Useful links and web resources
Below is a brief selection of websites chosen by Library staff. They will direct you to other major musems that complement our collections, principal sources of information and guidance for family historians, and general maritime history resources.
The resources listed are our top recommendations. For a wider selection of links, view all the Caird Library's bookmarks (delicious.com), browse the maritime and naval sites reviewed by Intute, or for general assistance see our research guides.
Museums, Libraries and Archives, Family history, Maritime history
Museums, Archives and Libraries
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Information on the Falmouth Museum and its collections, including the National Small Boat Collection.
Museum exploring Liverpool's central role in Britain's maritime history.
National Museum of the Royal Navy
National museum incorporating the Royal Naval Museum, HMS Victory, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Royal Marines Museum.
National museum commemorating conflict involving all commonwealth nations from 1914 onwards.
The UK Government's official archive, covering over 1,000 years of British history.
A major repository of maritime information, including the Lloyd's Marine Collection.
Family History
Ancestry Library is a key resource for researching family history. Much of the content originates from the United States, however it does contain the 1841, 1851, 1961, 1871, 1881, and 1901 censuses for England, Wales and Scotland, as well as birth, death and marriage indexes, trade, town and telephone directories, and passenger lists.
Please note: Ancestry is one of our subscription electronic resources, and is only available from museum premises.
National Archives census information
Guide to available census records from the UK National Archives, including links to commercial providers of data.
National Archives passenger lists information
Guide to the passenger lists held by the UK National Archives and how to search them, with links to some commercial providers.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The 'Debt of Honour' database lists the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces, including the Merchant Navy, who died during the two World Wars, and the 23,000 cemeteries and locations where they are commemorated.
Forms and guidance from the Ministry of Defence on obtaining service records of deceased personnel, an invaluable source for family historians.
Welcome Wall at the Australian National Maritime Museum
A searchable database of names on a commemorative wall of immigrants maintained by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Searchable online archive of the names of thousands of immigrants arriving in New York.
Lloyd's Captains Registers at the Guildhall Library
Online index to the majority of the master mariners recorded in Lloyd's Captain Registers, crucially providing mariners' official numbers.
Research your ancestors using this resource provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Advice and information from the Society of Genealogists, including listings of local family history societies across the country.
National Archives' Trafalgar Ancestors
Searchable database of all men involved on the British side at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Maritime History
Maintained by enthusiasts, this site is particularly useful for researching merchant ships and shipping lines.
Though again not an official site, this is a valuable and growing resource on the Royal Navy in the twentieth century.
Public body concerned with the restoration of heritage vessels. Their website also provides access to the National Register of Historic Vessels.