History Data Service

The History Data Service collects, preserves, and promotes digital resources that support historical research.

hds.essex.ac.uk
History Data Service homepage screenshot

About History Data Service

The History Data Service collects, preserves, and promotes digital resources that result from or support historical research, learning, and teaching. It is the successor to AHDS History, which was one of five centres of the Arts and Humanities Data Service from 1996 to March 2008. The service is housed within the UK Data Archive at the University of Essex.

The service provides long-term preservation of deposited data collections and access to available collections through the UK Data Archive Data Catalogue. It also offers online guidance on creating and documenting digital resources from historical sources, along with a help desk for registration, data downloads, and problems opening data or documentation files. The site does not state pricing or eligibility rules.

Key features

  • Long-term preservation of deposited historical data collections
  • Access to collections through the UK Data Archive Data Catalogue
  • Online guidance on creating and documenting digital resources from historical sources
  • Help desk for registration, data downloads, and file opening problems
  • JISCmail mailing list with news on new History Data Service collections
  • Online guides and resources on using historical data
Best for: Historians, students, and teachers who need archived historical datasets for research, learning, or teaching, and researchers who want to deposit historical digital resources.
Good for
  • Preservation and access are supported by the UK Data Archive at the University of Essex
  • A dedicated help desk handles registration and data download questions
  • Offers guidance for creating and documenting digital historical resources

History Data Service at a glance

Official website
hds.essex.ac.uk
Type
Dataset
Platforms
Web
Language
English
Country
GB
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026

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History Data Service FAQ

Where can I get help with registering or downloading data?
The source directs users to the user services help desk for help with registration and downloading data, or for problems opening data or documentation files.
How can I find the collections the service provides?
Available collections can be accessed through the UK Data Archive Data Catalogue.
Does the service offer guidance for creating digital historical resources?
Yes. The service offers online guidance on creating and documenting digital resources from historical sources.
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