Wednesday 27 February 2013

1908 Dublin City Electoral Roll released

Dublin City Library and Archives (DCL&A) have released the Electoral Roll for 1908 to their selection of free-to-view databases on DublinHeritage. You can go direct to the search facility here.

Back in 1908, those who were eligible to vote in local government elections (minimum age 21 for men/30 for women) had to state their qualification for voting; the individual had to be either a rated occupier, a freeholder/leaseholder or a lodger. The information requested of lodgers is potentially the most interesting for family historians, and it isn't available in any other collection. Lodgers were required to provide their own name and address, and that of their landlord, together with a description of their lodgings (size of room/furnished/unfurnished). They also had to state the amount of rent they paid, including details of any services included, such as meals.

The 1908 roll holds details on 46,055 registered voters. According to the 1901 census, the population of the city was 290,638.

This release is the first of a distinct project being undertaken by DCL&A. It is completely separate from the long awaited release of the Registers of Electors collection 1937-1964.

"The 1908 records represent the first tranche of a project to digitise collections connected to Centenary Commemorations," DCL&A Senior Archivist Ellen Murphy told Irish Genealogy News. "Later this year we will make available the Electoral Roll for 1913."

Thanks to @NYCGenealogist (Joe Buggy).