Orphan Records
Family Histories - Orphan Records
Records of every child who lived in the Orphan Homes were kept by George Muller and subsequent heads of the charity. Each child has an Admission Record that tells us everything that was known about that child before they arrived, and a Dismissal Record that tells us where they went when they left. Some children also have a Correspondence File with certificates and papers about them.
These records are a very treasured part of our collection, and not generally on display. We often have requests to view the records – especially the records of family members who were here. This is arranged strictly by appointment only – so do please get in touch with us in advance if you are visiting and hoping to view a record.
Your Own Records
If you were resident in the Orphan Homes at Asley Down or the Muller Homes for Children (late 20th Century) and would like to see your records, we can help. We can provide you with copies of the records or a private space to view the originals. We also have a number ofphoto albums available which you may like to look through.
There is no charge and we will do everything we can to help. Fill out a contact form and we will be in touch. Sometimes we have quite a long waiting list, but we always put requests for personal records at the top of the list. You will need to provide ID.
Family History
If you are looking for the records of a family member we can arrange for you to come and see the records, or to have copies of the records. There is a small charge for this to cover staff time and resources. We have a bursary available to cover costs where needed because we would not want anyone to be unable to access the records of their family.
We are very careful about protecting the privacy of those who lived in the Orphan Homes and so for anyone born less than 110 years ago we will need to ask for their permission for you to view the records, or proof of death if they are no longer living.
Fill out the contact form below, and we will reply as soon as we can – there is sometimes quite a long waiting list, and we ask for your patience.
If you are trying to find a family member and are unsure if they were in the George Muller Homes, please fill out a form and we can search our database.
Archive Research and access
Along with the Orphan Records we have an extensive archive of documents (1834 to the present day). These include all eras of the work of The George Muller Charitable Trust, items written by George Muller, items written by staff and children from the Homes, Brethren history items and items belonging to people connected to Muller. Whilst some of our records are protected (the records of children living here who were born less than 110 years ago) the rest of our collection is available for public research. This is by appointment only and carries a small access fee. Please fill out a contact form below.