Genealogic is on the British LIbrary's list of approved researchers
for the Asian and African Studies Reading Room.
Research can be done on British, European and Anglo-Indian family history in India, Burma, Pakistan or Bangladesh (mostly pre-1948).
We also research British Empire history generally in Asia or Africa.
Emma Jolly's essential guide to the British in India for family historians, Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors, will will be published by Pen and Sword Books in February 2012.
If you are interested in discovering more about ancestors in India, we recommend that
you look at the indexes on the following websites:
http://indian-cemeteries.org/bacsa/html/cemetery_records.html
http://stmaryschurchpune.org/archives1.html
http://www.allsaintschurch.co.in/
By early 2012, many of the India Office Records currently held in the British Library will be be digitized on www.findmypast.co.uk
For ancestors in Burma, see
http://www.angloburmeselibrary.com/index.html
A useful blog on India and Anglo-Indian family history is at
http://geneblanchette.wordpress.com/
The Colonial Film Catalogue holds many films of Empire families and of events that took place in British
India
http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/
East India Company (EIC)
The British Library holds records for the East India Company from 1600 to 1858, when it was dissolved. The records are very useful if your ancestor was a soldier with the EIC, an officer cadet, or a civil servant. Service records and entry papers provide a wealth of information on EIC employees.
New EIC project at Warwick University: www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/ghcc/research/eicah
The India Office (1858-1947)
The India Office records form the basis for much family history research. If your ancestor was baptised, married, or buried in India their records should be held here. However, not all records were sent to the India Office, and not all have survived.
Records of wills for those with property in India are held at the British Library. For those
who held property in England and Wales (after 1858), probate should be held at the
Principal Probate Registry in Holborn.
Army in India
Many British regiments served in India throughout the Raj. Their military records are
held at The National Archives.
Records for The Indian Army, which included the Armies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay, are are held mainly
in the British Library. This Army succeeded the East India Company Armies in 1858. These records are also
very helpful for genealogists; for example, registers of recruits for NCOs usually give place of birth and age.
Copies of the East India Register & Army List (1844-1860) and the Indian Army List are available for
consultation at the British Library.
An index to HEIC [Honourable East India Company] Cadets can be searched at
http://www.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/cadfram.htm
Original Papers, Letters, Photographs, and Manuscripts
The British Library holds a number of original documents that may be relevant to your
family history, or to general Asian historical research. This collection can be searched
online at
http://minos1.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/welcome.asp.
The reading room also holds a good collection of contemporary maps, which can help you
to visualize where your ancestors lived.
A useful selection of historical maps of India can be seen online at
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~poyntz/India/maps.html
A selection of English-language Indian newspapers is also available for consultation
(NB: at present, this is not indexed). These can be useful if further investigation is
needed, for example, on notable events, ancestors involved with crime, or suspicious deaths.
Records on Other Occupations
Medical Services and Veterinary Surgeons
Nursing Services
Mercantile Mariners
Advocates
Journalists
Merchants
Missionaries
Railway Staff
Engineers
Bibliography
Martin Moir, A General Guide to the India Office Records. (London: The British Library, 1988)
Sarah Speedy,Mrs Livingstone, I Presume? Memoirs of Mrs S.M. Speedy, wife of Major James Speedy
1815-1859 (Allan Speedy, 1996) - see www,speedy.co.nz/recollections/
IA Baxter, India Office Library & Records: A Brief Guide to Bibliographical Sources.
(London: The British Library, 2004)
http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Sources.aspx
See Emma Jolly's article on 'Open Access Microfilms in the Asia, Pacific & Africa Collections of the British Library in the September 2008 edition of The Genealogist's magazine - www.sog.org.uk/genmag/gm_sep08_contents.pdf