York Civic Records

The council minutes and accounts cover 500 years of civic life including the Mystery Plays and many references to Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III). They include some records of York City Courts.

The 20th century collection includes housing clearance areas with an extensive collection of photographs and also sources for town planning and conservation.

Enclosure

Copies of some enclosure awards are deposited or enrolled, along with a few outside this area but not all have maps to go with them. 18th - 19th centuries.

Manorial

Records of manors at Acomb, Clifton, Dringhouses, Nether and Upper Poppleton. 16th - 20th centuries.

Societies and institutions

These include York bodies concerned with crime, welfare and hospitals, political parties, trade unions as well as cultural and recreational bodies. 18th - 20th centuries.

Charities

Records of civic and private charities. 17th - 20th centuries.

Education

Includes church schools and further education. Sorme registers of pupils. 18th - 20th centuries.

Family and estate

Three main collections:

• Robinson of Clifton and Rawcliffe
• 16th-18th centuries and Gray and Munby families
• 18th-19th centuries

Many details of other York families. 16th - 20th centuries.

Business records

Records of various businesses, including the Assembly Rooms; pawnbroker's pledge book (1777-8), York Cemetery Company; gas companies; and many small businesses. 18th - 20th centuries.

Solicitors

Not included with business records as their collections are so varied and generally do not include the records of the actual business. Their records are their clients' archives, which fit into various categories. 17th - 20th centuries.

Scientific records

Include astronomical (papers of John Goodricke) and meteorological records. 18th - 20th centuries.

Entertainments

Include racing lists, Mansion House banquets, Yorkshire Music Festivals, York Festival, and some Empire Theatre press cuttings. 18th - 20th centuries.

Maps and plans

York Ordnance Survey from 1852, local Enclosure Awards and collections of plans, mainly civic e.g. 1699 survey of River Ouse, and drawings of city buildings from the 19th century onwards.

Photographs and illustrations

The civic collection of photographs and negatives (gradually being scanned and indexed) covers the areas of slum clearance and work done by the city in the 20th century.

Other collections

There are a considerable number of deeds in both the city and private collections. Apart from the City Deed Registers, researchers should consult the card index and ask the staff for advice.