Research local records

Historical records at the library chart life in Birmingham dating back to the 12th century. Many of our archive, heritage and photography collections document the city’s relationship with other parts of the UK and the world.

The library is also the place to come to search the official records of lives lived in Birmingham over the centuries. For example, you can view and print copies of local and national newspapers dating back to the mid-18th century, parish registers, census records and birth, marriage and death indexes using the microform readers on floor 4.