Archives: Collections of original images and manuscripts

This section covers all types of collection that may be of use in your research, whether they are topographical paintings in an art gallery or manuscripts in a record office or library. Archon gives locations in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Isles and Isle of Man with some web sites. Here's a checklist for beginners to help you make the most of your research time.

Step 1

Before visiting an archive, check whether it contains relevant material. The right preparation at this stage will save you much time and effort. The major archives have published catalogues or calendars which can be consulted in an academic library, and increasingly online. Some image databases are available online. (Details and links are in the guide to collections.) Note the catalogue references of the material you are interested in. You can often order several documents in advance.

There are several unified online catalogues:

Step 2

Check which language the records are written in. Medieval records throughout the British Isles are often in Latin. Some in England may be in Norman French. Later documents were more often in the spoken language of the area - French (Channel Isles), Gaelic (Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland) or Welsh - until English became dominant. The exception is legal records which remained in Latin until 1733. So even if you can read early scripts, you may need a dictionary.

Step 3

Check whether the archive is open to the general public, or whether there are restrictions. In some cases you may need to fill in an application form in advance, or make an appointment. The major national archives and some local ones give opening hours and other useful information online.

Step 4

Once you enter an archive, you will need to abide by the archive code. Be prepared!