Ancestry Library Edition is an invaluable online genealogical resource, offering access to thousands of searchable databases.

Ancestry

Bringing together billions of historical records, millions of family trees, and millions of enthusiastic family researchers, Ancestry is the world’s largest online family history resource and the best place to build a family tree, find new ancestors, and share discoveries with family.

Ancestry: Glasgow Electoral Registers 1857-1962

Over 100 years of electoral registers (or voters rolls) from the Mitchell Library’s extensive family history collection have been digitised and have been available in Ancestry© since 16th September 2016. The inclusion of the registers from 1857 to 1962 will make a huge difference in terms of undertaking both local history- and family history-related research. This powerful tool will enable you to search the database by name rather than by ward so will not only speed up your research but will enable you to delve deeper into the lives of your ancestors.

Access to Ancestry during Covid19 pandemic

As the Mitchell and Glasgow's community libraries reopen their doors, we are pleased to continuing offering access to Glasgow Electoral Registers 1857-1962 to library members from home.

To access Glasgow Electoral Registers 1857-1962, you will need to create a free guest account on Ancestry by providing an email and password and accepting the terms and conditions of the website. Once you're setup, you will be able to search the Electoral Registers 1857-1962.

If you are not already a member of Glasgow Libraries, you can join online and use your temporary membership to access lots of information, resources and services.

Full access to Ancestry is still available from any library computer. Up-to-date information on opening hours are available on the Glasgow Libraries website.

What do I need to know before I start?

The full name of the person, including middle names (if you have them). The following information will help to identify an individual, especially if they have a common name such as David Smith:

place of birth
where they lived eg for searching a census record
port of departure or port of entry eg for searching passenger lists
father’s name
mother’s name
wife’s or husband's name
dates

How do I access Ancestry at The Mitchell: Special Collections?

Members of Glasgow Libraries have free access to Ancestry from any library computer. Visitors can apply for temporary membership to enable them to use this resource.

Join Glasgow Libraries in person by visiting The Mitchell Library or your local library, or join online.

What information is available in Ancestry?

Ancestry contains thousands of databases and our staff can offer tips to help you search them effectively.

Resources include:

Census Collections for Scotland, England and Wales

Civil Registration Index, England and Wales

US Federal Census and Canadian Census Collection

Military Collection

Immigration and Emigration

US Obituaries and Death Notices

Charts and forms to help you build your family tree

See Ancestry for full list of what's available to view.

Details given in the various records vary, but those for Census reports include:

address
head of household
place of birth
age
occupation
other people living in the house during night of the Census

What databases are on Ancestry?

Census images for England and Wales: 1841- 1911
Census transcripts for Scotland: 1841-1901
British Army World War I Records: 1914-1920
British Navy Lists: 1888-1970
British Army Roll of Honour: 1939-1945
British Phonebooks: 1880-1984
British Prisoners of War: 1939-1945
New York Passenger Lists: 1820-1957
UK Incoming Passenger Lists: 1878-1960
Civil Registration Index (Births, Marriages, Deaths) England and Wales, 1837- present
Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes Marriage, 1845-1958
Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes Births, 1864-1958
US Federal Census, 1790-1930

A full list of all databases is available to view on Ancestry.

What records can I see elsewhere?

The original source records for many of Ancestry's databases can be found in diverse archives and collections. This includes the National Records of Scotland and The National Archives.

Ancestry​