Our Depositors

The Private Records team work with a wide range of depositors including individuals and families, faith groups, businesses, clubs and societies, charities and community groups.  

Thanks to the generosity of our depositors, we can make a diverse range of records available to the public.  You can read about some of the private depositors that have deposited records with PRONI below.  

Belfast Archive Project 

One man and two women with lanyards standing by a large table with black and white photographs displayed.
Frankie Quinn, Belfast Archive Project (on left), with Lorraine Bourke and Rebecca Geddes, PRONI.

PRONI is working to preserve and make available photographs from The Belfast Archive Project.  Photographer Frankie Quinn has collected and digitised photographic collections from a wide range of amateur and professional photographers.  Some of these photographic collections have already transferred to PRONI (catalogue reference number D4924).  We are ensuring that the original physical formats and the digitised copies are preserved.  Members of the public can access the digitised copies through the PRONI catalogue in our Search Room.  

I am happy to be working with PRONI to ensure that the invaluable photographs within the Belfast Archive project are preserved for future generations. - Frankie Quinn.

 

Ballysallagh Women’s Institute 

Ballysallagh Women’s Institute (catalogue reference number D5039) is just one of many associations, clubs and societies that have deposited their archives with PRONI.  Ballysallagh Women’s Institute was established in 1951 and its members deposited its archive in 2026. The explained why it was important to mark their 75th anniversary by depositing their archive with PRONI.

Three people standing behind a wooden table with two boxes on it. One of the boxes is open and there are three volumes on the table.
Darragh Creed (left) with Ballysallagh Women's Institute

… it is important that we, the current custodians, ensure that the endeavours of those founder members and the records of the evolvement of the Institute are preserved for posterity. So much has changed over the years from the mainly rural membership in the early days to now welcoming women from all walks of life. However, the ethos of the organisation applies as much now as it did back in 1951 – to provide a safe space for women to connect, learn and empower themselves through shared experiences and activities. We are delighted to donate to PRONI our various records and photographs of the past 75 years in the knowledge that they will be in safe hands for the future. - Irene McNair, President of Ballysallagh Women’s Institute.

Reformed Presbyterian Church Records 

Our holdings of the church records of a number of Christian denominations are an invaluable source of information.  PRONI’s Guide to Church Records is often the first reference point for people starting out on their family and local history research.  Among our holdings are the records of 41 churches deposited by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland which can be found within the catalogue reference number CR5.

Headshot of a man with light brown hair, wearing a suit and pink tie with a floral button hole.
William Roulston

It is now 30 years since I first visited PRONI and in that time I have benefited enormously from the high quality of the collections and the assistance offered to me by the staff. I have been a firm advocate of PRONI as an institution uniquely qualified to preserve historical records for future generations and have encouraged many individuals and organisations to transfer documents into PRONI’s safe-keeping. Through my role as the Convener of the Reformed Presbyterian Church History Committee, I have overseen the deposit in PRONI of hundreds of records going back to the eighteenth century. I look forward to continuing to work with PRONI on the preservation of manuscript records. - William Roulston

Robb Family Papers 

Sally Forwood deposited some of her family papers with PRONI after undertaking family research with the help of the Ulster Historical Foundation.  Among the Robb Family Papers (D4926) is a stunning navigational document made by William Robb of Coleraine in around 1750. This ‘rectifying compass’ was likely never used at sea but would have impressed visitors to William Robb’s library.  

Side angle photo of a woman with chestnut brown hair standing on a balcony of a red brick building.
Sally Forwood

The rectifying compass was discovered in my aunt’s drawer and had come through the family. I already knew from other papers that William Robb was an eccentric Coleraine resident whose wife had refused to emigrate, to join the rest of her family. He was a flax master and choirmaster. His activities in the local Volunteers were recorded by Maxwell Given. 

Two sons emigrated and a letter from their son William dated 1804 has also been deposited with PRONI.  I found letters to America in PRONI from another son James between 1832 and 1846 with useful gossip about Coleraine family and friends. Surprisingly, there was much in PRONI about this insignificant family - about land ownership, wills, tithes, schools and church affairs from 1640 to 1840 - details which made the Robb family come alive. The more that is in PRONI the easier our research is! - Sally Forwood.

Further information 

We want to ensure that the records in our care are representative of the lives and experiences of the many people and communities that make up our society.  If you would like to deposit records with PRONI, a member of our Private Records team would love to talk to you.  You will find information on this website explaining what options you have if you want to deposit records with PRONI.