Sheffield City Archives

Sheffield City Archives collects and preserves records relating to Sheffield and South Yorkshire, and then makes them publicly accessible.

These resources date from the twelfth century to the present day and are available on paper, on microfilm or on CD-ROMs.  

Resources include documents, manuscripts, maps, newspapers and photographs.

Sheffield Local Studies Library and City Archives are approximately 10 minutes walk from each other, being situated in separate buildings.

Whether you are researching your family history, conducting research for a school, college or university assignment, studying local history, or are interested in discovering the history of a house, you will find the resources held of use.  

The knowledgeable and helpful staff are always on hand to help should you have any questions or require assistance.

If you have any documents relating to Sheffield you would like to donate to the Archive to safeguard them for future generations and to make them publicly accessible, they would love to hear form you.  

Information about Sheffield City Archives

Local Studies Library

Collections

For information regarding their collections and opening hours, please peruse the appropriate sections of their Home Page. 

You can find out more about their collections on their collections page, where you can discover more about school records, obituaries, electoral registers, cemetery registers and parish registers held by the Archive.

Resources held by the Archive also include:

• Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
• Census Returns
• Family and Estate Records
• Ordnance Survey Maps
• Parish Registers
• School Records

You can also peruse their family history and local area history pages from their home page. An online catalogue which gives details about items which have been received since 1997 is also available.

Location and Directions – Sheffield City Archives

From the bus interchange, turn left into Pond Street and cross Harmer Lane.  Walk past Howard public house and walk past Showroom Cinema on Patermoster Row.  Make a right turn into Shoreham Street and the Office is past Red Tape Studios.

Outside the railway station’s main entrance an information point shows the location of the Archive.  Walk along ‘Cutting Edge’ steel sculpture, turning left into Shoreham Street after you have crossed the main road.

Location and Directions – Local Studies Library

Designated parking for blue badge holders is available for visitors to the Local Studies Library.

Booking

You should book microfilm/fiche readers in advance, especially if you wish to consult census returns, church registers, electoral registers, General Register Office indexes (GRO Index) to births, marriages and deaths or newspapers because these are only available on microform.  

You are recommended to book a computer in advance and to tell them the date and approximate time you would like to visit.  If this date is unavailable, they will offer alternatives.

Not all of the Archive’s collections are held on-site, so you should book these items in advance of your proposed visit and allow up to 2 weeks for these items to be made available.

Local Studies

The Local Studies Library and City Archives are located in different buildings, and are approximately 10 minutes walk from each other.

You can browse items on the open shelves in the Local Studies Library, but have to produce a library card to view their specialist collections.

You have to tell staff if you wish to use a computer, microform reader or photocopier.

City Archives

You have to register as a reader to access documents in the Archive.  After you have registered you will be able to access indexes, catalogues, books, original documents and microfiche.

Photography

You are allowed to take a camera into the Archive, but they make a charge for this service.  Some documents cannot be photographed because they are fragile and easily damaged.

Accessibility

Height adjustable tables and seating are accessible in both establishments.  They also have induction loops, magnifying glasses and microform viewers than can be operated by hand or electronically.

Disabled toilets are also accessible.

Guide dogs are welcome in both establishments.

Refreshments

Eating establishments are available in Sheffield, approximately 10 minutes (½ mile) walk from both Archives.

Sheffield City Archives Shop

The Archive has an online shop where they sell: 

• Acrylic Blocks
• Calendars
• Clocks
• Greeting Cards
• Hardcover Journals
• iPad Covers
• Laptop Cases
• Mobile Phone Cases
• Mugs
• Pillow Cases
• Postcards
• Prints
• Spiral Notebooks
• Stickers
• Women’s Clothing

Readers’ Tickets

Sheffield City Archives does not accept Archives Cards, so you have to register as a reader when you first arrive.  

You will need to bring two proofs of identification with you, one of which has to include your address, and complete an application form.  

Acceptable forms of ID include driving licences, passports, recent utility bills or credit card statements.

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For further information regarding other Record Offices in Yorkshire, please visit my pages relating to Barnsley Archives, Bradford Archives, Calderdale Archives, Doncaster Archives, Kirklees Archives, Leeds Archives and Wakefield Archives.