Archives collections

Hackney Archives is the official repository for the historic records of Hackney Council and its predecessors the Metropolitan Boroughs of Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.

We also collect and preserve original records created by people and organisations based in, or connected with, the London borough of Hackney. This includes charities, businesses, societies, community groups and individuals.

Search

To find out more about these and other collections, you can search the archives catalogue, local history library and image collections online:

Search now

Open access collections

Most of our collections are held securely in our archives stores. However, we also hold some open access resources in our archives research area which you can simply drop in and view. These include:

• over 17,000 historic photos and images
• local maps from the 1700s onwards, including Ordnance Survey maps
• local newspapers from the 1800s to the present day
• books on local subjects including politics, architecture, business, transport and personal stories
• street and trade directories from the 1840s to the 1990s
• Abney Park Cemetery records on microfilm
• electoral registers from 1965 to the present
• free access to Ancestry Library Edition

Collections in our stores

Our original material is stored in controlled environmental conditions in our archives stores. It must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance to give us time to locate and retrieve it for you. You will need to register and show ID before seeing the material. Examples of the kinds of collections we hold in our stores include:

• Hackney People’s Press
• Charles Bradlaugh
• Hoxton Hall
• Worker’s Circle Friendly Society
• Hackney Trades Council
• Nellie Knight Collection
• Nicholson’s Gin

Film

Our film content, and additional resources for family history research can be accessed using the following websites:

• London Screen Archives includes a selection of films from Hackney Archives (search ‘Hackney’) – some films are available to view online, but a larger selection can be accessed onsite in the Archives search room
• Ancestry (library edition) is available to access free of charge on site at Hackney Archives and Libraries

We are always happy to discuss donations.