Family records in the Mitchell Library?

[Rae36]

Does anyone ever go in and look up the records in the Mitchell Library? I'd love to find any records they hold on a family member who died in the Glasgow City Poorhouse in 1869. I think the records from the poorhouse are in the Mitchell Library but not online.

How hard is it to find things, does anyone know? Do the staff help you? I have visions of me being left in a massive room full of massive books and then not being able to find what I'm looking for anyway. It's just this one person, and her record will probably end up being really dull anyway.

I was hoping there might be a service where one of their staff looks things up for you for a fee but I don't see anything advertised online.

I've tried to call them 4 times this week to ask, got no answer 3 times then bizarrely got the cleaner once who sounded just as confused as me :)

[readsalotgirl63]

I would look under Glasgow Life Libraries and see if you can find an email address or phone number for the local studies or local heritage department.

Might also be worth seeing if there are any family history groups in the city (sure there must be) who could advise.

[CharityShopChic]

There are staff there who will help you! You will have to be as specific as possible about what you are looking for. The fact you know what Poorhouse this person was in and the year is a good starting point.

Over the pandemic the family history people at the Mitchell have been HOPELESS. Furloughed for months, totally closed, it took them six months to reply to an email and even then it was an email saying they were closed. Just useless. Should be getting back to normal now though. You won't be able to pay them to research for you but there are freelance genealogists who will do that sort of job. Expect to pay around £20+ per hour plus travel expenses.

[CharityShopChic]

Oh and yes - Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society will help you.

www.gwsfhs.org.uk/

[Mamabananananana]

I was in the Mitchell a few days ago. Seems well staffed and back to "normal "

[Rae36]

there are freelance genealogists who will do that sort of job. Expect to pay around £20+ per hour plus travel expenses

Where would I find one of them do you think? I know it's ridiculously lazy but I don't live in Glasgow so it would be a bit of an effort getting there to look at a single record that might not tell me very much anyway.

Clearly I am not all that dedicated to my family research, although I am willing to throw money at it.

[readsalotgirl63]

Think there is a society of genealogists but the Glasgow and west of Scotland family history society would probably be a good place to atart

[ssd]

Im interested in this too

[CharityShopChic]

Either the Register of Qualified genealogists, or google "glasgow genealogy" and take it from there.

[readsalotgirl63]

I have been doing some family tree stuff using Find my Past and Scotland's People - it is

[readsalotgirl63]

It's been really interesting and quite addictive. You do end up down some rabbit holes

[heymammy]

You can email here [email protected] for an appointment, they will then send you a form asking what you're looking for.

During your visit the staff are so helpful but may not be able to fetch additional documents from the archives as they need a week's notice. Of course it might be different if the records are digitalised.

I only look up property records for work but I absolutely love going to the mitchell, it's so interesting seeing folk at these huge tables with scrolls and maps and things!

[JustLyra]

The poor law indexes are computerised. So you look up the names and then they dig out the books you want. They can photocopy them for a fee as well.

it’s definitely worth doing if you have a day you can spare - the old books are fascinating.

poor law records contain a lot of information as well - people had to detail why family couldn’t help so they often tell you where siblings, parents and even adult children are and what they are doing.

[AchatAVendre]

I suspect its closed still due to Covid. I tried to go into New Register House in Edinburgh recently and its still closed...due to Covid. According to their website, all their staff are still working from home and the phones are only answered between 10 and 12 Monday to Friday. The actual physical building is closed to the public and theres barriers in front of it with yellow jacketed security staff near the entrance. I can't see Glasgow being any different.

[KnitPurlKnitPurl]

Public sector in Scotland is still ridiculous in terms of Covid. I was in a Uni library last week - capacity notices, one way systems, posters urging mask wearing, every other desk taped off, sanitising stations.

They have not moved on since the start of the pandemic and quite frankly there's no excuse for it. This is something your newly-elected councillor might be able to hassle about.

[JustLyra]

The Genalogy centre (the bit that saves anyone Glasgow based going into Edinburgh to search births and deaths) at Mitchell is open again (I think either last monday or tomorrow), but does have to be booked in advance, which to be fair was always the case.

The Scotland's People Centre is open as well. Wonder why New Register House isn't back up and running - I suppose partly because SPC is much busier so focussing on that perhaps?

[DaisyQuakeJohnson]

The staff are very helpful. If you do get the chance to go in, they won't leave you alone in a room full of books They'll show you how to use the computers or the microfiches. How to search the record cards and get you any books you need.
It's absolutely fascinating. I could happily spend days in there and in fact, have done so, finding old family burial records, lair records, etc. We had lost track of where some of my DM's family were buried and I was able to find the lair records, the receipts from when the lair was bought, all the details of the family members in it, etc. I've also found old city maps and old drawings of our house. Much more information than I'd ever thought would be available.
As a PP said, a lot of records have been digitised now. The Family Search website has lots of the old lair records and receipts books but I don't know if the poorhouse records are online yet.

[Rae36]

I think I will try and make an appointment then, you've all made it sound quite exciting. There's only really one thing I want to look up which is why I was hoping they might have a service where their staff look things up for you but I can have a day out in Glasgow. Or maybe I can find some other people to investigate while I'm there

[DaisyQuakeJohnson]

I know you could pay staff to look up information for you. It used to be managed through the GCC website. You emailed with a request and then they'd schedule in the search and bill you for it.
It just depends whether you'd enjoy trawling through old records or not. It's not for everyone but if you like that kind of thing then the Mitchell is fab and it has a lovely cafe downstairs if you end up staying all day. Or it did, pre-Covid. I haven't been in since everything opened up again.

[JustLyra]

If it's just one thing you want to look up another option is to check on Rootschat if anyone else is going.

Last time (pre-covid) I travelled up for a couple of days at the Mitchell I spent about 20/30 mins each day looking up things for other people that couldn't travel. Equally people have looked stuff up for me. It's quite common on there to offer/ask.