Scotland Archives and Libraries

Scotland Archives and Libraries

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
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.


 * 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

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.

The Registrar General
This office's collection contains:


 * Records of births
 * Marriages
 * Deaths from 1855 to the present
 * Census
 * Old Parochial Registers.

The Registrar General General Search Unit New Register House 3 West Register street Edinburgh EH1 3YT Scotland Internet: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/

The National Archives of the 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.

The National Archives Ruskin Avenue, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU England Internet: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

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.

To find a list of Scotland regional and district archives, with their web and email addresses, go to the website of the Scottish Archive Network at: http://www.scan.org.uk/

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.

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.

National Library of Scotland
This library houses manuscript material relating to Scotland, such as:


 * Historical documents
 * Family papers
 * Archives of organizations
 * A reader’s ticket is required.

National Library of Scotland Department of Manuscripts George IV Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EW Scotland Internet: http://www.nls.uk/

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: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/subjectaz/genealogy/

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 Family History Library 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 Family History Library 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 Family History Library 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 Family History Library 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.