This week we hear from Library Officer Karen Downham, who explores a fascinating new addition to our Leodis archive of historic Leeds images… The Local & Family History Library often takes donations of photographs to go onto the Leodis online photographic archive (www.leodis.net), and as often happens when researching the background to images, the trail…
Author: Leeds Libraries
Harris Sumrie, Elizabeth Beecroft and Leeds Museum’s Wikithon
This week we welcome guest author Phillippa Plock, who has been working with Leeds Museums and Galleries on their Wikithon, where they write Wikipedia articles on important Leeds Historical Figures as part of their 200th birthday volunteer project. In this article Phillippa will discuss her two most recent articles on Harris Simrie and Elizabeth Beecroft. …
Parish Registers – An Introduction
As part of a series examining family history resources for beginners, librarian Antony Ramm takes an in-depth look at one of the most useful resources for beginning your family history research: Parish Registers. You can find more information in our research guide. An earlier article on this site takes a brief look at some of…
VE Day Resources
Friday 8 May sees the 75th-anniversary of the ending of the Second World War in Europe, known as VE Day. Previously we have told you a little bit about how Leeds celebrated this momentous day on our Leeds Celebrations for VE Day blog so today we wanted to tell you about some free online resources…
The Lockdown Leeds 2020 Collection
This week on the Secret Library, Librarian Louise Birch introduces an exciting new collection for the Local and Family History library. This collection is launching as part of Local and Community History Month. It’s hard to imagine a time when we won’t remember what it felt like to live through Covid 19 and the impact…
Census Records on Ancestry
As part of a series examining family history resources for beginners, librarian Helen Skilbeck looks in more depth at UK census records 1841-1921, which can be accessed through the Ancestry website. You can find more information in our research guide. What is the census? One of the most valuable resources for family historians, historic census…
New Armley Research Guide
This week Josh Flint will discuss the new Local and Family History Research Guide on Armley. This Research Guide will be of great use to anyone with an interest in the history of Armley and how that history is represented in the Leeds Central Library Collection. This article will examine interesting images highlighted in this…
Your Family History #1: Throstle Nest, Wortley
This week on the Secret Library we welcome guest author Tony Stead, whose personal research into his family tree and their connections to the Throstle Nest House of Wortley is reproduced below. This is the first in a projected new series, in which family historians will present the fruits of their labour. The Stead family…
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