Family history

Researching your family history has never been more popular or easier to begin. We offer courses, groups and resources that can save you time and help you to avoid common mistakes.

Solihull Heritage and Local Studies is on the first floor of The Core Library.

Solihull Heritage Gateway

Search the Solihull Heritage Gateway to see if your family is mentioned in any of our collections.

Family history courses

We run a series of family history courses designed to kick-start your family research.

View family history courses

Family history groups

If you're already doing research and would like to join an informal group for mutual help and support, there are a number of self-organised groups that meet regularly.

View family history groups

Major resources available

Major resources are available locally to help you trace your family history, even if your ancestors are not from Solihull.

View major resources

Caribbean family history

You can now research some of your Caribbean ancestors without leaving Solihull, thanks to the efforts of the Solihull & Birmingham Caribbean Family History Group and the Jamaican Family Roots Group.

View Caribbean family history

FamilySearch Centre

The Core Library has been a FamilySearch Affiliate Centre, meaning that customers have been able to order microfilms via the FamilySearch service for viewing in Solihull.

On Friday 1 September 2017 this service was discontinued by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) as they are digitising their holdings and making them available via www.familysearch.org. We are able to retain the microfilms we already have on extended loan, which mostly consist of Caribbean records.