This is a brief guide to researching records related to disability within our collections here at Explore York Library & Archives, resources from other institutions covering York, and general guides to researching disability history

For the purposes of this guide, disability is defined as any physical or mental impairment a person’s movements, senses, or activities. We have taken this broad definition as understandings of, and references to disability in historical records can be seen in a variety of forms and terminology.

It is important to be aware that researching disability history can require the use of, or coming in to contact, with outdated and offensive language. For more information on our harmful language policy, you can see our Harmful Language Statement on our website here.

An extracted page from an Application and Report Book of applicants for out-relief from the York Poor Law Union (Archive ref: PLU/3/1/1/32). One of the criteria to be filled out asks if a person is “partially or wholly disabled and the description of disablility”.

Getting Started/Beginning your search


Researching disability history can be challenging, so it is key to have an idea of what you are looking for. Is it records relating to a particular disability, a distinct time period, or looking at state invovlement and the effects legislation changes. You will need to know the historical terms used for the disablity you are looking for and know where and by whom records would have been created at your selected time period.

To help you begin your research there are some introductory resources below:

  • Glossary of current and historic langauge realted to disablity by Historic England here.
  • The National Archives guide on researching disablity history here.
  • Timeline of disablity history by Historic England here.
  • Timeline of disablity history by the Open University here.
  • A timeline mapping the impact of the Poor Law in York here.

Key Collections at Explore York Archives.

The following are some of the key collections we hold relating to disability history in its widest sense.

You can find more information on how best to search our archive catalogue on our How to Search page here.

Archive Collection

  • City of York Council Health Department: Mental Deficiency records, 1830s-1960s [Reference: Y/HEA/6]
  • City of York Council: Blind Persons Act Committee [Public Assistance], 1938-1948 [Reference: Y/COU/5/10/10]
  • City of York Council: Blind Persons Sub-Committee [Public Assistance] minutes, 1930-1938 [Reference: Y/COU/5/10/7]
  • City of York Council: Mental Deficiency Committee minutes, 1914-1948 [Reference: Y/COU/5/6/4]
  • City of York Council: Welfare Committee minutes, 1948-1970 [Reference: Y/COU/5/10/8]
  • City of York Council: Welfare Correspondence, Town Clerk’s Office, 1940s-1970s [Reference: Y/SOC/1/1]
  • Minutes of the Board of Guardians, 1837-1930. [PLU/1/1/1]
  • York Poor Law Union Application and Report Books, City and Rural Districts, 1837-1906 (with gaps) [Reference: PLU/3/1/1].
  • York Poor Law Union ‘Publications’, 1888-1956 [PLU/11/5/4]
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society, York Group, 1957-2003 [Reference: SCE]
  • Royal British Legion, 1914-1971 [Reference: RBL]
  • York & District Autistic Society, 1987-1992 [Reference: AUT]
  • York & District Spastics Society, 1957-1988 [Reference: SPA]
  • York Association for the Disabled, 1964-1974 [Reference: YAD]
  • York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, 2009-2013 [Reference: BPS]
  • Yorkshire Association for Mental Welfare, c.1916-1946 [Reference: YAM]

Library Resources /Special Collections

The following resources can be found by searching our library catalouge here.

  • Yorkshire Link. A Free Magazine for the Disabled and Handicapped. Spring 1987 [Y362.4]
  • History of the York Lunatic Asylum, J. Gray, W.Hargrove and CO, 1815. [Y362.]
  • A Letter from a Subscriber to the York Lunatic Asylum to the Governors of that Charity,Wilson Spence, 1788. [Y 362.2]
  • Papers respecting the York Lunatic Asylum published originally in the York Newspapers during the years 1813, 1814 and 1815, York Herald, 1816. [Y040]

Other Resources accessible at Explore

  • Microfilmed records and local newspapers available in our Family History Room
  • Find My Past (Free access availble at all Explore sites)
  • Ancestry (Free access availble at all Explore sites)
  • British Newspaper Archive (Free access availble at all Explore sites)

If you would like to visit the archives reading room to view any of these collections, please look at our Visitng us page here, to find our opening times and how to book and appointment.

York Related Resources Held in Other Collections.

  • The Borthwick Institute for Archives: notably hold church records relating to the City of York, records of the NHS and hospitals in York, as well as a disablity research guide that highlights relevant archives within their collection here.
  • North Yorkshire Archives: holds archives relevant to areas within the current City of York boundaries which were historically within the North Riding of Yorkshire. Also holds some records relating to the civic administration of the City of York as a district of North Yorkshire County Council, 1974-1997.
  • West Yorkshire Archive Service: holds archives relevant to areas within the current City of York boundaries which were historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire.
  • East Yorkshire Archives: holds archives relevant to areas within the current City of York boundaries which were historically within the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Other Research Guides & Resources

Disablity history and archives research guides

  • Disabled Peoples’ Archive here.
  • Sheffield Archives Reseach Guide here.
  • Birmingham University Archive Research guide here.

Map resources

  • 1852 OS Map of York, which shows locations such as the York Union Workhouse, The Retreat etc. availble here.
  • National Library of Scotland Map Library availble here.

Community produced resources

  • Irregularities at York Union Workhouse, 1899, created by York People First available here