The Library is now open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2pm until 4pm.

The library is based at the iMuseum, Kingswood Grove, Douglas IM2 3AS

The contents of the library include:

• IGI for the Isle of Man, England and Scotland
• Burial Records for the island and Douglas Crematorium records
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Publications of the 1851 & 1881 census
• Family Trees submitted by members
• A large collection of Manx books that can be borrowed
• Wood’s Atlas
• Books advising on help with research
• A large Collection of Manx Books for sale at very reasonable prices
• Parish Boxes which contain a lot of information such as the history of the churches in the Parish, Schools, village life, each box is different but packed with help.
• Church of England magazines with a Manx section packed with news from each Church on the island for each month. Dating from the 1890’s to 1912 then from 1952 to 1976. 1890s to 1905 indexed
• Wesleyan Church Magazines for many years with excellent coverage of the Isle of Man chapels
• Several Victorian Directories which can help to locate your ancestors between the census returns.
• Reference files on many subjects Hospitals, Schools, Photographs etc.
• Indexes to some Fencible records, Muster Roll, Strays, Servants etc.

It is possible to visit the library outside normal opening hours if you can notify the librarian in plenty of time. If you email us at iomfhs@manx.net quoting your postal address and membership number if applicable. We cannot research your tree for you but can look up an entry from the resources above.

There is also a library at the Manx Museum and Registry of Deeds at Government Offices may also be worth a visit. Please note that if you are not a member we can only answer general enquiries. Although we have many members world wide, we are a small band of volunteers here on the island and it may take time for your email to be answered.

Online resources

Publications

The member’s section now contains the burial indexes and monumental inscriptions books.

An updated list of publications which can be purchased from the Society is now available.

Journal Index

The indexes to the articles in the IOMFHS journals is now available to view online.

• Volume 1 – January 1979 to November 1996 – this index is in two sections: family surnames and topics (places, historic interests) and has been compiled by Frances Coakley.
• Volume 2 – January 1997 to November 2006 – this index is in three sections: family surname index, photographs (1985-2006) and archives and has been compiled by Geraldine Hampton.
• Volume 3 – January 2007 to November 2016 – this index in in four sections: index by names, index by places, photographs and topics and has been compiled by Susan J Muir
• Volume 4 – January 2017 to November 2019 – various sections including places, names, photographs – compiled by Voirrey Kyprianou
• Volume 5 – January 2020 to November 2022 – various sections including places, names, photographs – compiled by Martin Clare
• NEW Volume 6 – January 2023 to November 2023 – various sections including places, names, photographs – compiled by Martin Clare

To obtain copies of articles, just specify the volume (year), issue number (1, 2, 3 or 4) and the page numbers, and send a copy of the request to the Library. There is a nominal charge for photocopying and postage.

Member’s Surname Interests

Each journal published contains details of new members surname interests with any specific details they are looking for. A brief list will be published on this site with each new journal. For further information on any entry in the interests list, please email: iomfhs@manx.net

Index to Births and Marriages

The index of births and index of marriages were part of an ongoing project by Brian Lawson which has now ceased. If a record cannot be found, it does not mean the record doesn’t exist, it may never have been transcribed. There are other resources available to search, some of which make a charge. See the links page for details. For Island residents, the general index is available for inspection at the Civil Registry in Douglas.

Wills Index and Transcripts

An index of Wills and Decrees covering the period 1576 – 1960 has been prepared from the official indices in the Archdeacon’s (LDS film 0106195) and Episcopal (LDS film 0106366) Registries. A total of 54,890 Wills, Decrees and Agreements have been indexed. There are notes for the first time visitor about Wills and Decrees accompanying this section.

A number of Wills have been transcribed, and these are available in the Member’s Area If you’re not a member, why not join the Society?

Census Index

An index to census entries from 1841 to 1901 was prepared by the late Brian Lawson using the indexes from the National Archives.

The Lawsons and related families

Brian Lawson published the results of over 20 years of personal research into a number of volumnes – The Manx Lawsons and Related Families. The pages include his own ancestors as well as brief histories for a number of other Manx families. There is also a large index of all the names which have crossed into his family tree.