Links

The following links are useful for historians and genealogists researching on Bermuda.

  • Afflare Films. Production company of documentary film-maker Lucinda Spurling. Films of interest to historians include the award-winning ”In The Hour of Victory”, and ”The Lion and the Mouse”, narrated by Michael Douglas. Services include production of documentary films; dramas; promotional marketing videos, corporate videos, instructional videos, video record, commercials, special event videos, and editing and audio-only recordings. http://www.afflarefilms.com
  • The Army Childrens’ Archive is a useful website for descendants of British Army soldiers. http://www.archhistory.co.uk/taca/contribcopy.html
  • Bermuda Historical Society. Holds archival materials and artifacts, some of which are exhibited in its museum at “Par-la-Ville” (in the same building as the Bermuda Library) in the City of Hamilton. It no longer publishes the “Bermuda Historical Quarterly”, but back issues (which are also held by the Bermuda Library and the Bermuda Archives) are a valuable resource for historians. http://www.bermudahistoricalsociety.com/
  • Bermuda National Library. Possesses many rare books of interest to historians, including one-off manuscripts. Most of these, unfortunately, have been moved off-site from its Rare Books Room, and can only be seen by advanced scheduling at a cost of $35 per book. A small number of these texts can be found more readily at the Bermuda Archives. The library’s most important resource is its archives of Bermudian newspapers and magazines stretching back to 1783. These can be viewed on-site on microfilm. The library is in the process of digitising this collection, much of which can already be viewed online (at no cost). http://www.bnl.bm/
  • Bermuda National Trust. The Bermuda National Trust is one of the primary caretakers of Bermuda’s natural and architectural heritage. In addition to lands and buildings in its own possession, it tends to the old naval and military cemeteries on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It publishes books of interest to historians and genealogists, including a series of nine architectural histories (one for each of Bermuda’s parishes). https://bnt.bm/
  • Carter House Museum. The museum of the St. David’s Island Historical Society is located in what is believed to be Bermuda’s oldest dwelling house (not in a ruinous condition). Named for a survivor of the 1609 “Sea Venture” wreck and one-time acting Governor of Bermuda, the house was actually home to one of his descendants. From 1941 to 1995, the house was part of the land leased to the United States for ninety-nine years, occupied successively by the United States Army (and Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, as Kindley Field and Fort Bell), the United States Air Force (as Kindley Air Force Base), and – from 1970 – the US Navy, as Naval Air Station Bermuda. The house was maintained by the American forces, and housed an earlier museum when in possession of the US Navy. https://carterhousemuseum.org/
  • National Museum of Bermuda. Located in the Royal Naval Dockyard, on Ireland Island, this is a new museum that incorporates the older Bermuda Maritime Museum, and is Bermuda’s largest and most prestigious. Its exhibits cover all facets of Bermuda’s history, and include the “Bermuda’s Defence Heritage Exhibit” (which I assisted in the creation of in 2003-2004). The museum’s press publishes, or has published, the journal “Maritimes” and many books of immense value to historians and genealogist. http://nmb.bm/
  • The Royal Anglian and Royal Lincolnshire Regimental Association website contains articles on Bermuda’s regular army regiment, to which Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps (BVRC) drafts were attached during two world wars, and which (Lincolns) provided permanent staff to the BVRC and currently (R Anglians) provides permanent staff to the Royal Bermuda Regiment. http://www.thelincolnshireregiment.org
  • The Royal Bermuda Regiment is the current territorial battalion tasked with home defence in Bermuda. It was formed in 1965 by amalgamation of the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the BVRC, both formed in the 1890s as reserves of the regular army’s garrison. http://www.bermudaregiment.bm
  • Ships of Bermuda (hosted by Rootsweb, an Ancestry.com community). A valuable list of vessels associated with Bermuda, by century. Useful historical and geneaolgical information, where available, is included for each entry, gleaned from contemporary sources. http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bmuwgw/ships.html
  • The St. George’s Foundation of the Corporation of St. George’s oversees the town’s implementation of its UNESCO World Heritage plan and operates the World Heritage Centre on Penno’s Wharf. This includes galleries and exhibits dedicated to the town’s history. http://www.stgeorgesfoundation.org