Welcome to the Family History Social

New Release of Digitised Volumes Offers Rich Context for Family History Researchers

TheGenealogist is excited to announce the release of a major new collection of fully searchable historical books. This diverse collection encompasses nearly 200,000 names from rare publications, providing family historians and genealogical researchers with an invaluable resource to delve beyond basic records. With these new volumes, users can uncover not just names and dates, but the rich social and occupational context that brings ancestors’ stories to life.

A page from Leading Insurance Men of the British Empire

The newly added titles span three centuries and a broad range of subjects, from professional directories and club yearbooks to literary works and social commentaries. Each book has been digitised and is searchable by name, allowing researchers to find ancestors across different walks of life. Notable titles in the collection include:

• The Incorporated Accountants' Year Book 1936

• Leading Insurance Men of the British Empire

• Who’s Who 1897, 1923 & 1928

• Universal Directory of Railway Officials 1929 & 1943–1944

• The Railway Diary and Officials' Directory 1920

• Auctioneers and Estate Agents Year Book 1929–1930

• Directory for Surveyors, Auctioneers & Land and Estate Agents 1929

• The Royal Aero Club of the UK Year Book 1924–1926

• Yorkshire County Cricket Club 1936 & 1940

• The Company of Clockmakers, Register of Apprentices 1631–1931

• The British Launderers' Year Book 1939–40

• The Watch and Clock Makers of Northumberland and Durham 1449–1801)

• A Handbook and Directory of Old Scottish Clockmakers 1540–1850

From Victorian-era social surveys to early 20th-century professional directories, these publications offer genealogists a chance to explore the world their ancestors inhabited. Family historians can trace an ancestor’s career in the railway industry, find a forebear listed among incorporated accountants or insurance professionals, read contemporary accounts of working-class life in mid-1800s London, and much more. All of this information is readily searchable by name, making it easier than ever to uncover connections that might previously have gone unnoticed.

“This release brings a wealth of social and occupational context to our users’ family trees, enabling researchers to uncover not just names and dates, but the real-life stories of their ancestors,” said Mark Bayley, Head of Content at TheGenealogist. “We’re empowering our subscribers to step into their ancestors’ daily lives – whether it’s identifying the factory where your great-grandfather worked or discovering that a relative was noted in Who’s Who over a century ago.”

The collection is already yielding fascinating finds. Among the notable figures unearthed in these books is William Henry Smith of WHSmith's high street fame, who was a Victorian entrepreneur and politician. Researchers can find Smith’s name and details within these newly digitised pages, connecting them to the story of the famous bookseller and newsagent. TheGenealogist has highlighted his story in an article on their website, illustrating the real-life detail this collection provides to enrich family narratives. Read the William Henry Smith story here. This is just one example of how these records allow users to go beyond basic facts, revealing personal achievements, occupations and the communities influential individuals were part of.

With the addition of these titles, TheGenealogist continues to expand the breadth of its resources. This launch follows the company’s tradition of bringing often overlooked or hard-to-access materials into the digital realm. By searching these books, subscribers can gain insights into historical events and industries that shaped their ancestors’ lives – from cricket club records offering sporting context, to clockmakers’ registries that might confirm an ancestor’s apprenticeship in the 1700s.

The new Historical Books Collection is available to search right now on TheGenealogist. Family history enthusiasts are invited to explore these records and see what stories await in the pages of these old books. To start discovering your ancestors in this unique collection, visit www.TheGenealogist.co.uk and use the site’s advanced search tools to find names, keywords, and connections across the entire library of historical resources.

Books covered in this release are: The Incorporated Accountants' Year Book, 1936; The Lloyds of Birmingham 1907; A Flat Iron for a Farthing by J. H. Ewing (1873); The Village Blacksmith (Life of Samuel Hick); Leading Insurance Men of the British Empire; Memories of Land and Sky; Who's Who, 1897; Who's Who, 1923; Who's Who, 1928; (Moore's Almanack Improved) Wills's Farmer and Countryman Calendar 1821; Fire Over London, 1940-41; Universal Directory of Railway Officials 1943-1944; Great Western Railway Engines; Prevention of Accidents to Staff Engaged in Railway Operations; Railway Accidents 1st July to 31st December 1856; National Union of Railwaymen, Report and Financial Statements for 1913; The Railway Diary and Officials' Directory, 1920; The Universal Directory of Railway Officials, 1929; Auctioneers And Estate Agents Year Book 1929-1930; Directory for Surveyors, Auctioneers & Land and Estate Agents, 1929; The Royal Aero Club of the UK, Year Book, 1924-1926; Yorkshire County Cricket Club 1940; Yorkshire County Cricket Club 1936; The Company of Clockmakers, Register of Apprentices 1631-1931; The British Launderers' Year Book 1939-40; The Watch and Clock Makers of Northumberland and Durham, 17th and 18th Centuries, 1449-1801; A Handbook and Directory of Old Scottish Clockmakers, 1540-1850; London Labour and London Poor, Extra Volume, 1850; London Labour and the London Poor, Vol II, 1850; London Labour and the London Poor, Vol III, 1850