The Ulster Historical Foundation Search Reports Database

The Ulster Historical Foundation Search Reports Database is a comprehensive catalogue of commissioned genealogical and historical research reports produced by the Foundation since 1957. Spanning almost seven decades, the database provides an invaluable record of thousands of professionally researched enquiries undertaken by the Foundation’s experienced researchers. The Foundation itself was established in 1956 and has been providing specialist genealogical research services for almost 70 years.

One of the most exciting aspects of the database is its chronological depth. The earliest reports date from 1957. The collection therefore spans almost 70 years of genealogical and historical research. This gives the database an additional significance beyond its value for individual family historians. Collectively, the reports document changing interests, research questions and approaches to genealogy over several generations.

The Foundation's work sits within a long tradition of specialist Irish genealogical research. Today, the Foundation continues to provide resources and research services for people investigating their Ulster ancestry and history, alongside its extensive online collection of Irish genealogical databases.

Note: This first batch of reports added to the database starts in 1957 and ends around 1980. More reports will be added to the database in the future

Each report represents a detailed investigation into individuals, families, places, estates, churches, and historical records, often bringing together information from a wide range of archival and published sources. Reports typically contain biographical information, family relationships, geographical locations, documentary references, historical context, and supporting evidence, making them a rich resource for genealogy, local history, and academic research.

It is evident that understanding the research methodology of (in the case of the earliest files) a by-gone age in family history research, can be very instructive indeed to family historians in the modern era, and eras to come. This research methodology as demonstrated by the individual compiling the report, not least given the non-existence of digitised and computerised sources, and in the earliest days the complete dearth of finding aids or research guides can be fascinating – our earliest teams of searchers were true pioneers and pathfinders. It should become apparent to modern users how dogged they were in identifying sources in an archival research environment few of us could comprehend at this remove.

Given the age of the earliest files (and their inevitable physical degradation) and the physical materials used at that time (wafer thin copy paper used by the public sector at that time), scans of the original reports can vary significantly in quality. We have tried to fix and optimise the scans, but issues may still be present. If there are quality issues that you would like to bring to our attention, please let us know by emailing: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

We are committed to protecting client confidentiality when adding reports to our Search Reports Database. No personal or identifying information will be included, and clients are always free to opt out of having their report added. As a general policy, we aim to maintain a minimum ten-year gap between the submission of research and its inclusion in the database. 

Where clients are happy for their report to be included, their contribution helps build a valuable body of research material that can support and inform other researchers, while maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the individuals concerned.

Given the age of the earliest files, it is impossible to contact every single client to ask prior permission for their report to be included in the dataset. Some clients may have relocated, passed away or are not reachable based on the information the Foundation holds for them at the time of the commissioning/supply of the report. Therefore, we have taken the approach that in the case of the oldest files every report is ‘opted in’ unless the Foundation is contacted otherwise.

Every client has the right to request that their report is removed from the dataset. On receipt of a request to remove a specific file (or files for continuation or extension reports), it will be removed immediately. If you are not quite sure, perhaps you might allow your report to be added to the collection with some content redacted? If that approach appeals to you more, please contact our team directly.

Every client who commissioned research and who consents to their report being included in the dataset will have free access to the entire dataset. And for new and prospective clients you can start to enjoy the benefits of the search reports as soon as you sign up for a report – even before your own research report has been completed! 

Please note that a client’s request to have their report(s) removed from the dataset also removes their access privileges to the database. 

This is an ongoing project. More files and additions to the indexes will be added over the coming months, if users identify a technical problem; personal information that should not be there; errors in the index (note: we cannot amend errors in the original files, especially the earlier files which are not OCR accessible); or other access issues, the Foundation would be grateful to hear from you ASAP, and we will try to act immediately to resolve the issue.

The Ulster Historical Foundation has built an extensive collection of Irish genealogy databases, covering subjects ranging from births, marriages and deaths to census material, directories, gravestone inscriptions, wills, occupations and much more.

The new Ulster Historical Foundation Search Reports Database adds another dimension to this collection: a window into the Foundation's own long history of genealogical and historical research.

Whether you are an experienced family historian, researching your local community, studying Irish history, or simply curious to see what previous researchers have uncovered, we invite you to explore the database and see where the research trail leads.

You may be surprised by what has already been discovered.

We've also produced a short video introducing the Search Reports Database and explaining how it can help with your research