Useful links to other archive and maritime websites
UK/local archives websites
- The National Archives - UK government and national records based at Kew near London
- The National Archives 'Access to Archives' database - with catalogues from archives across the UK
- Merchant Seamen Prisoner of War Records (First World War) - an index of c 3,000 names taken from 'List of Merchant Seamen and Fishermen detained as Prisoners of War in Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey, Board of Trade Printed List 31st May 1918' printed by the Board of Trade. This is a privately researched index of an original document reference MT9/1238 held at The National Archives. Searchable by surname or name of ship.
- Find My Past - a new website launched by the National Archives with millions of records online. Anyone researching their UK ancestry and family tree can search census records and trace births, marriages and deaths. UK passenger departure lists 1890 to 1960 are being added to the site, currently 1890-1929 are available. The Indexes are available free but you need to buy credits to view the results.
- Mersey Gateway project - a showcase of information and archives held across Merseyside on the history of the port of Liverpool
- Port Cities - including Liverpool as well as Hartlepool, Bristol, Southampton and London
- Moving Here - stories, information and photographs covering 200 years of migration to the UK
- Family Records - a site run by the National Archives, which is a guide for family historians to relevant sites to help with their research.
- Scottish Archives Network - contains digital images of archives, including The Highlands and Islands Emigration Society's passenger lists, 1852-1857
- Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
- National Statistics Office - home of the official UK statistics and link to the General Register Office of births, marriages and deaths
- University of Liverpool - special collections and archives - the University archives holds the Cunard Steam Ship Co archives (management, publicity and staff records, etc) as well as child welfare societies such as Barnardo's and the National Children's Home
- Southampton City Archives - information on merchant seamen ancestors, the history of the port including Cunard Line and port of departure of RMS Titanic
- Liverpool Record Office - local government archives from 1207, parish records, census returns, local business and family records.
Maritime history websites
- National Maritime Museum - the largest maritime museum in the UK, based in Greenwich, London. Holds crew lists and other merchant service records
- National Maritime Museum's research guides - free guides to the National Maritime Museum collections and other sources for research
- Royal Naval Museum - the only museum devoted to the ships of the Royal Navy and the men and women who served in them, based at the HM Naval Base, Portsmouth
- Imperial War Museum - provides information on family history research sources available on war service and related subjects
- Registry of Shipping and Seamen - official registration body for merchant seamen, most historical records have been transferred to the National Archives or elsewhere
- Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland - holds approximately 70% of crew lists from 1863-1938 and 80% for 1951-1976 for British ships, and log books. The database of crew lists on the website can be searched by official ship number.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Debt of Honour database lists 1.7 men and women who were killed in WW1 & WW2. Also the civilians who died as a result of enemy action in WW2.
- The Guildhall Library, London - Lloyd's marine collection, including the captains registers. These registers record the careers of masters and mates who served on British-owned foreign-going merchant vessels and had the certificate of competency, dating from 1869-1948, backdating to 1851 for those who were still active in 1869. The indexing project concentrates on the first series (Ms 18567) and takes readers up to 1911. The indexes are now available to consult online in the manuscripts section.
- International Maritime Research
- The Mercantile Liverpool Project - a University of Liverpool research project
- History of the Blue Star Line, including an uploaded version of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board publication ' Port at War, Liverpool 1939-1945' to view online
- Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
Websites of archives elsewhere
Special interest sites
Emigration
- Leaving from Liverpool - an interactive voyage, based on National Museums Liverpool's archive material
- Ellis Island passenger arrival records - a database of over 20 million people arrived here at the gateway to America between 1892-1924
- CastleGarden.org - offers free access to a database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through to 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. Over 73 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period.
Slavery
Further links to websites related to the slave trade can be see on the International Slavery Museum website.
