The Exeter Local Maritime Archives Project (ELMAP)

Introduction

The Exeter Local Maritime Archives Project (ELMAP) has created a searchable online database of references to records with maritime and naval significance that are held in local record offices and other archives across England and Wales.

The database is fully searchable on keywords or dates and provides the user with a brief description and the reference number and details of the archive in which the material is held.

At present the database comprises material received and held by local archives up to 1997. There are currently over 12,000 entries and new material is being added on a regular basis.

Maritime History at the University of Exeter, A Bibliography of Writings since 1964. Compiled by Celia King and Alston Kennerley.

Background

The database is the product of a substantial grant by the Leverhulme Trust to meet the widely felt need for a guide to the very considerable sources for maritime history in the local archives of the United Kingdom. It was originally assembled over three years by the Leverhulme Research Fellow, Dr Todd Gray, with the generous co-operation of the Association of County Archivists which provided both financial assistance and the support of an advisory panel of County Archivists: Margery Rowe (Devon), Christine North (Cornwall) and Bryn Parry (Gwynnedd). Completion was delayed by local government reorganisation and the departure of Dr Gray into a career as a successful publisher. His work however has been the basis for continuing the project and developing it into a searchable database, revived and advanced to its present state by the enthusiastic efforts of Dr Helen Doe, supported by postgraduates of the Centre, and with the editorial assistance of Karen Toulalan.

Need help researching your maritime or naval ancestors?

If you need assistance with individual family research questions the following websites are sources of help either with access to researchers, research guides or facilities for answering questions:

Useful websites:

http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/
A wealth of information on this site and it also includes a mailing list for posting queries.

www.swmaritime.org.uk
For those with South West connections, this site also includes an open forum for posting questions.

http://www.nmmc.co.uk/index.php?page=Research&id=194
This is the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the library has a team of volunteers who can help with some research questions.

The following web sites also have useful research guides for researching naval and maritime ancestors: