Indexes and Special Collections

The Institute holds numerous indexes and special collections in its library. Many are available for consultation by library visitors but some are kept on closed access due to their fragility, age or irreplaceability. These indexes are indicated with an asterisk. The indexes can be searched on behalf of postal and email enquirers at our library search rate - currently £20.00 per half-hour (including VAT), unless a specific fee is mentioned.

* The Armorial Index - Heraldic references often lead to genealogical clues even if details of a coat of arms are not required. The Institute has one of the largest collections of British and foreign armorials and a comprehensive index of over 100,000 cards has been compiled. This and several rare printed indexes will be searched for references and a search report (illustrated when positive) will be supplied for a fee of £23.50 (including VAT). Identifications can be made on the same basis, or, in more complex cases, to quotation. Online ordering is not available for this service

* The Andrews Index - A card index of notices from newspapers, the London Gazette and several other official sources including obituaries, next of kin advertisements, will notices, unclaimed estates, notices under the Colonial Probate Act of 1892 and deaths abroad. We are unsure of the exact dates covered but the dates of death are usually in the 20th century referring back to individuals born in the 19th century. The latest date of death found has been 1970. Quite often the original newspaper cutting has been annotated either with references from the original wills or with information gathered from Civil Registration. The Andrews Index assists those undertaking a "one-name study" as it is useful for locating information about individuals who seem simply to disappear. The hourly rate may be charged.

Apprentices' Indentures Subject to Tax and Index to Masters 1710-1774 - A microfiche copy of the index, compiled by the Society of Genealogists, of apprentices held at The National Archives.

Australian Civil Registration Indexes on microfiche

    New South Wales         CMBur.pre 1856, BMD 1856-1899
    Victoria                BM 1853-1914, D 1853-1940
    South Australia         BD 1842-1906, M 1842-1916
    Western Australia       BMD 1841-1905
    Queensland              CBur. 1829-1856, M 1839-1856
    Queensland country      DM 1856-1899 (NB no births published)
    Queensland Brisbane     D 1856-1899
        

Boyd's Marriage Index on Microfiche - Compiled by Percival Boyd, this index, along with the Pallot Marriage Index, is one of the major sources for locating marriages before 1837.

The Catholic Marriage Index - covers 60 parishes in London, North of the Thames and in Essex for the period 1837-1870. A list of the coverage of parishes in Central London only is available, along with a more detailed leaflet describing this collection. Available to buy on CD through our online bookshop.

Crisp's London Marriage Licences - An index to some original marriage licenses of over a dozen major London parishes is held. These include St Martin in the Fields 1765-1837; St Mary Putney 1822-1837; Holy Trinity Chelsea 1832-1837; St Leonard Shoreditch 1774-1837; St Dunstan in the West 1731-1837; St Paul Deptford 1779-1833; Christ Church Spitalfields 1757-1780; St John Hackney 1779-1837; St Paul Covent Garden 1734-1837; Kensington, Deptford, Whitechapel (some) etc. 1707-1837. All are abstracted and indexed and in many cases the original licences are also held. A searchable copy of Crisp's Index is available online here.

* Culleton Index - covers a collection of volumes compiled by former proprietors of heraldic and genealogical practices in Lincoln's Inn and Doctors Commons and contains many thousands of useful notices of original work.

Directories - Trade and Court directories are an important source for locating an address to use when searching the census enumerators' returns and for topographical information. The Institute has approximately one thousand 19th and 20th century directories. A full list of all our directories is available here.

Gretna Green - The Lang Collection of Gretna Green Marriage Records covers approximately the period 1795 (with one or two earlier entries) to 1895, in four bound and two loose covered register books together with a mass of certificates and letters. A searchable copy of the index is available here.

Griffiths' Valuation of Ireland and the Tithe Applotment Books - A major genealogical source for mid-19th century research in Ireland, the valuation is a comprehensive record of all property holders, thus supplementing the deficiencies brought about by the absence of census records for this period.

* GRO Births, Marriages and Deaths - A complete set of microfiche indexes to General Registration records for the period 1837-2005 is housed here. Searches can also be carried out on application. Please fill in the research request form with all known details so that a quotation of the likely cost can be provided for you or you may order online. Certificates can also be ordered through the Institute.

The Hackman Collection is a collection of manuscript copies of Bishops' Transcripts for Hampshire covering the period 1780-1812. Available to buy on CD through our online bookshop.

Kent Family History Publications on Microfiche - We hold the majority of these publications which include register copies and transcripts such as the Colyer-Ferguson Collection, calendars of Kent Wills and many more sources for the county.

Missing Persons Indexes - manuscript indexes to "Next of Kin" advertisements in the News of the World, the Times, the Daily Telegraph, The London Gazette and several other newspapers between 1903 and 1966. There is also a separate index to personal advertisements in the News of the World for 1906-1928

National Burial Index - This is a CD-Rom index to burial entries from Anglican parish registers, nonconformists and cemetery registers. Not all counties are included but further indexing work is ongoing.

New South Wales - Index to Convict Indents 1788-1743; General Return of Convicts 1837; Census 1828.

Pallot Marriage Index - Now on CD is one of the most important and useful indexes of marriages. For those whose ancestry is lost in London before General Registration this is an essential source. It covers all but two of the 103 ancient parishes of the old City of London for the period 1780 - 1837 - with entries taken from original sources, many now lost. The index has been augmented by entries from other countries, usually transcribed from printed sources. There was an equivalent baptismal section but this was severely damaged during the 2nd World War; however, some 100,000 entries survive.

Principal Probate Registry Wills and Administrations - A complete set of indexes to the Principal Probate Registry records for the period 1858-1943. Fees: Up to 5 year search - £5. More than 5 year search, add £1 per year.

Soldiers Died in the Great War - A CD index detailing over 650,000 casualties from the First World War.

The Sussex Collection - Covers the East Sussex Baptismal Index 1700-1812, Brighton Baptisms 1813-1837, The East Sussex Baptismal Index pre-1700 (a partial index only), Index to Nonconformist Registers, Index to Archdeaconry of Lewes Wills, Transcripts of registers, Settlement Papers and heraldic monuments in all Sussex churches. A catalogue of the collection is available online and copies of the microfiche can be purchased through our online bookshop.

* The Tyler Collection - genealogical material relating to families in East Kent. We have started a name index to the 3240 books of extractions of baptism, marriages and burials from parish registers which Frank Watt Tyler made during his genealogical career. The index is as yet incomplete.

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