FIBIS

The Families In British India Society

The Families In British India Society (FIBIS) is an organisation devoted to members with an interest in researching their ancestors and the background against which they led their lives in 'British India'.

The Society was formed in November 1998 to provide a resource for people researching families and their social history in India from 1600 up to, and even after, Indian Independence in 1947.

Aims of the Society

The Society's primary aim is to helping individuals research their ancestors and the social structure in which they lived.

It covers the earlier part of the British East India Company's* (EIC's) history and provides help and advice on researching it both in England and abroad, and all EIC stations, including those outside the Indian sub-continent. The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company which was granted an English Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intention of favouring trade privileges in India. ...

Nobody is excluded from the Society, provided they are in sympathy with its aims and objectives. The Society does NOT concentrate on the Raj period nor solely on the British in India because to do so would exclude a number of other nationalities who played an important part and became part of the Indian culture.

The principal areas of activity are:

• Membership
• Research Services & Members' Interests
• Journal & Newsletter
• Meetings
• Volunteer Group
• Data Publication

Transcription and Publishing of Records

For several years now, in conjunction with the British Library, FIBIS have had a programme of transcribing and publishing East India Company, and India Office records. These records are freely available on the internet in searchable form to the general public. They are accessible at search.fibis.org British Library Ossulston St entrance, with distinctive red logo. ... The India Office was the British government department responsible for the government of British India. ...

External links

FIBIS Web site www.fibis.org India Office Catalogue Access to Archives