Frequently Asked Questions
What is Catholic Archives?
Catholic Archives (catholicarchives.co.uk) is a free online catalogue providing public access to the archival holdings of Irish and UK Catholic religious institutions. The site is hosted on AtoM (Access to Memory), an internationally recognised open-source archival management platform used by hundreds of archives worldwide.
Who runs this site?
The site is operated by Boyne Archives, a professional archival services company based in Ireland. Boyne Archives specialises in cataloguing, digitisation, and online access systems for Catholic and religious institution archives. A sister site for Irish Catholic archives is also available at catholicarchives.ie.
Is access free?
Yes. All catalogue records are freely and openly accessible to the public. No registration or login is required to search or browse.
Which archives are hosted on this site?
The following archives are currently hosted:
- Passionist Congregation, St Joseph's Province — English and Welsh province of the Passionists
- Passionist Congregation (Scotland) — Scottish province of the Passionists
- Irish Vincentian Archive — Vincentian Fathers, Irish province
- Irish Capuchin Archives — Capuchin Franciscan province of Ireland and the UK
- Sisters of St Joseph of Chambery — Wales and Ireland
What kinds of records are held?
Collections span the 17th century to the present day and include institutional records, correspondence, diaries, financial records, photographs, maps, printed ephemera, and other primary sources relating to Catholic religious life in Ireland and the UK. Highlights of the records on the site so far include records relating to Dominic Barberi, and Ignatius Spencer, both prominent Passionists.
What archival standards does the catalogue follow?
All descriptions follow ISAD(G) — the General International Standard Archival Description — published by the International Council on Archives (ICA). Authority records for persons, families, and corporate bodies follow ISAAR(CPF). This ensures descriptions are consistent and interoperable with other archival systems worldwide.
How do I search for records?
Use the search bar at the top of any page to search across all repositories simultaneously. You can also:
- Browse by Repository to explore a single archive's holdings
- Use the Browse menu to browse all archival descriptions across the site
- Filter results by date, media type, or level of description
Are original documents available to view online?
Some records include attached digital images of documents, photographs, or maps. Look for the camera icon or use the Digital Objects filter when browsing to find records with images attached.
Can I access the physical originals?
Access to physical documents must be arranged directly with the individual archive. Contact details for each repository — including address, phone, and email — are available on each repository page. Click Repositories in the navigation menu to find contact information.
I found an error in a description. Who do I contact?
For errors or queries relating to a specific archive's records, please contact that archive directly using the contact details on their repository page. For technical issues with the website, contact Boyne Archives at boynearchives [at] mailfence [dot] com.