UK-wide museums, archives and heritage

UK-wide

130th (St John) Field Ambulance Research Group

www.130thstjohnfieldambulance.co.uk

A group dedicated to the history of the 130th (St John) Field Ambulance RAMC.

Anglo-German Family History Society

82 Hillside Grove

Chelmsford CM2 9DB

www.agfhs.org.uk

Anglo-German Family History Society is for those who are interested in researching the genealogy or family history of people from the German-speaking parts of Europe who have emigrated over the centuries and settled in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (North and South), and the neighbouring islands.

Anglo-Italian Family History Society

Yew Cottage, Shurton

Bridgewater TA5 1GF

01278 733874

www.anglo-italianfhs.org.uk

The Anglo-Italian Family History Society website pulls together membership details, recommended reading, Italian surname database, indexes, Latin and Italian record translators, links and other resources for people tracing their Italian immigrant roots in Britain.

Army Children Archive (TACA), The

www.archhistory.co.uk

A virtual, not-for-profit archive in the form of a website that chronicles the history of British army children from the 17th century to date. It aims to collect, record and preserve relevant information and also to raise awareness of the unique aspects of growing up as the child of a serving soldier in the British Army.

Baptist Historical Society, The

www.baptisthistory.org.uk

Founded in 1908, the society seeks to advance awareness of Baptist history and principles by promoting lectures, summer schools and publications; by offering an advice and information service and by bringing heritage issues to the attention of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and its member churches. One important aim of the society is to make widely available material about Baptist history written by Baptists.

Battlefields Trust, The

60 Seymour Road

St Albans AL3 5HW

01727 831413

www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre

The UK Battlefields Resource Centre’s website is an invaluable education resource and contains important information for those investigating or conserving battlefields. Included are maps, images, air photos, walking and driving tours, resources for teachers and much more.

British Architectural Library

RIBA, 21 Portman Square

London W1H 9HF

020 7580 5533

goo.gl/sGS8C8

The British Architectural Library at the RIBA is the largest and most comprehensive resource in the United Kingdom for research and information on all aspects of architecture. The Library was established in 1834 as part of the RIBA, and today its architectural collections are one of the top three in the world and the finest in Europe.

British Association for Local History

PO Box 6549, Somersal Herbert

Ashbourne DE6 5WH

www.balh.co.uk

Our purpose is to encourage and assist the study of local history throughout Great Britain as an academic discipline, and as a rewarding leisure pursuit for both individuals and groups. To achieve this the Association serves as the national body representing local and regional historians.

British Aviation Preservation Council

19 Action Place, High Heaton

Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7RL

0191 266 2049

www.bapc.org.uk

The British Aviation Preservation Council links national, local authority, independent and service museums with private collections, voluntary groups and other organisations in the advancement of aviation preservation.

British Cartoon Archive at University of Kent

Templeman Library, The University of Kent

Canterbury CT2 7NU

01227 823 127

www.cartoons.ac.uk

The British Cartoon Archive holds the principal collection of British cartoons of social and political comment. Established at the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1973, as the centre for the Study of Cartoons and Caricature, it holds 140,000 original drawings and 85,000 cuttings, representing the work of 350 different cartoonists.

British Commission for Military History (BCMH)

c/o Department of War Studies, King’s College London

London WC2R 2LS

020 7848 2112

www.bcmh.org.uk

The British Commission for Military History (BCMH) promotes the discussion of military history in the broadest sense, across all periods and regions. Membership comes primarily from those working in military history in universities, museums and archives, defence and the armed forces as well as the media, heritage and cultural studies.

British Deaf History Society

11-13 Wilson Patten Street,

Warrington WA1 1PG

01925 632463

www.bdhs.org.uk

The British Deaf History Society (BDHS) is a recognised voluntary and charitable organisation with its own Constitution. The BDHS’s objectives include: to encourage the study of and foster an interest in deaf history; to encourage the preservation of records and material related to the deaf and of historical value. Deaf History Journal is issued and distributed among members three times annually.

British Film Institute

London

020 7255 1444

www.bfi.org.uk

We’re the British Film Institute. We promote greater understanding of and access to film and television culture.

British Horological Institute

Upton Hall, Upton

Newark NG23 5TE

01636 813 795

www.bhi.co.uk

The BHI was founded in the Clerkenwell district of London in 1858. A group of watchmakers joined together in an attempt to combat the large quantity of clocks and watches flooding into the country from abroad, and to raise the standards of British horology. See the BHI website for details of the museum and archive.

British Library

96 Euston Road

London NW1 2DB

020 7412 7332

www.bl.uk

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and one of the world’s greatest libraries. The John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library, PACCAR Gallery of Living Words and the Workshop of Words, Sound and Images offer permanent displays and a changing programme of special thematic exhibitions.

Collections: The British Library is custodian of the most important research collection in the world, spanning almost 3,000 years and every continent. This covers books, journals, manuscripts, stamps, patents, sound recordings, printed music and maps.

British Library Newspapers

96 Euston Road

London NW1 2DB

020 7412 7353

www.bl.uk/collections/newspapers.html

British Library Newspapers, the national archive collections in the United Kingdom of British and overseas newspapers. We are the only large, integrated national newspaper service in the world, combining facilities for the collection, preservation, and use of newspapers. See the website for details of the newspaper reading rooms at St Pancras, London and Boston Spa, Leeds.

British Library of Political & Economic Science

Library, London School of Economics & Political Science, 10 Portugal Street

London WC2A 2HD

020 7955 7229

www.lse.ac.uk/library

The working Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science and one of the largest libraries in the world devoted to the economic and social sciences. Its collections are significant to the study of economics, statistics, political science and public administration, international law and in the economic, political, social and international aspects of history and anthropology.

British Museum

Great Russell Street

London WC1B 3DG

020 7323 8299

www.britishmuseum.org

Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Enjoy a unique comparison of the treasures of world cultures under one roof, centred around the magnificent Great Court. World-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies are visited by up to six million visitors per year.

British Red Cross Society

44 Moorfields

London EC2Y 9AL

020 7877 7058

www.redcross.org.uk/museumandarchives

The British Red Cross Museum and Archives are based at the society’s UK Office in London. The collection contains a fascinating portrait of the humanitarian work of the British Red Cross, from its beginnings in 1870 to its vital contribution in today’s society.

Collections: Includes material from the society’s national headquarters, regions, branches and centres and items from people who served with, or received assistance from, the British Red Cross since its foundation in 1870. Highlights include the Changi Quilt and Loyd-Lindsay’s flag.

Catholic Family History Society

9 Snows Green Road, Shotley Bridge

Consett DH8 0HD

www.catholic-history.org.uk/cfhs

Membership of the society entitles you to attend any of the meetings organised by the Catholic FHS (though a small entrance fee is usually charged), receive copies of ‘Catholic Ancestor’, have your research interests listed and generally join in the activities of the society.

Chapels Heritage Society – CAPEL

5 Cuffnell Close, Liddell Park

Llandudno LL30 1UX

www.capeli.org.uk

Capel encourages the study and preservation of the Nonconformist heritage of Wales, and offers information and advice on ways to maintain and preserve their buildings. It records and studies chapel architecture and encourages chapels to safeguard their records.

Costume Society, The

www.costumesociety.org.uk

Formed 40 years ago it pioneered the exploration of all aspects of clothing and personal appearance within a like-minded membership which now includes collectors, curators, designers, lecturers, students and informed enthusiasts.

Council for British Archaeology

St Mary’s House, 66 Bootham

York YO30 7BZ

01904 671417

www.britarch.ac.uk

The CBA is an educational charity working across the UK. We have been campaigning for the better care of Britain’s archaeology for more than 60 years.

Culture24

Office 4, 28 Kensington Street

Brighton BN1 4AJ

01273 623266

www.culture24.org.uk

News, listings and features from 4,000+ museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage sites.

Families in British India Society (FIBIS)

4 Lichfield House, Bishops Walk

Aylesbury HP21 7LE

www.fibis.org

FIBIS is a self-help organisation devoted to members researching their ancestors and the background against which they led their lives in British India.

First World War Walks in Britain

www.worldwaronewalks.com

Britain’s famed Blue Badge tourist guides are bringing the home front alive with guided walks, all over the country. There is no better way to appreciate the issues behind the Great War, and learn how they impacted directly on your local area.

Folklore Society

Warburg Institute, Woburn Square

London WC1H 0AB

020 7862 8564

www.folklore-society.com

The Folklore Society (FLS) is a learned society, based in London, devoted to the study of all aspects of folklore and tradition, including: ballads, folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends, traditional song and dance, folk plays, games, seasonal events, calendar customs, childlore and children’s folklore, folk arts and crafts, popular belief, folk religion, material culture, vernacular language, sayings, proverbs and nursery rhymes, folk medicine, plantlore and weather lore.

Heraldry Society

PO Box 772

Guildford GU3 3ZX

01483 237 373

www.theheraldrysociety.com

The Heraldry Society exists to increase and extend interest in and knowledge of heraldry, armory, chivalry, genealogy and allied subjects. The society is nonprofit making and is registered as an educational charity.

Heritage Alliance, The

Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7TP

020 7233 0500

www.theheritagealliance.org.uk

The Heritage Alliance, established in 2002 as Heritage Link, is the biggest alliance of heritage interests in the UK and was set up to promote the central role of the non-Government movement in the heritage sector. The Heritage Alliance has 90 members; national and major regional organisations including The National Trust, the Council for British Archaeology, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and The society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as well as many smaller and more specialised heritage groups.

Heritage Lottery Fund

7 Holbein Place

London SW1W 8NR

020 7591 6000

www.hlf.org.uk

The Heritage Lottery Fund supports projects that make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities in the UK. Heritage includes many different things from teh past that we value and want to pass on to future generations, for example people’s memories and experiences, historic buildings, cultural traditions, collections of objects, books or docuements, and natural heritage.

Heritage Railway Association

New Romney TN28 8PL

www.heritagerailways.com

The Heritage Railway Association represents the majority of heritage and tourist railways and railway preservation groups within both the U.K, and Ireland. There are also several overseas members.

Historic Houses Association

2 Chester Street

London SW1X 7BB

020 7259 5688

www.hha.org.uk

The Historic Houses Association represents 1,500 historic houses, castles and gardens throughout the UK, of which a third are open to the public and many offer educational opportunities for people of all ages. Visit our website: www.hha.org.uk and click on Properties to Visit.

Historic Newspapers

23 Vaughan Road

Harpenden AL5 4EL

01582 464829

goo.gl/ziDzk4

Archive of original newspapers with free educational resources – including our latest: WW1 100th Anniversary Newspaper Book..

Historical Association, The

59a Kennington Park Road

London SE11 4JH

020 7735 3901

www.history.org.uk

The Historical Association produces a wide range of resources both online and within its 3 quarterly journals for Primary and Secondary history teachers and for the general history enthusiast..

Historypin

71 St John Street

London EC1M 4NJ

www.historypin.com

Historypin is a way for millions of people to come together, from across different generations, cultures and places, to share small glimpses of the past and to build up the huge story of human history. We host a website and mobile apps, partnering with hundreds of libraries, archives and museums worldwide. Historypin was created and supported by We Are What We Do, not-for-profit behaviour change company that creates ways for millions of people to do more small, good things.

Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland, The

The Huguenot Library, UCL, Gower Street

London WC1E 6BT

020 7679 5199

www.huguenotsociety.org.uk

In 1885 the society was founded by directors of the The French Hospital (founded in 1718) to promote the publication and interchange of knowledge about the Huguenots in Great Britain and Ireland, a good deal of which, over the passage of time was unknown to many of their descendants. They also aimed to form a bond of fellowship of those who, whether or not of Huguenot descent, respect and admire the Huguenots and seek to perpetuate their memory.

Collections: The Library (incorporating the Library of the French Hospital) forms the most complete body of Huguenot literature in this country. It contains the archives of the French Hospital since its creation in 1718, which are vital to the Hospital’s continuing work today.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

33 Seymour Place

London W1H 5AU

020 7724 4232

www.jgsgb.org.uk

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain – JGSGB – was founded in 1992 for beginners and experienced researchers: * To help one another to learn and discover more about genealogy * To encourage genealogical research * To promote the preservation of Jewish genealogical records and resources * To share information amongst members The society is open to all interested in Jewish genealogy and is constituted on a secular basis.

Mass Observation Archive, The

The Keep, Woollards Way

Brighton & Hove BN1 9BP

01273 6337515

www.massobs.org.uk

This Archive specialises in material about everyday life in Britain. It contains papers generated by the original Mass Observation social research organisation (1937 to early 1950s), and newer material collected continuously since 1981.

Collections: This archive provides a written record of everyday life in the 20th and 21st centuries. This collection is a unique social document of the lives of ordinary people in the UK in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Mausolea & Monuments Trust

70 Cowcross Street

London EC1M 8EJ

020 7608 1441

www.mmtrust.org.uk

The Mausolea and Monuments Trust is a charitable trust founded in 1997 for the protection and preservation of mausolea and funerary monuments situated in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Mausolea need protection because, exposed to the ravages of plants and vandals, they are all too often abandoned and friendless.

National Archives, The

Kew TW9 4DU

020 8876 3444

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

The National Archives is the UK government’s official archive, guaranteeing public access to over 1000 years of history with records ranging from parchment and paper scrolls through to digital files and archived websites. We are also at the heart of government information policy, to ensure the survival of today´s information for the future.

Collections: Archives of the British government covering over a thousand years of world history and all seven continents from Arctic explorers and Middle Eastern embassies to papal bulls and the photographic collections of Colonial administrations.

Ordnance Society

ordnancesociety.org.uk

The Ordnance Society was formed in June 1986 to promote, encourage and co-ordinate the study of all aspects of the history of ordnance and artillery. It is today, an international society with members from more than 20 countries and all walks of life.

Parks & Gardens UK

Parks and Gardens Data Services, The Carley Partnership, St James’s House, 8 Overcliffe

Gravesend DA11 0HJ

www.parksandgardens.org

Parks & Gardens UK is a leading online resource dedicated to historic parks and gardens across the whole of the United Kingdom. The information on the website is available free of charge.

Quaker Family History Society

3 Sheridan Place

Hampton TW12 2SB

www.qfhs.co.uk

The Quaker Family History Society was formed in 1993 and is a member of the Federation of Family History Societies. Our aim is to encourage and assist anyone interested in tracing the history of Quaker families in the British Isles.

Register of One-Place Studies

82 Edwina Drive –

Poole BH17 7JG

www.register-of-one-place-studies.org.uk

Organisation promoting one-place studies.

Religious Archives Group

c/o Tim Powell, The National Archives, Kew

Richmond TW9 4DU

www.religiousarchivesgroup.org.uk

The Religious Archives Group is a voluntary association for anybody interested in the collection, preservation and use of religious archives, and personal papers of religious leaders, in the UK. This includes archives created and used by private organisations and individuals and those in public repositories.

Romany & Traveller Family History Society

7 Park Rise, Nonchurch

Berkhamstead HP4 3RT

www.rtfhs.org.uk

We�re a friendly crowd who like nothing better than bringing together other like-minded people and helping them to research their family trees, find out about their heritage and share know-how and information.

Romany & Traveller Family History Society

c/o Flat 53, 41 Provost Street

London N1 7NB

www.rtfhs.org.uk

A non-political non-profit making self help group. Member of the Federation of Family History Societies.

Royal Institute of British Architects

66 Portland Place

London W1B 1AD

020 7580 5533

www.architecture.com/

The Royal Institute of British Architects champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members.

Royal Society, The

6-9 Carlton House Terrace

London SW1Y 5AG

020 7451 2500

www.royalsociety.org

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth dedicated to promoting excellence in science. The society plays an influential role in national and international science policy and supports developments in science, engineering and technology in a wide range of ways. The society is also the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence and has been at the forefront of scientific enquiry and discovery since its foundation in 1660.

Science & Society Picture Library

The Science Museum, Exhibition Road

London SW7 2DD

0207 942 4400

www.nmsi.ac.uk/piclib

We provide transparencies, prints and digital images on loan to our clients for reproduction. A small service fee is charged for the loan of the images.

Collections: BTF Collection: Over 10,000 photographs taken by the British Transport Films Unit which document life and work in Britain from the mid – 1940s to the 1960s. Daily Herald Collection: Photographs documenting every aspect of life as reflected in the work of some of Britain’s finest news photographers.

Society for Name Studies in Britain & Ireland

22 Peel Park Avenue

Clitheroe BB7 1ET

01200 423771

www.snsbi.org.uk

A society devoted to the study of names (place-names, personal names, and other names) from linguistic, historical, and sociological perspectives.

Society for One-Place Studies

c/o Devon Heritage Centre, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton

Exeter EX2 7NL

one-place-studies.org

There are many individuals, societies and groups across the globe researching the people of a community within the context of the place they live. The vision of this Society is to bring together those like-minded people and provide a platform for members to share good practice, ideas and methodology in one place, as well as promote the research being undertaken on their study area. Read more at one-place-studies.org/#JGxi6k3tkiv1xw5U.99.

Society of Brushmakers Descendants Family History Society

13 Ashworth Place

Church Langley CM17 9PU

01279 629392

www.brushmakers.com

Do you have brushmaking ancestors, or are you just interested in discovering more about the brushmaker’s trade? The SBD is a historical society/family history society that specialises in the brush/broom making trades and those who have worked therein for the past few hundred years.

Strict Baptist Historical Society, The

www.strictbaptisthistory.org.uk

The Strict Baptist Historical Society was formed in 1960 to promote an interest in the history of Strict Baptists; and also to bring into being a central repository where books, documents and other things of historical interest connected directly or indirectly with the rise and growth of Strict Baptists may be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

Victorian Military Society

PO Box 5837

Newbury RG14 7FJ

01635 48628

www.victorianmilitarysociety.org.uk

The Victorian Military Society (VMS) was founded in 1974, by the late John Crouch RIBA, to foster interest in the military aspects of the Victorian period. This was later extended to include the campaigns of the early part of the 20th centry.

Waterways Archive

7th Floor, Llanthony Warehouse, The Docks

Gloucester GL1 2EH

01452 318224

precedent.com/museums/archives.shtml

The Waterways Archive collects, preserves and makes publicly available rich and diverse records in many forms, including plans, drawings, accounts, photographs and audio-visual recordings. At its core are the archives of British Waterways and the early canal companies, which trace the history of Britain’s inland waterways back to its very roots. It is an archival resource covering the history of canals from the 17th century to the near present day.

Collections: The collection covers the records of British Waterways and its predecessors the pre-nationalisation navigation companies.

Young Archaeologists’ Club

St Mary’s House, 66 Bootham

York YO30 7BZ

01904 671417

www.britarch.ac.uk/yac

The first element of the Young Archaeologists’ Club is our UK-wide club. This is based around subscription to our magazine, Young Archaeologist, which is packed with news, features, competitions, letters and pictures from members, and hands-on activities to try at home.