Celia Imrie visited the Parliamentary Archives for the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are? in 2012.
She found her ancestor William Lord Russell, a Member of Parliament, in Grey's Debates, a collection of historic Parliamentary Debates from the late 17th century. Celia also traced events in the House of Lords Journal, the record of proceedings. The picture shows her reading the original Lords Journal for 1679-1981, to see when the King prorogued Parliament.
Using Parliamentary Debates and proceedings
Although Celia visited us to see the original documents, you can read the printed sources she used online. You can search and read Grey's Debates and the early House of Lords Journals at British History Online. From 1803, historic Hansard (Parliamentary Debates) is online and can be full text searched.
Celia's experience shows how Parliamentary Debates and proceedings in Parliament can be used in family history. Although her ancestor was an MP, you don't have to have famous ancestors to be interested in Parliamentary Debates. Parliament has been involved with all kinds of issues over the centuries affecting everybody's lives. This might include local issues in relation to private bills, although such issues are likely to have have been discussed in committee rather than on the floor of either House.