The Library
Search & Copy Service
Library Searches
The Society is aware that not everyone is able to visit the library; hence the library does offer a limited search and copy service on some of the indexes and finding aids within the collections. The Society's resources are such that we cannot make long searches in un-indexed materials. Nor can we make searches outside the library. For example we would not be able to extract all entries of a particular name from a filmed parish register but if the exact date is known copies can be made. Please note we cannot search for a named individual within the collections.
Payment
Indexes and collections can be searched on receipt of the library search/copy fee of £15 (members £12) for each half hour or part thereof spent in making the search. Most searches will not exceed half an hour. The fee includes VAT and postage. Requests must include payment in advance.
Copies of entries (if found) will be supplied for 30 pence for each A4 sized original and 50 pence for each A3 size.
Please note that we cannot copy entire works which are still in copyright. We can only supply copies up to a maximum of 5 per cent of the original item. Where a published work is out of copyright, i.e. 70 years or more after the death of the author, we will copy as much as is consistent with our limited staff time.
Payment can be made by sterling cheque or VISA/MASTERCARD.
Some of the more popular searches are:
- Indexes and Special Collections
- Bernau index to miscellaneous chancery, exchequer and other 17th & 18th century sources
- Printed marriage indexes (e.g. Cheshire 1700-1837, Oxfordshire 1538-1837, Notts & Lincs)
- Boyd's Marriage Index for England 1538-1837(state either particular county or a 25 year time period)
- Boyd's Inhabitants of London (60,000 London families mainly 16th & 17th centuries)
- Boyd's London Burials (250,000 abstracts of adult male burials pre 1853)
- Apprentices of Great Britain (taxed apprenticeships) 1710-1774
- London Apprenticeships 1568-1850
- Teachers' Registration Council Registers 1902-48
- Trinity House Petitions 1787-1854 (also some Apprentice Indentures 1788 & 1818-45 and miscellaneous Pensions and Petitions 1790-1889)
- Great Card Index of miscellaneous sources (3 million entries)
- Fawcett Index of Anglican Clergy and North Country families
- County family collections
- Campling Collection - Norfolk families
- Roger's Collection - Cornish families
- Professions Trades and Occupations
- Law lists 1813-1973
- Medical Directories from 1845 and Medical Register from 1854
- 18th Century Medics
- Schools Universities
- Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714, 1715-1886
- Alumni Cantabrigienses to 1751, 1752-1900
- Other printed schools and university registers
- Religions
- Huguenot Society Proceedings and Quarto Series
- Quaker Digests of pre 1837 registers
- Crockford's Clerical Directories and Clergy Lists (1828, roughly every 10 years 1840-1999)
- Hyamson's Notes on Jewish families
- Colyer Fergusson's notes on Jewish families
- Wagner Collection of Huguenot Pedigrees
- Armed service
- Navy Lists 1800-1946 Army Lists 1756-1946 (gaps - later years held but not searched)
- Soldiers Who Died in the Great War 1914-19
- National Roll of Great War
- Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1600-1815
- Will Indexes
- PCC wills (BRS and other indexes 1383-1800
- Other printed indexes (mostly BRS Index Library volumes and some others. Please note we cannot search calendars on microfilm)
- Peerage Royalty
- Complete Peerage
- Burkes Peerages and Landed Gentries
- Overseas Collections
- Australia:
- Civil Registration Indexes on CD ROM & fiche
- New South Wales Convicts Indents (Index only)
- 1828 Census New South Wales
- India:
- Percy-Smith's India Index (notes on British families in India - many marriages)
- Anglo India Research Correspondence
- West Indies:
- Smith Manuscripts - notes on British families in the Caribbean
- CD ROMS
- Included inter alia:
- Palmer's Index to the Times Newspaper 1790-1905
- Services of Heirs for Scotland 1700-1859
- Griffith's Primary Valuation for Ireland 1848-1864
- 1880 US Census
- Other CDS may be searched and a quote will be given.
- Indexes and original documents
- Indexes and databases can be searched on The Origins Network. The indexes are available to view online "free" for non members. See website for details of subscription rates. Members have free access for a 72 hour period each quarter with a unlimited number of records retrieved. Copies of the documents to which index entries refer are available at £10 (members £8)
- Vicar General Marriage Licence Allegations 1694-1850
- Faculty Office Marriage Licence Allegations 1701-1850
- Bank of England Wills 1717-1845
- Special Manuscript Collections
- The Society of Genealogists holds many special manuscript research collections of research notes and roll pedigree. A search can be made in the indexes to see if a surname is represented (free of charge). A quotation can then be made for the costs of copying the relevant materials if possible.
- What's been done before?
- The Society of Genealogists holds thousands of printed family histories along with a huge document collection of miscellaneous manuscript notes on families. The Society will happily search its various catalogues and bibliographies (free of charge) to see if anything is held on a particular name. A quotation can then be made for the costs of copying the relevant materials if possible
- Lengthy searches
- Lengthy or complicated Searches are undertaken only at the discretion of the Genealogy Officer, and an estimate of fees will be provided. The work will be undertaken only on receipt of the appropriate fee.
- Enquiries should be made by:
fax - (020) 7250 1800- e-mail - library@sog.org.uk
- post - SoG, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road,
London EC1M 7BA
- but not by telephone!
- For postal enquiries, please include a stamped self-addressed envelope or, if outside the UK, an addressed envelope and THREE International Reply Coupons.
Notes
- Requests for catalogue enquiries and searches are dealt with in order of receipt. They are not acknowledged but the Society endeavours to answer within one month if possible. The Society is does not undertake professional genealogical research. Those unable to conduct their own research may wish to consider appointing a record agent or professional genealogist. The Society will not recommend any individual but several advertise in our own Genealogists' Magazine and other journals such as Family Tree Magazine. The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) publishes a list of its members and this is available on-line at www.agra.org.uk
- Personal searches can of course be made. Non-members are also welcome to use the Library as day searchers on payment of the appropriate fee. Photocopies or printouts can be made personally at a cost of 20p (A4) or 40p (A3) or by staff (in the case of fragile and or manuscript items in the lower library) at 30p (A4) or 50p (A3) per copy.