Getting the most from The National Archives (TNA) Website (207)

The National Archives (TNA) holds more than more than 15 million documents, the historical records of a nation through more than a thousand years. They include documents about all parts of the British Isles and all parts of the world where the government had its agents, colonial officials or military forces. Collections of chancery court, probate, military and many other UK Government records held at The National Archives are a leading resource for genealogists. 

Before you make a visit to TNA, you should make the most of the online catalogue, Discovery, to check what is available. Even if you cannot visit TNA in person, there is much to be gained from the online catalogue. Some documents can be accessed online, some directly from TNA, others via links to third parties.

However, there is much more to TNA's website than the online catalogue of its own holdings, as the catalogue also includes many records held in other archives across the UK. In addition, researchers can benefit from using the available educational resources such as research guides, webinars and podcasts. 

The lessons cover how to navigate the numerous resources on the website, how to find background details about the records, how to find the most genealogically valuable records and how to identify individuals within them. The emphasis is on remote access, how anyone, living anywhere, can make the most of The National Archives website and catalogue.