catalogues-and-online-records.htm
National Register of Archives:
Contains information on the nature and location of manuscripts and historical records that relate to
British history.
http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/
Access to Archives:
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and
dating from the eighth century to the present day.
http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/
Records of WW1 at The National Archives:
A brief guide to researching British government and military records of the First World War.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-subject/firstworldwar.htm
The Long, Long Trail
A site all about the soldiers, units, regiments and battles of the British Army of the First World War.
http://www.1914-1918.net/
Nottinghamshire Archives Online Catalogue:
Contains records from a large number of collections held at Nottinghamshire Archives
http://nawcat.nottinghamshire.gov.uk
Guides created by the National Archives:
A brief guide to researching British government and military records of the First World War. First
World War records are wide-ranging and are kept in a variety of archives. This guide will help you
gain a general overview of the main sources of the information that exists, and where to find it:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-subject/firstworldwar.htm
This guide will help you find records at The National Archives relating to military operations and
actions in the First World War, planned and carried out by the British Army at home and overseas,
Indian Army, Canadian, New Zealand, South African or Indian forces (also known as dominion forces)
under British command, Colonial forces under British command, Royal Flying Corps:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/british-army-war-diaries-19141918.htm
This guide will help you find records at The National Archives relating to Royal Navy operations and
actions that took place between 1914 and 1918:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/royal-navy-operations-1914-1918.htm
A brief guide to researching records of British conscientious objectors and those exempt from
service:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/conscientiousobjectors.htm
A brief guide to researching British army records for an officer after 1913. Officer ranks include
Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, Brigadier and General.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/officerbritisharmyafter1913.htm
A brief guide to researching British army records for a soldier who was discharged after the
beginning of the First World War. These records are informative and varied, though not all for this
period survive. Soldier ranks include Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, and Warrant Officer.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierafter1913.htm
A brief guide to help you with your research into a birth, marriage or death in the British Army, Royal
Air Force, Royal Marines or Royal Navy.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-forperson/birthmarriagedeatharmedforces.htm
Support for community archives:
Supporting and promoting community archives in the UK and
Ireland: http://www.communityarchives.org.uk/index.aspx
RunCoCo offers advice, training, and support to those looking for new ways of working with the
public for impact, outreach, and engagement. The RunCoCo team have considerable experience of
all aspects of planning, running and supporting community
collections: http://projects.oucs.ox.ac.uk/runcoco/about/
One community archives guidance on the legal and technical aspects on the online
collection: http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/category_id__1014.aspx
Inspiring examples of community archives:
This award-winning website is a living history of Brighton and Hove. Through the site, people share
their memories, photos, knowledge and opinions about the city - as it is today and as it was in the
past: http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page/index.aspx