Scotland Archives and Libraries
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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[edit | edit source]Here is a list of archives which hold original records for Scotland. National Archives of Scotland[edit | edit source]
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:
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 Registrar General[edit | edit source]The Registrar General This office's collection contains:
The National Archives of the UK[edit | edit source]The National Archives 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[edit | edit source]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.
To find a full list of Scotland Archives and association with their addresses, go to the website of the Scottish Archive Network. Special Archives[edit | edit source]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.
Newspaper Archives[edit | edit source]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 following web site has a full listing of all the regional newspapers in Scotland:
Published Inventories, Catalogs, and Schedules[edit | edit source]Most archives have:
If possible, study these guides before visiting so you can use your time more effectively. You may find these guides on their websites. Libraries[edit | edit source]National Library of Scotland[edit | edit source]National Library of Scotland NLS Internet Archive
University Libraries[edit | edit source]University libraries house:
Three main university libraries are: Aberdeen University Library University of Edinburgh Library University of Glasgow Public Libraries[edit | edit source]Public libraries collect many published sources such as:
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[edit | edit source]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[edit | edit source]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:
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[edit | edit source]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:
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[edit | edit source]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.
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