History pages
We offer knowledge about a rich history...
Merthyr Tydfil Local Studies Collection is the place to visit or contact for information on Merthyr Tydfil and district - past, present and future.
We answer enquiries from all over the world. For example, we recently received the following comments from an enquirer in Canada,
"I cannot thank you enough for the kindness and effort you put into my request.
This is what genealogy is all about. The contacts and people you meet on the Internet who help put flesh on the bones so to speak. Not just about dates and places and names. Once again thank you"
and another comment from a researcher from Australia,
"I was at the Library in April and not only received abundant material for my vague search...but also the warmest welcome and most willing assistance I have encountered. What a terrific group. Very professional of course but my brief time there was made better by your enthusiasms and knowledge."
The collection is open to everyone, free of charge, and you don't need a library card or to be local to use the reference services.
The Local Studies Department is based situated on the Reference (1st) Floor of the Central Library. This busy library holds a huge collection of photographs, documents and newspapers relating to Merthyr Tydfil – more than anywhere else. If we don’t have information ourselves we usually know who does (if it is available).
We can offer experienced and helpful staff, including one who has been awarded the national "Dorothy McCulla Prize" for Local History Librarians.
Our main local studies collection includes:
Hundreds of books, articles and other items on the history of the area. Including histories of communities, people, business, transport, schools, religious experiences and many more topics.
Dozens of maps and plans of the area, including the Tithe Plan and most of the Ordnance Survey sets of 1851 and 1875-6.
Thousands of historical and modern photographs like this one of the lauch of the Mobile Library Service in Galon Uchaf.
We also have:
Local newspapers from 1832
Local Board of Health Minutes, Council Minutes 1905 to date.
Electoral registers
A special family history collection.
Free use of a computer if you want to write your own history.
We also offer FREE Internet access to allow you to search a growing range of online resources. Try the samples below by clicking on the description...
A historical summary on Spartacus
Photographs
Glamorgan Record Office
Have you every wondered about the value of different sums of money?
You can have some idea at the Economic History site and using their calculator.