Residents can find out who lived in their house or where their ancestors lived through a unique new scheme launched by North Yorkshire libraries.
Records from a century ago, which paint a picture of a nation coming to terms with the devastating period after the First World War and the 1918 flu pandemic, are publicly available for library users in the county.
Customers at libraries across North Yorkshire can study the 1921 census for England and Wales for free. Through this they can learn more about their ancestors, people who used to live in their house or community, or people important to their research.
Until now, this snapshot of a moment in time has been available only on a paid basis, but now free access is available to all library members through the Find My Past website when they use library computers in their branch.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White said: “On June 19, 1921, almost 38 million people in England and Wales completed a census return. This unique insight allows us to step back 100 years and witness up close a key moment in the lives of those who had survived the First World War, and who were embarking on a new decade.
“There is no end to the secrets and surprises within the 1921 census. Using Find My Past at the library, you can delve into this archive to help you to solve mysteries in your family stories or expand your local history research.”
At that time the country was adjusting to peacetime and the lasting impact of the First World War and influenza pandemic. The 1921 census shows the devastating losses of those who died with personal information showing the impact of the war on every family. There is information on who people were living with, where they were working and how relationships had been affected. The 1921 census provides greater detail than previous census, asking additional questions about marital status, employment and education.
Cllr White added: “This is an invaluable resource, and I’m sure the fact that it is now freely available in communities across North Yorkshire will be welcomed by the county’s many family and local historians. This will be the last new census information made available until 2052.”
All library members are entitled to one hour’s free use of computers each day and subscriptions are available at £35 for unlimited access, for a year, or £20 for six months. It is free to join your library.
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