 Local
studies material is generally printed and many copies would have
been produced,although few of them may have survived. It also includes
secondary sources; books or articles that have been written about a
place or event, drawing information from various sources.
Archives are traditionally handwritten, unique documents that
were produced in the course of a person's life or work, during the course
of an event or by an organisation as part of its work. They will have
been produced as something happened, as a record, and not written later
as a history. Modern archive material can be in a variety of formats
including film and electronic data.
Traditionally local studies material was kept in a reference or local
studies library and archives in a record office or archives department.
There has always been some variation from place to place and some sources;
particularly photographs, trade directories, maps, newspapers and the
census, could be in either or both!
There is a growing trend for keeping archives and local studies in
one place, possibly known as a Local Study Centre or Heritage Centre.
Follow any of the links below for more information
on basic sources and ideas on how to use them
Historic Maps : Trade
Directories : Newspapers and Magazines
: Government Commissions and Reports
: Photographs : Census
: Official Guides : Estate
Agent Records : Plans : Taxes
and Rating Records : Probate
Inventories : Church Registers
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