Family and local history research

If you’re interested in family history, or are looking for material relating to Yorkshire, you can search one of our many collections.

Among our collections we have personal papers, local burial records, printed material, local Quaker Meeting records, maps, atlases and travel guides.

Everyone is welcome to use Special Collections. See our information on planning a visit for details on opening hours and procedures.

Search our collections

The Liddle Collection contains the personal papers of well over 4,000 people who lived through the First World War, and approximately 500 who experienced the Second World War.

The Leeds General Cemetery Company Archive includes Burial Registers that contain information on all people buried in the Cemetery (now known as St George's Fields).

The Quaker Collections contain records of the Carlton Hill (covering Leeds, Bradford, Settle and Knaresborough) and Clifford Street (covering York and Thirsk) Meetings, but also include records for Yorkshire as a whole.

The Yorkshire Archeaological and Historical Society Collections are a rich and varied resource for local and family history including court rolls and estate papers of prominent Yorkshire families.

You may also want to search the Brotherton Collection, which contains a large collection of printed material documenting Yorkshire history.

Finally, the Whitaker Collection contains historic maps, atlases, road books and travel guides, many of which relate to Yorkshire.