1939 Register

Dear Ray, An important announcement from Findmypast I’m writing to you today with some marvellous news! On Monday 2nd November 2015, the 1939 Register will be made available online for the very first time, only on our sister site Findmypast. Simply put, it’s the most comprehensive survey ever recorded of the civil population of England and Wales. With the lives of 41 million people captured in one day in September 1939, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a nation on the eve of war. The 1939 Register contains the names, addresses and occupations of everyone in England and Wales at the time, and was used as the basis for rationing, identity cards and, in post-war Britain, the NHS. You’ll be able to discover unique insights into where your family was and what they were doing when the register was taken at the outbreak of World War II, and we cannot wait to make this monumental collection available to you. On a personal note, I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has worked so hard to produce something so brilliant. I hope it proves a vital resource for your family history research. Please continue reading below to learn more about the register and our additional features, which include maps, facts and figures and photos of the time. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions atgetintouch@findmypast.co.uk All the best, Annelies, CEO, Findmypast Why is the 1939 Register so significant? The 1931 census was destroyed and the 1941 census was never taken, making the 1939 Register the only surviving record of the people of England and Wales in the 30 years1921-1951, and the closest likeness to a census from that period. Previously only available physically, the information in this 1939 Register, including names, addresses, occupations, marital statuses and more, will be available for you to explore on Findmypast in just a few days’ time. This release is the result of over a year’s work carried out by a team of hundreds who – in association with The National Archives – have conserved, scanned, transcribed and digitised over 1.2 million pages from 7,000 volumes. Find out more Explore your world on the #eveofwar In the 1939 Register, our richest ever release, unlocking a record not only gives you access to a transcript and an image - helping you to discover more about your family and their community - but you’ll also receive access to: Interactive maps showing how your neighbourhood has changed over the past 130 years     Local and national newspaper articlesfrom 1939, giving you an insight into the world in which your family lived Photographs documenting life in 1930s and 1940s England and Wales, all of which have never before been available online     Facts and figures comparing average ages, occupations and popular names in your area compared to the rest of the country Pricing Records will be available to purchase for £6.95 per household or£24.95 for our 5 household bundle (£4.99 per household). Find out more Questions? If you have any questions, pop over to our FAQ page, or if you want to get in touch, please call us on +44 (0)20 3326 6300(Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm GMT) or email us onsupport@findmypast.co.uk. Introducing the 1939 Register To whet your appetite, here’s a short video to take you behind the scenes www.britishnewspaperasrchive.co.uk