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History Records Introduction The History Records collection forms part of the History Reference Collections, located in Zone 5C of the Main Library. It is a reference collection of c. 3,500 volumes comprising a wide range of both source and bibliographic material, including the Victoria County Histories, Rolls Series, Royal Historical Society Bibliography, and guides to research materials; as well as publications of the Public Record Office. The National Archives at Kew (previously known as the Public Record Office or PRO) is the main repository of original state papers and documents in England. Its publications provide a great deal of information about the original documents and records it contains in the British National Archives – such as state papers, rolls, papal registers, judicial records, chronicles, and official correspondence. They constitute an invaluable source of information for the study of the history of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In 2012 the Library purchased State Papers Online which covers some material in the History records Collection. You can access it via the Library catalogue at http://findit.bham.ac.uk/ PRO publications include calendars, lists, and indexes: • Calendars are in précis form, usually in English, but are full enough for most purposes to replace the original documents. • Lists enumerate the units composing a class of records, with dates and simple descriptions. • Indexes contain alphabetically organised references to people, places or subjects mentioned in the records. The History Records collection also includes the journals of both Houses of Parliament, the Monumenta Germaniae Historica and Rymer's Foedera. • Note: Although it is mainly a reference collection, when there are two copies of the same work, the second copy can be borrowed. The volumes that can be borrowed are shelved with those that are reference only, but they will not have the 'Reference only' label inside, or if they do, the label will have been 'cancelled'. It should also be noted that, while the History Records Collection contains key bibliographic and source materials, further such resources can be found throughout the library, most especially amongst the History periodicals section (zone 4D) in publications of the local records societies, Camden Series and other similar publications; and also in English Historical Documents (DA 25-12); Records of Social and Economic History (DA 25/DA 25-B7); and the Early English Text Society (PR 1119.A2). Contents of the collection The list below includes some of the most important titles of the collection. The documents have been organised into broad categories. The categories and the documents within each category are listed alphabetically. Some works are listed at the end under the heading 'Miscellaneous'. Where appropriate, a description of the nature of the documents is included. 1 GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Chancery records Calendar of Chancery Warrants, 1244-1326 DA 25.F1 - 41 Contains Writs of privy seal from the reigns of Edward I and II which are not mentioned in the Inquisitions or enrolled in Fine, Close, Charter or Patent Rolls. Calendar of Charter Rolls, 1199-1516 [6 vols] DA 25.F1 – 34 Charter Rolls contained copies of formal grants by the Crown of privileges, lands, and other possessions to corporations and individuals. After 1516 such grants were made in the form of letters patent, and from the reign of Charles I appear in the Patent Rolls. Charter Rolls differ from letters patent in that they are made in the presence of witnesses. Calendar of Close Rolls, 1227-1509 DA 25.F1 – 29 Close Rolls were so called because the letters copied therein were folded and ‘closed’; ie sealed with the Great Seal. They usually contained instructions and orders from the sovereign. From about 1540 they gradually ceased to be used to record the administration of government, whilst the long-standing practice of using the reverse (ie the back) of the Close Rolls for the enrolment of private deeds increased. Thus, later Close Rolls are often blank, apart from on the reverse. Calendar of Fine Rolls, 1272-1509 DA 25.F1 – 36 Fine Rolls (also called Oblata Rolls until after the reign of King John) contained details of payments, in money or kind, to the King by way of oblation or fine for the enjoyment of privileges granted. These included lands, wardships, charters, liberties, grants etc. Calendar of Inquisitions and Calendar of Inquisitions Post-mortem, 1236-1509 vols 1-20 (1st series), 1-3 (2nd series) DA 25.F1 – 32 Inquisitions reported on enquiries carried out by the Crown, most usually after the death of people who held land directly of the King, to establish whether an heir existed and to detail the exact nature and extent of the property. They also include proofs of age, assignments of dower, and inquisitions on idiots and lunatics. Calendar of Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic - Henry VIII, vols 1-21 DA 25.F1 - 15 Contains details of State Papers held both in the National Archives and elsewhere, and also a wide range of other documents relevant to the social, political and cultural history of the time, including details of pensions assigned to monks following the dissolution of the monasteries, and detailed statements of charges against them. Calendar of Liberate Rolls, 1226-1272 DA 25.F1 – 43 Liberate Rolls contained enrolments of writs under the Great Seal relating to expenditure. Early volumes are in reality Close Rolls, but from 1226, in the reign of Henry III, the Liberate Rolls became a distinct series. Their importance declined from the 14th century. Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1216-1582 DA 25.F1 - 25 Patent Rolls contained copies of letters which were sent ‘patent’ or open, with the Great Seal appended at the bottom of the letter – in this they differ from letters ‘close’. They cover diverse subjects such as letters of protection and safe conduct, treaties, truces, grants and confirmations of liberties and privileges, creations of nobility, presentations to churches and chapels, etc. Calendar of Various Chancery Rolls, 1277-1326 DA 25.F1 - 37 Compilation of Chancery Rolls from the reigns of Edward I and II which do not properly belong to the larger series. Includes Supplementary Close Rolls 1277-1326 (close and patent letters on a particular subject with large correspondences, eg. the exportation of wool); Welsh Rolls 1277-1294 (relating to Welsh affairs, including the struggle with Llewellyn ap Griffin and commissioners’ reports on laws and customs of Wales); and Scutage Rolls 1285-1324 (recording grants of relief from payment of scutage (a fine levied on those eligible yet refusing to fight in the King’s army) to those doing service in the armies in Scotland and Wales). Calendarium Genealogicum - Henry III and Edward I DA 25.F1 – 01 Contains largely genealogical material, extracted from records of inquisitions. 2 Gascon Rolls, 1307-1317 DA 25.F1 – 39 Gascon Rolls comprised treaties, administrative instructions, and various letters patent and close relating to Gascony, whilst the province was under the English Crown. Rotuli Parliamentorum, 1278-1503 [6 vols] DA 25.F5 - 49 The Rotuli Parliamentorum, or Parliament Rolls, contain details of all the proceedings of parliament. Before the reign of Richard III (1483), a very few actual Statutes are also included – but this is rare; usually the petitions and answers are given, but no indication as to whether a Statute arose. From 1483 to 1533, during the reign of Henry VIII, the Rolls include all the Acts, public and private, passed in each session. Treaty Rolls, 1234-1339 DA 25.F1 – 53 The Treaty Rolls were created in the 18th century, by bringing together a number of different series of Chancery Rolls containing diplomatic documents. Calendar of State Papers - Domestic series, 1547-1704 DA 25.F1 - 02 to 08 The Secretary of State became an important figure under Henry VIII, having responsibility for both domestic and foreign matters. The Calendar of State Papers details the papers of the Secretary of State that are located in the Public Record Office (PRO) (those in private collections can be found in the reports of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (DA 25.M1)). Access via State Papers Online is from 1509-1603. The Domestic series covers domestic matters, and runs until the permanent separation of Foreign and Domestic responsibilities resulted in the creation of distinct Home and Foreign Offices in 1782. Calendar of State Papers - Foreign series, 1547-1589 DA 25.F1 - 02 to 08 The Secretary of State became an important figure under Henry VIII, having responsibility for both domestic and foreign matters. The Calendar of State Papers details the papers of the Secretary of State that are located in the Public Record Office (PRO) (those in private collections can be found in the reports of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (DA 25.M1)). Access via State Papers Online is from 1509-1603. The Foreign series covers foreign affairs, and runs until the permanent separation of Foreign and Domestic responsibilities resulted in the creation of distinct Home and Foreign Offices in 1782. Exchequer records Book of Fees, 1198-1293 DA 25.F1 - 45 Commonly called Testa de Nevill or Liber Feodorum; this details carucage accounts, and other tax assessments and accounts, and contains extracts from the Rolls of Justices in Eyre. Calendar of Memoranda Rolls, 1326-1327 DA 25.F1 – 50 There are two series of Memoranda Rolls – those of the King’s Remembrancer, and those of the Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer. The King’s Remembrancer was broadly responsible for the collection of ‘casual’ revenue – arising from debts, taxation etc; while the Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer was broadly responsible for the collection of ‘fixed’ revenues, mainly from land. The Memoranda Rolls detail fines issued, seizures of land, accounts, enrolments of deeds etc.