PRONI currently holds approximately 3 million records, stored in our Titanic Quarter building in over 100,000 archival boxes. Our collections are comprised of both public and privately deposited records and relate primarily, but not only, to Northern Ireland.
Public Records
PRONI has the statutory remit for the reception and preservation of Northern Ireland's public records, as set out in the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923.
Certain types of records created by these public authorities are pre-designated for permanent preservation in PRONI based on their significance to the historical record and public interest. Additionally, each year, our staff conduct appraisals of other records to assess their long-term value.
PRONI currently holds records of historical significance created by past and current NI government departments, such as:
- Ministry of Agriculture (AG)
- Cabinet Secretariat (CAB)
- Department of Education (DE)
PRONI also holds the records of Non-Departmental Public Bodies, such as:
- health trusts and hospitals
- courts
- arms-length bodies
Additionally, in the absence of county archives in Northern Ireland, PRONI holds records that are unique to a national archive, including:
- local authority records
- school records
- church records
Private Records
The Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 made the additional provision for PRONI to preserve significant records deposited from private depositors, including individuals, business, organisations and charities. These collections come in a wide range of formats, including:
- letters
- journals
- diaries
- ledgers
- photographs
- maps
You can view more information on how to deposit private records with us online.
Digital Records
In addition to physical collections, PRONI also has growing digital repository with over 220,000 records. This number is owed in large part to our Reprographics team who are continuously digitising records to promote public access. You can view a number of these records on the PRONI eCatalogue and elsewhere under the 'Explore Archives Online' tab.
The digital repository also includes an increasing number of born-digital records, from both official and private sources. Visit our Collections Care webpage for more information on how these records are stored.