Federation Of Family History Societies

Free access to 1911 Census has proved too popular!

The free access provided at the seven hubs around England and Wales was provided as a set number of credits for use on the 1911 Census website. The huge popularity of the scheme at both Tyne and Wear Archives and Museum, and Manchester Archives and Local Studies and Greater Manchester County Record Office, has meant that the credits supplied to these two areas have run out earlier than anticipated. Based on the onsite usage of the website at The National Archives (TNA) in Kew, it was estimated that the credits supplied would last for around a year. These sites ceased to have free access to the 1911 Census from 1 October 2009.

According to current usage information, the other five sites still have a good supply of credits. TNA advised each of the seven hubs that they would need to ration the credits and indeed Manchester did implement a restricted service but such was the demand and popularity unfortunately they consumed those credits sooner than anticipated. The experiment has been paid for entirely by TNA out of its own funds, and represents the equivalent of seven large-scale institutional subscriptions for a year. Credits were purchased for use on both the 1911 and findmypast websites.

The National Archives is striving to broaden awareness and access to its records right across the country and is pleased this scheme has been so popular at the Tyne and Wear, and Manchester archive services in particular. They have decided that as each regional archive exhausts its free 1911 Census credit quota it will provide it with three months’ free access to its Documents Online service. This invaluable resource for family historians includes over one million wills, five and a half million medal index cards and regimental diaries, among many other collections which are unavailable on other websites.

If you are unable to use this service in person at the reading rooms mentioned above, it is also available online at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline with downloads charged at up to £3.50 per document.

There is now a subscription option which will allow access to the 1911 Census for a fixed fee. Details of offers can be viewed here:

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/1911Census.jsp?utm_source=service_update&utm_medium=1911_email&utm_term=service_update&utm_content=170909&utm_campaign=subscription

As far as future access on other websites is concerned, Ancestry was originally one of the bidders, but they chose to withdraw. However, they have recently stated: “Ancestry.co.uk is keen to offer members the richest and most diverse range of family history content available and has begun to discuss with The National Archives the possibility of securing a licence to offer our own online access to the 1911 Census in the near future.”

Roger Lewry
FFHS Archives Liaison

15 October 2009