The Victoria County History of Staffordshire
Work on the Victoria County History of Staffordshire began in the early twentieth century and the first volume was published in 1908. It was anticipated that just four volumes would be written about the county. At that time, however, funding could not be maintained and no further progress was made in published form until the second half of the twentieth century. In 1950, a partnership was established between Staffordshire County Council (in conjunction with a group of county boroughs) and the University of London whereby the local authorities would pay for the compiling and editing of the histories and the university would publish the completed books. Five volumes of the history were published between 1950 and 1974. Following the reorganisation of local government in 1974, the contributing authorities comprised Staffordshire County Council, and the metropolitan boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Four volumes were published in the period 1974 to 1993. In 1993 the boroughs found that they were unable to continue their contributions to the production of the histories and a new partnership was formed between Staffordshire County Council, Keele University and the University of London.
Seven of the fifteen volumes published are on British History Online. For full access to all volumes, check your local library catalogue or your local archive.
