Local History

The LISC (NI) Local History Panel was newly-constituted in 1996 replacing the LA/PRONI Working Party with a much wider representation of organizations involved in development of collections and the provision of services in the field of Local History.

There are 18 organisations represented on the Panel - the five Public Library services; Public Record Office of Northern Ireland; Linen Hall Library; the libraries of Queen's University and the University of Ulster, Stranmillis University College and St. Mary's University College; the Ulster Museum; the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum; the Ulster American Folk Park; the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum (representing the regional museums); the Federation for Ulster Local Studies (representing 106 affiliated local history societies) and a representative from the Northern Ireland Publications Resource (NIPR).

The geographical spread of these organizations is an important consideration in the delivery of the remit of the Local History Panel.

The remit of the LISC (NI) Local History Panel is to identify and record local history resources; promote methods and means of making these resources accessible to the people of Northern Ireland; contribute to the training and development of staff in member organisations and beyond; and finally to share skills and information within the Local History community.

image of Local History Panel

Delivery of this remit has included:

Local History Month/Week Northern Ireland - held in 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Celebrating Local History 2006 – a LISC (NI) Local History Panel project, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, to promote and demonstrate the value of local history to communities and involve them in its pursuit and practice.

Annual training seminars:

Oral history and reminiscence; genealogy; copyright and the EU Directive;
Forthcoming in 2006 - Local History and the curriculum.

Publications:

Newspaper Indexing Guidelines.
Checklist of Northern Ireland Newspapers, 1737 – 1987
A Union List of Belfast Maps to 1900
Forthcoming 2006 - a guide to Ulster Street Directories 1805 - 1914