In this room you will find catalogues and indexes to our collections. This room is also where our microfilm and microfiche readers are located. We have a large number of these machines and several reader printers so you can print your own copies.
The door into this room locks automatically and you will need to ask a member of staff to open it for you.
Using our Catalogues and Indexes
A catalogue is a descriptive list of the documents in an individual archive collection while indexes bring together references to particular names, places or subjects from different catalogues. It is often helpful to look at a catalogue description of any item you find in the indexes as you may feel that the information given in the catalogue entry is sufficient for your purpose without seeing the original document (although you are always welcome to do this). You may also decide that the item is not relevant to your research and you do not need to see it, which can save you time.
Our catalogues are in three formats:
- Bound volumes
- Box file
- Cards
A guide is available to tell you which format a particular catalogue is in.
Our main indexes are:
- Personal names
- Pictorial
- Places
- Maps
- Sale catalogues
- Subjects
- Wills
In addition, several of our family and estate collections are individually indexed, as are some of the marriage licence bonds. There is also an index of the 1851 census for most of the parishes in the county.
Photocopies of the pre-1812 Bishop's Transcripts for Northamptonshire and Rutland and of some early parish registers for Northamptonshire are available on the shelves in this room