What is inside?

Previous to the establishment of the Irish Public Records Office (PRO), by an 1867 statute (30 & 31 Vict., c. 70), Ireland's public records were located in a variety of repositories throughout the country. Many of the records were perilously stored in unsuitable conditions, and on the opening of the PRO, records were progressively transferred to the new repository, for safe keeping. Each year, between 1869 and 1920 (and less frequently thereafter), the Office published an annual report, known as the Deputy Keeper's Report, which detailed the records received, and the work undertaken, during the previous twelve months. Though little known, these reports can contain useful source material for the historical researcher. Although the reports were usually brief, they often contained copious appendices, which can be especially useful. This is particularly the case, bearing in mind the destruction of the PRO during the Irish Civil War, so the Deputy Keeper's reports now often represent the only record of lost primary source material. This 5th Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland was published in 1873. Much of the report is concerned with the status of transfers and classification of various records. Tables are included detailing the numbers of pieces "received and deposited" in the Record Treasury of the office of Public Records. This is followed by two larger scale layouts covering the State of the Bays in the Record Treasury. The appendices of the 5th report cover the following items: ·Extract from the Report of John Overend on the Records of the Courts of Queen's Bench removed from the Dome of the Four Courts ·Reports from the Ulster Keeper of the State Papers ·Extract from the report on the records of the Palatinate of Tipperary ·Resolution of Dean and Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, to place their records in the Public Record Office. ·Circular to District Registrars of Court of Probate ·Correspondence as to records at Cloyne ·Letters as to a series of specimens of National Manuscripts relating to Ireland.

• Cultural history

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