Other family history books
Out local history librarians recommend the following books to help you to trace your ancestors using family photos, local newspapers, the census and military records. You may even be able to trace relatives using criminal records.
Click on the title to find out which libraries hold the book and reserve a copy online. You can ask for it to be delivered to your local library.
'Who do you think you are?'
Introduction to family history
Title: Who do you think you are?
Author: Dan Waddell and Nick Barratt
Publication date: 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins Entertainment
ISBN: 0007220898
Description: Together with BBC series exploring the lives of celebrities, this book explains how to carry out your own genealogy project.
Title: Family history made easy
Author: Kathy Chater
Publication date: 2004
Publisher: Southwater
ISBN: 1844760650
Description: Containing all the information needed to start a search for family roots, this book shows how to get access to records in libraries, institutions and government bodies so that a family tree can be produced.
Title: Beginning your family history
Author: George Pelling, Revised by Pauline Litton
Publication date: 1998 – 7th edition
Publisher: Federation of Family History Societies
ISBN: 1860060633
Description: Guidelines for people starting to trace their family history, outlining the information necessary to research back ten generations.
Title: How to write your family history
Author: Terrick Fitzhugh and Henry Fitzhugh
Publication date: 2005
Publisher: Marston House
ISBN: 189929628X
Description: Very readable guidance with examples on the wide variety of records and information sources for family history research. Includes information on writing and publishing your completed history.
Title: Ancestral trails: the complete guide to British genealogy and family history
Author: Mark Herber
Publication date: 2004 – 2nd edition
Publisher: Sutton Publishing; Society of Genealogists
ISBN: 0750935103
Description: Illustrated guide to tracing British ancestry as far back as the Middle Ages. Includes advice on obtaining information from relatives, drawing a family tree, and researching census records.
Previous editions
Title: Journeys in family history
Author: David Hey
Publication date: 2004
Publisher: The National Archives
ISBN: 1903365619
Description: Advice on where to find and how to research family history records over a period of 600 years, from First World War records back to the Black Death and beyond.
Title: How our ancestors lived: a history of life a hundred years ago
Author: David Hey
Publication date: 2003
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365554
Description: Illustrated history of life in Britain in 1901, based on data from the census.
Using photos, newspapers and the Internet
Title: Family photographs 1860–1945
Author: Robert Pols
Publication date: 2002
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365201
Description: Guide to researching, dating and contextualising family photographs, including how to best present and preserve photographs, and case studies explaining the techniques involved.
Title: Local newspapers 1750–1920
Author: Jeremy Gibson, Brett Langston and Brenda W Smith
Publication date: 2002 – 2nd edition
Publisher: Federation of Family History Societies
ISBN: 1860061575
Description: Lists all newspapers published locally in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man between 1750 and 1920 (except for titles which lasted for less than four years), and indexes to personal names or obituaries, births, marriages and deaths.
Previous edition
Title: The genealogists' Internet
Author: Peter Christian
Publication date: 2005 – 3rd edition
Publisher: The National Archives
ISBN: 190336583X
Description: Introduction and guide to researching family history on the Internet. Explains how the Internet works for beginners and gives details of sources of primary data available to family historians online.
Archives
Title: Tracing your ancestors in the Public Record Office
Author: Amanda Bevan
Publication date: 2002 – 6th edition
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365341
Description: Comprehensive guidance to all researchers, new or experienced, on tracing their ancestors among the government or court recordss held at the Public Record Office.
Title: The Family Records Centre: a user’s guide
Author: Stella Colwell
Publication date: 2002
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365368
Description: Explains what the Family Records Centre is and how it works, and how to locate and order the records. Sets out how to begin to trace the story of a family using the information available.
Title: Record Repositories in Great Britain
Author: Ian Mortimer
Publication date: 1999 – 11th edition
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1873162766
Description: Contains contact details for more than 300 archives and related research organisations plus information on access and services.
Census and birth, marriage and death records
Title: Making use of the census
Author: Susan Lumas
Publication date: 2002 – 4th edition
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 190336535X
Description: Explains how to use census records to trace your family history.
Title: Bishop’s transcripts and marriage licences, bonds and allegations: a guide to their location and indexes
Author: Jeremy Gibson
Publication date: 2001 – 5th edition
Publisher: Federation of Family History Societies
ISBN: 1860061346
Description: Guide to the extensive range of marriage documents and indexes available for England, Ireland, Wales and the Isle of Man, with county maps showing ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
Previous edition
Title: Marriage and census indexes for family historians
Author: Jeremy Gibson and Elizabeth Hampson
Publication date: 2000 – 8th edition
Publisher: Federation of Family History Societies
ISBN: 1860061249
Description: Guide to unpublished indexes to marriage records and census records in Great Britain and Ireland, and recently published marriage and census indexes. Arranged by counties, then by type of record.
Previous editions
Title: Sources for Roman Catholic and Jewish genealogy and family history: National Index of Parish Registers, Volume 3
Author: Donald John Steel
Publication date: 1974
Publisher: Phillimore for the Society of Genealogists
ISBN: 0900592435
Description: Details of the history of the various denominations, and the range and content of individual sources of records.
Title: National Index of Parish Registers
Publication date: 1968–
Publisher: Society of Genealogists
Description: List of parish registers by region and county, with dates of available registers and where they are kept, includes nonconformist registers.
Volume 2, Part 4, Sussex
Title: Jewish ancestors?
Author: Rosemary Wenzerul
Publication date: 2006
Publisher: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain
ISBN: 0953766977
Description: Organised under town headings, this book includes details about the Jewish holdings of archives, libraries, museums, record offices and synagogues and a full list of Jewish cemeteries throughout the UK.
Title: Wills and other probate records: a practical guide to researching your ancestors' last documents
Author: Karen Grannum, Nigel Taylor
Publication date: 2004
Publisher: The National Archives
ISBN: 190336549X
Description: Guide for new and experienced family historians on tracing and understanding wills, from before and after they were centrally registered in 1858. Includes explanation of legal terminology and Latin phrases.
Title: Probate jurisdictions: where to look for wills
Author: Jeremy Gibson and Else Churchill
Publication date: 2002 – 5th edition
Publisher: Federation of Family History Societies
ISBN: 1860061524
Description: Beginner’s guide on where to start looking for wills and their associated records, including information and maps on ecclesiastical courts and their jurisdiction, covering England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Military records
Title: Air Force records for family historians
Author: William Spencer
Publication date: 2000
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1873162936
Description: Covers the Royal Air Force, military flying before 1914, the Royal Flying Corps, Fleet Air Arm and many other minor forces.
Title: Army records for family historians
Author: Simon Fowler and William Spencer
Publication date: 1998 – 2nd edition
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1873162596
Description: Offers clear and comprehensive advice on tracing army ancestors from the 17th to the 20th centuries, with detailed case studies and full coverage of medals and awards.
Title: Army service records of the First World War
Author: William Spencer
Publication date: 2001 – 3rd edition
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365236
Description: Guide to the records relating to army personnel during World War I, including army nurses, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Indian Army, casualties, pensions, honours and awards, and how to use the ‘London Gazette’ to put together a service record.
Title: Tracing your naval ancestors
Author: Bruno Pappalardo
Publication date: 2003
Publisher: The National Archives
ISBN: 1903365376
Description: Explains the range of records and secondary sources which can be used to trace genealogical and career information in relation to men and women who have served in the Royal Navy and the naval reserve.
Title: Tracing births, deaths and marriages at sea
Author: Christopher T Watts
Publication date: 2004
Publisher: Society of Genealogists
ISBN: 1903462827
Description: Useful guide to the many types of records relating to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, including passenger lists.
Criminal records
Title: Criminal ancestors: a guide to historical criminal records in England and Wales
Author: David T Hawkins
Publication date: 1996
Publisher: Alan Sutton
ISBN: 0750910844
Description: Family historian's sourcebook which offers tips on how to research criminal ancestors, using case studies and details of convicts sent abroad.
Tracing ancestors outside the United Kingdom
Title: Tracing your Irish ancestors
Author: John Grenham
Publication date: 1999 – 2nd edition
Publisher: Gill and Macmillan
ISBN: 0717127966
Description: Guide to Irish genealogy covering dates, locations and formats of a wide range of records, including a list of Roman Catholic records.
Title: Emigrants and expats
Author: Roger Kershaw
Publication date: 2002
Publisher: Public Record Office
ISBN: 1903365325
Description: Describes the major waves of emigration and government approved schemes, explaining the reasons for such movements and how patterns have changed over time.
Title: Immigrants and aliens
Author: Roger Kershaw
Publication date: 2004
Publisher: The National Archives
ISBN: 1903365627
Description: Uses case studies to guide people tracing ancestors who came to Britain from overseas, covering records such as lists of arrivals, naturalization papers and records of religious dissenters.
