Scotland Archives and Libraries

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Scotland

Archives and Libraries

The Green Entrance Hall, National Library of Scotland Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for Scotland. If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one. Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the Family History Library may have printed or microfilmed copies of them. Archives Here is a list of archives which hold original records for Scotland. National Archives of Scotland The National Archives of Scotland H M General Register House 2 Princes Street Edinburgh EH1 3YY Scotland Tel: +44(0)131 535 1314 Internet: www.nas.gov.uk  This office collects government, legal, and other records for which they are the most suitable repository. You need a reader’s ticket to use its collection. Guides to this record office are: Sinclair, Cecil. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors:A Guide to Ancestry Research in the Scottish Record Office. Edinburgh, Scotland: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990, 1994. The National Inventory of Documentary Sources includes other inventories and catalogs from this record office.  Scottish Documents The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) uses the Scottish Documents website to carry out testing for online access to digital images of historical records. The service is currently limited to certain archives in Scotland and to designated Church of Scotland officials. The Registrar General The Registrar General General Search Unit New Register House 3 West Register street Edinburgh EH1 3YT Scotland Internet: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/   This office's collection contains: Records of births Marriages Deaths from 1855 to the present Census Old Parochial Registers. The National Archives of the UK The National Archives Ruskin Avenue, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU England Internet: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ This office collects records of the British government (such as parliamentary papers) and law courts from 1086 to the present. It is in England but has many Scottish records. You need a reader’s ticket to use its collection. A guide to this repository is: Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office. 4th. ed. London, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990. (Family History Library book 942 A5p no. 19 1990.) Regional and District Archives Regional and district archives collect records about the areas they cover. These archives have valuable records to help you in your search for your ancestors. Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives Angus Archives; Angus Archives and Libraries Argylle & Bute Council Archives Ayrshire Archives Clackmannanshire Archives Dumfries & Galloway Council Archives / Online Historical Indexes Dundee City Archives Friends of Dundee City Archives East Dunbartonshire Archives Services East Lothian Council Library Services and Archives Edinburgh City Archives East Renfrewshire Council Archives - Portal to the Past Falkirk Council Archives Glasgow City Archives Heriot-Watt University Archives Highland Archive: Lochaber Archive Highland Archive: North Highland Archive Midlothian Council Archives North Lanarkshire Archive Orkney Library and Archives Perth and Kinross Council Archive Scottish Catholic Archives Scottish Jewish Archive Center Scottish Life Archive Shetland Archives Strathclyde University Archives and Special Collections West Lothian Council Archives To find a full list of Scotland Archives and association with their addresses, go to the website of the Scottish Archive Network. Special Archives City, occupational, and ecclesiastical archives also hold family history information. The holdings and services of these places vary widely. You will find these also listed on the Scottish Archive Network through the link above. Wellcome Library Contains names of the witches (in Scotland) 1658. Newspaper Archives Newspapers can also have archives that are full of local and national information. The following is a list of locan and national Scottish newspapers that have archival information: The Scotland Herald The Scotsman The Evening Times The following web site has a full listing of all the regional newspapers in Scotland: Wikipedia list of newspapers in Scotland Published Inventories, Catalogs, and Schedules Most archives have: Catalogs Inventories Guides Periodicals that describe their collections and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before visiting so you can use your time more effectively. You may find these guides on their websites. Libraries National Library of Scotland National Library of Scotland Department of Manuscripts George IV Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EW Scotland Internet: http://www.nls.uk/ NLS Internet Archive NLS eResources National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh This library houses manuscript material relating to Scotland, such as: Historical documents Family papers Archives of organizations A reader’s ticket is required. University Libraries University libraries house: Family papers Estate records Other historical Material Genealogical material Three main university libraries are: Aberdeen University Library Manuscripts and Archive Section King’s College Aberdeen AB9 2UB Scotland Internet: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/ University of Edinburgh Library George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland Internet: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resources/catalogues/ University of Glasgow Archives The University Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland Internet: http://www.gla.ac.uk/ Public Libraries Public libraries collect many published sources such as: Local histories City directories Maps Newspapers Family histories Parish registers Some libraries collect completed indexes and published materials from the local family history societies. The books mentioned in the previous section, "Regional and District Archives," also list addresses of public libraries. Local History Libraries Local history library staff collect and write histories of the people and places in their locale. Addresses for the local history libraries are available in: Malcolm Pinhorn. Historical, Archaeological and Kindred Societies in the United Kingdom: A List. Isle of Wight, Scotland: Pinhorns, 1986. (Family History Library book 942 C4h 1986.) Inventories, Guides, Catalogs, and Directories The FamilySearch Catalog lists many published inventories, guides, catalogs, and directories for archives and libraries under: SCOTLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES SCOTLAND, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES A microfiche collection of inventories, calendars (lists), and finding aids for British archives, libraries, and museums is: National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This repository provides a detailed listing of the: Box Folder Sometimes individual documents contained in various collections Document numbers, which you can use to order copies of the documents you want. These calendars are invaluable in helping you determine which documents may be useful to your research. A name and subject index to this collection is: Index to NIDS, National Inventory of Documentary Sources. London, England: Chadwyck-Healey, 1986-. (Family History Library fiche 6341118; Family History Library compact disc 1313 no. 10.) You can find the inventories and calendars by looking in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under one of the following headings. Then, find the specific archive you are interested in: SCOTLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS - INDEXES SCOTLAND, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS - INDEXES SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS - INDEXES The inventories and catalogs included in the National Inventory of Documentary Sources are listed as finding aids. To see a complete list of the record offices, archives, and repositories included in the National Inventory of Documentary Sources look in the Author/Title Search of the FamilySearch Catalog on microfiche under: NATIONAL INVENTORY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND. General Guides A guide to the archives and libraries in Great Britain is: Foster, Janet, and Julia Sheppard. British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. 3rd ed. New York: Stockton Press Ltd., 1995. (Family History Library book 942 J54f 1995.) This guide lists: Addresses Major records Publications of various repositories in the United Kingdom. It is indexed by county and by type of collection. You can find what information the Family History Library has on these repositories and their holdings by looking in the FamilySearch Catalog under: GREAT BRITAIN - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES SCOTLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES SCOTLAND - [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES SCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES GENUKI http://www.genuki.org.uk/ A cooperative effort made by many genealogical and historical societies to list databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for parishes and counties.