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Reference Library
We have a wide-ranging collection of books on subjects relevant to the local area or written by people from the area. The collection covers a range of topics including the coal, iron and steel industries, the railways, history, geography, literature and sporting and leisure activities.
Local Newspapers are available on microfilm:
Bellshill Speaker 1898 – present
Hamilton Advertiser 1862 – 1875
Motherwell Times 1883 – present (surname/subject index 1883 – 1994)
Wishaw Press 1873 – present (surname/subject index 1873 – 1994)
Wishaw Herald 1898 – 1942
Photographs
There is a large collection of photographs, featuring both historical and contemporary scenes of Motherwell and surrounding villages. Images include family and work groups, streets and landscapes, local events and buildings and monuments.
Maps
OS maps for the local area cover a range of dates including the 1858, 1912 and 1940 survey series. Specialist maps show railway networks, geological surveys and some coalfield and estate plans.
Family History Resources
Old Parish Registers for the parishes of Bothwell, Cambusnethan, Dalziel, Shotts and Hamilton.
Census Returns
A complete listing of all the people living in the area, giving their age occupation, parish of birth and other information. Censuses were carried out every 10th year from 1841. This personal information remains secret for 100 years.
Bothwell Parish 1841 – 1901
Cambusnethan Parish 1841 – 1901
Dalziel Parish 1841 – 1901
Shotts Parish 1841 – 1901
Hamilton Parish 1841 – 1901
Surname indexes are available for the 1851, 1861 and 1891 censuses for Lanarkshire, and additional Lanarkshire parishes are available for individual census years. To get a full list, please use the "Contact Us" box that appears on the right-hand side of your screen.
The 1881 census is also available on CD-Rom for Scotland, England and Wales.
International Genealogical Index 1553 – 1875
An alphabetical index of births, christenings and marriages for the whole of the Scotland (by County) covering the period from the 17th century to the mid 19th century. The index was compiled by members of the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) from the Old Parochial Registers held in the National Archives of Scotland.
The index is a good finding aid for use in conjunction with the OPRs.
We also have indices for England, Wales and Ireland.
Valuation Rolls for 1948 and 1949. Then from 1967 to 1994. (Incomplete coverage of the local area).
Electoral Rolls for 1932 to 1947. Then from 1968 to the present. (Incomplete coverage of the local area).
Burial Records
A selection of cemetery records, Monumental Inscriptions and Rolls of Honour.
A small number of trade directories.
Special Collections
Hamilton of Dalzell Collection. Estate papers and approximately 3,000 books from the private collection of the family of Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.
The Hurst-Nelson Collection. A collection of photographs of the railway wagons and rolling stock produced by the Hurst-Nelson company.
Databases
Photograph database: a searchable database of photographs held in the Local History collection.
Motherwell Football Club database containing facts and figures about the history of the club and its players.
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