For International Women’s Day 2023 we’re going to delve into the Leodis photographic archive and look at a woman who followed her own path, regardless of social conventions, and while doing so left a mark on the collective memory of Leeds residents. The undated image shows a woman who was once a very familiar character…
Category: Family History
The Wiener Holocaust Library
The Wiener Holocaust Library recently paid a visit to Leeds Central Library to run a workshop on tracing Jewish ancestors. We thought it would be useful to explain a bit about them and their resources for anyone with Jewish ancestry. The Wiener Holocaust Library are based in Russell Square in London. Open each weekday, the…
Irish Family History Resources
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Irish History Month we take a look at some of the key websites to use when researching your Irish genealogy. Start with this good overview from the Who Do You Think You Are website to get an introduction to which records are and are not available: https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/irish-census-records/ The National…
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Heritage Month
As June ends and we say goodbye to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Heritage month, Senior Librarian Louise Birch takes a look at what our Local History collections hold regarding West Yorkshires 7,000 strong Gypsy & Traveller community. “In many cases Gypsies are invisible in the usual records” Freda Matthews, Gypsies in Leeds Local History (in…
Census – A Vital Family History Resource
Librarian Louise Birch takes a look at how the valuable role the census plays in genealogy. Every 10 years a national survey is undertaken to create a picture of the households and residents of the UK. This is the National Census, and this Sunday 21st March the next one is due to occur in England…
Armley and the Domesday Book
On the Secret Library this week we hear from Local and Family History’s Josh Flint who will be delving into Thomas Wilson’s Transcription of the Yorkshire Domesday Book, 1748, and explore what the Domesday Book can tell us about Armley and the people who lived there in the 11th Century. This is part of a…
People of Leeds #10: Godfrey Wood, Confectioner
A recent blog post by librarian Helen Skilbeck looked at Godfrey Wood’s Victorian Catering Ledger which shows the events his catering business provided food and services for. This follow-up post, also by Helen, looks in more detail at Godfrey Wood himself. This article is #10 in our People of Leeds series – short biographies of…
West Leeds Girls’ High School Jubilee Magazine
This week’s Secret Library Heritage Blog article has been written by Local and Family History’s Josh Flint and will be the first in a new series. This new series will be on treasures from the Local and Family History collection about Armley. This first Armley treasure is the 50th Jubilee of the West Leeds Girls;…
The Secret Library | Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog 