Society of Genealogists

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About The Society of Genealogists

The Society of Genealogists is an educational charity the purpose of which is to 'promote, encourage and foster the study, science and knowledge of genealogy'. The Society's premises in Central London house the largest family history research library in the UK. The Society of Genealogists' Library is open to members and paying non-members.

Holdings include:

  • Unique research collections
  • Document Collection of manuscript family history research notes
  • Thousands of compiled family histories and biographies
  • Thousands of parish records
  • England, Boyd's Marriage Index covering some 2,600 parish registers with nearly seven million names
  • Nonconformist registers
  • Memorial inscriptions
  • Local histories, poll books and directories
  • Sources for apprenticeships, trades, professions and occupations
  • Published emigration records for the British overseas

Find more about the Library, including opening hours and a link to the online catalogue

Ordering copies of documents

The Society of Genealogists provides a research service and upon request will produce copies of the original documents held in these collections. Certain details of document ordering will be specific to each individual collection and will be explained on the relevant search and results pages. Orders for copies will be processed within 28 days (although in fact, in normal circumstance, within one week of the order being confirmed).

Society of Genealogist Document Hard-Copy Service