Family History Research Guide
Family history and genealogy encompasses the lives and ancestry of individuals and families originating in, or connected to, New South Wales. If you have New South Wales ancestry, this guide enables you to investigate your heritage.
Resources
The collection consists of:
- An extensive collection of materials relating to Australian genealogy including shipping and convict lists; registries of baptisms; births, deaths and marriages; and electoral rolls of Australian states
- An extensive collection of family histories published in or relating to New South Wales individuals and a wide selection of family histories published in or relating to Australian families that trace lines of descent to country of origin
- A broad collection of guides on how to research family history
- Published indexes to registers of births, deaths and marriages outside Australia, with particular emphasis on the United Kingdom and Ireland, including parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials for the United Kingdom; cemetery and census records for the United Kingdom and Ireland; land records for Ireland; and post office directories and commercial directories for the United Kingdom and Ireland
- Biographical dictionaries predominantly in English and of western European coverage listing notable individuals
- A broad range of reference works on heraldry, coats of arms and surnames
- Entire runs of major international and Australian newspapers including some electronically searchable versions
- Retrospective holdings of leading Australian and international family history journals and serials
Some examples of our significant items include:
- Online databases
Ancestry Library holds over 1.5 billion names from census, BDMs, immigration, court,land, probate,church and directory records etc. Primarily U.S.A. coverage but also important UK sources
FamilySearch: Social Security Death Index. Salt Lake City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Includes entries from the U.S. Social Security Death Master File through January 1989
Times Digital Archive Family search
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British Army lists, 1740 to the present, listings of British Defence Force personnel such as army lists identifying British soldiers
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British Biographical Archive (BBA)
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Kelham, Robert, 1717-1808. Domesday book illustrated: containing an account of that antient record; as also, of the tenants in capite or serjanty therein mentioned: and a translation of the difficult passages with occasional notes. London : Printed by John Nichols, for Edward Brooke, 1788. Location: Rare Books RB/S942.02/31 ASK AT DESK
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Old ordnance survey maps for the UK and Ireland:
Ordnance Survey of England and Wales on the scale of one inch to a mile engraved at the Ordnance Survey Office Southampton. Scale 1:63 360, 1 map on 360 sheets 30,4 x 45,3 cm. on each sheet 45 x 61,3 cm. (Southampton : Ordnance Survey Office, 1895)
- Ordnance Survey of Scotland on the scale of one inch to a mile engraved at the Ordnance Map Office, Southampton. Scale 1:63 360, 1 map on 131 sheets 45,5 x 61 cm. on each sheet 56 x 78,5 cm. (Southampton : Board of Agriculture, 1894)
- Ordnance Survey of Ireland published by Colonel H. James, Superintendent of the Ordnance Survey Scale 1:63 360, 1 map on 205 sheets ; 30,4 x 45,3 cm. on each sheet 45 x 61,3 cm. (Mountjoy House, Dublin : Ordnance Survey Office, 1852-1894)
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Index to births, deaths and marriages registers at St. Catherine’s House, London [microform]: England and Wales. 1837-1998. Great Britain. General Register Office. SRL Family History LG 2 REF 10/N929.341/32 Published London : Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, General Register Office, [1990]-
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Phillimore’s Parish Registers: Marriages, 1538 to the late 1800’s
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Irish land records including; Griffith's Valuation of Ireland 1848-1864 and Tithe applotment books, 1823-1838
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London directories from the Guildhall Library, 1677-1900
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Nobility and heraldry of Great Britain including; Burke's peerage and baronetage from 1837 (5th ed.) to the present, Burke’s Landed Gentry from 1871 (5th ed.) to the present and Debrett's Peerage from 1891 to the present
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Almanac de Gotha from 1808 to the present
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Victoria History of the Counties of England 1899 to the present
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The survey of London: contayning the originall, increase, moderne estate, and government of that city, methodically set downe. With a memoriall of those famouser acts of charity, which for publike and pious uses have beene bestowed by many worshipfull citizens and benefactors... Begunne first by the paines and industry of Iohn Stovv, in the yeere 1598. Afterwards inlarged by the care and diligence of A.M. in the yeere 1618. And now completely finished by the study and labour of A.M., H.D. [4th edition.] London: Printed by Elizabeth Pvrslovv, and are sold by Nicholas Bovrne, 1633 Rare Books LQ3/
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A display of heraldry. By John Guillim 6th ed. London: Printed by T. W. For R. and J. Bonwicke and R. Wilkin. And J. Walthoe and Tho. Ward, 1724 RB/F929.6/1
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The general armoury of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales: comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time. Burke, Bernard, Sir. 2nd edition with supp. 1884. E927.8/BUR
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Armorial general de la France by Louis Pierre d'Hozier. A Paris : De l'Imprimerie de Jacques Collombat, 1738-1768 RB/F929.74/1-10
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Armorial General Et Nobiliaire Francais by Lamant, Hubert. N929.80944/2 SET (no. 1-35, 37-67 held) Paris: H.Lamant, 1975-
Try our new Convicts guide for family historians researching a convict ancestor. Find the best resources with professional assistance at every step of the way.
Catalogue
A web based catalogue containing records for books, video recordings, maps, music and electronic materials catalogued since 1980, as well as all periodical titles held, for example, journals, newspapers, magazines and annual reports.
Pictures and Manuscripts catalogue
A web based catalogue containing records of the pictures, manuscripts, oral history and printed posters collections of the Mitchell Library, Sir William Dixson Research Library and Dixson Galleries catalogued since 1992.
Scanned Card Catalogue (pre-1980)
The Scanned Card Catalogue contains photographic images of the cards in the State Reference Library's Card Catalogue. It contains material catalogued before 1980.
Other catalogues in the Library
Printed books card catalogue - for material in the Mitchell Library catalogued prior to 1980
Manuscripts card catalogues - for original manuscript material catalogued prior to 1992 in the Mitchell Library
Pictures card catalogue - for original pictorial material catalogued prior to 1992 in the Mitchell Library
Maps card catalogue - for original and published maps catalogued prior to mid 1991 in the Mitchell Library
Dixson card catalogues - for original manuscripts and pictorial material in the Sir William Dixson Research Library
Databases & websites - Family History
Find a range of databases and websites covering Family History which have been indentified and evaluated by reference staff.
Sydney Morning Herald index
A selective index to the Sydney Morning Herald and its supplements (including the Sun Herald, Good Weekend, Eastern Herald, Northern Herald) from 1 January 1988 to 30 June 2005.
Australian Indigenous Index
An index to the Koori Mail, a national fortnightly newspaper published in Lismore, NSW, that focuses on the Indigenous people of Australia, from May 1991 to date. It is also an index to biographical information from various magazines including: Our Aim (1907–1961), Dawn (1952–1969), New Dawn (1970–1975) and Identity (1971–1982).
History of our nation
Highlights from the Library's holdings.
Convict life
Highlights from the Library's holdings.
Indigenous Australians
Journey back and explore interpretations of Aboriginal culture, history, language and art through the Mitchell Library's stunning collections of manuscripts, artworks, photographs and printed books.
Religion, church and missions
Examine the fascinating history and impact of religious beliefs, practices and institutions on the development of Australian society.
The French in Australia
The Library's collections are rich in the records of early French explorers of Australia and the Pacific region.
Manuscript collections
A small selection of letters and other manuscripts.
Pictorial collections
Highlights from the Library's extensive pictorial holdings.
Past
On the Run: Daring Convict Escapes
Through manuscripts, rare printed books, artworks and relics, this exhibition reveals the varying fortunes of a number of escaped convicts and explores prisoner rebellions and mutinies in the colony. (2006)
Eora: Mapping Aboriginal Sydney 1770-1850
Eora presents the Aboriginal past of early Sydney and surrounds. It chronicles the clans and families of the region and their connections to the land, each other and the English colonists. (2006)
