Family History
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One of the most important things to do when getting started with tracing your family history, writes genealogist Nick Vine Hall "is obtain a copy of a general beginner's guide about family history research".
This page provides a select listing of books, registers, directories and other reference tools held at Leichhardt and Balmain libraries.
For Internet resources see our guide "Family History and the Internet".
Remember that the starting point with all family history research is to begin with yourself and work backwards.
Most titles on family history you will find on the shelves at our libraries at around '929' on the non-fiction shelves, or you can do a catalogue search under the subject 'genealogy'.
Note : Titles marked with the prefix LH or R are for in-library reference only; these titles are not for loan.
Online Information
Leichhardt Library provides limited family history research services for more complex queries the following online services and those provided by the State Library may help.
A Family History Service
is available at the State Library of New South Wales.
Professional family history researchers can undertake research for you (fees apply).
New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
The Registry holds over 17 million records of events registered in New South Wales. These records include Early Church Records (baptismal, marriages and burials) from 1788 to 1855 and Birth, death and marriage registrations from 1856 to the present day.
Society of Australian Genealogists
This site provides information about the Society plus links to Australian and overseas sources. It also provides online access to their library catalogue and some on-line databases.
State Records NSW
Collections of records created by the NSW government and its agencies.
IHR NSW Family History Documents
This site boasts more than 15,000 pages of records. You can become a member of IHR or pays as you go. Some of the documents available include land records, electoral rolls, school lists and mining and agricultural records.
Coraweb
An excellent site which concentrates on Australia whilst also providing wide coverage of other areas.
Dead Persons Society Ryerson Index
This indexes death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers. It is a contemporary index.
World-Wide Genealogy Resources
An invaluable research tool for Australian amateur genealogists with more than 400 links connecting you to information from other countries.
Family Search Internet Genealogy Service
This Mormon site provides links to other sites as well as access to their catalogue with search options by place and surname.
Cyndi's List
This resgistry holds information dating back to 1848. There is also a limited range of Maori indexes available.
Books
GALFORD, Ellen
The Genealogy Handbook: the complete guide to tracing your family tree
2002
HALL, Nick Vine
Tracing your family history in Australia: a guide to sources
1994 (LH, R)
JOHNSON, Keith A
Genealogical research directory. National and International plus guide to genealogical societies
2003 (LH)
LEONE, Bette
How to trace your Italian ancestors: a guide for Australians & New Zealanders
1994
NUM, Cora
How to find shipping and immigration records in Australia
2002
NUM, Cora
Web Sites for genealogists
2003
REAKES, Janet
The A to Z genealogical handbook
1986 (R)
SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIAN GENEALOGISTS
Compiling your family history
2002
Microfiche and CD-Roms
Balmain Cemetery Register Part 1: Jan 26 1868 - Jan 1881 (index included) [and] Part 2: Jan 20 1881 - May 7 1912 (index included)
6 microfiche.
The Balmain Cemetry Register is available on microfiche at Leichhardt and Balmain libraries.
Sand's Sydney & NSW Directory 1858/59 - 1932-33
W F Pascoe in association with the State Library of NSW, 1985
1077 microfiche
The Sand's Directory is available on microfiche at Leichhardt and Balmain libraries.
A range of family history CD-Roms are available at Leichhardt and Balmain libraries such as:-
NSW Pioneer series 1788-1888
Federation Series 1889-1918
Between the Wars 1919-1945
Victorian Pioneers Index 1837-1888
Tasmania Pioneers Index 1803-1899
West Australian Pioneers Index 1841-1905
February 2011.