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 6th Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland was published in 1874. Much of the report is concerned with the status of transfers and classification of various records, and the discovery of several bundles of records in the cavity between the floor and the dome of the Four Courts. Tables are included detailing the numbers of pieces "removed and deposited" in the Record Treasury of the office of Public Records. The appendices of the 6th report cover the following items: ·Extract from the report on the residue of records removed from the offices of the late Right Hon. Edward Litton, M.C. ·Reports from the Ulster Keeper of the State Papers ·List of Chancery Bills and Answers found out of place ·Extract from the report on the arrangement of the records of the Court of Common Pleas, removed from the vaults of that Court ·Extracts from the report of the records of the Palatinate of Tipperary ·Extracts from the report on the Records of former Writ, Appearance and Seal Office of the Court of Queen's Bench ·Report regarding the "Facsimiles of National MSS of Ireland".

• Cultural history

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