The Local History Collection of Newman Library covers every aspect of West Midlands history in a variety of different media. There are photographs, old maps, 19th and 20th Century newspapers on microfilm, the 1871 Census for Birmingham, copies of archival material and 4,000 books and pamphlets. The collection covers all of the former counties of Staffordshire, Worcester and Warwickshire, but concentrates particularly on those boroughs now forming the West Midlands.

For further information or to arrange to view the collection, please contact Lydia Gibbs in the library.

Other useful websites

• National Archives Government website covering local and family history research topics
• GENUK - The UK & Ireland Genealogical Information Service
• History Resources
• Institute of Historical Research
• Local History magazine
• University of York - Heritage Studies