Local Archives

Scotland has a long history of preserving both the country’s history and the nation’s memory. Scotland was the first to place searchable, digitized records online and make them available for the Diaspora worldwide who were in search of their Scottish roots.

Most of us are aware of the more commonplace repositories, but few are aware of the treasure trove of information available within local archives or university archives. Here is a listing of some of the more local archives. This is not a compete sampling. Not all of the archives have digitized collections available online, so you may need to contact them via e-mail or traditional mail. All of the sites where a web address has been provided have contact information on them. 

Highland Archives: http://www.highlandarchives.org.uk/family-history-resources.asp

Located in Inverness, the Highland Archives have the following records in their holdings: 

      School records

      Records of poor relief

      Valuation rolls

      Church record

      Family and estate papers

      Records of Clan Societies

      The Tartan Archive (a collection of records relating to the history of tartan)

      Large scale Ordnance Survey maps dating from the 1860s".

 

Glasgow Archives: http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/the-mitchell-library/archives/collections/archives-for-family-history/Pages/default.aspx 

Located on the second floor of the Mitchell Library, the Glasgow archives have the following holdings:

      Poor Law Records

      School Records

      Police Records

      Sasine Registers

      Valuation Rolls

      Voters Rolls

      Burgess Rolls

Edinburgh City Archives: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cityarchives

Located in the City Chambers, the Edinburgh City Archives hold: 

      School Records

      Poor Board Records

      Records of Edinburgh Brewers Friendly Society

      Burgh Court Records

      Poll Tax Records

      Burgh Records (committees etc)

      Ex-Councillor Records 

Stirling Archives: http://www.stirling.gov.uk/archives

The Stirling Archives have the following records in their holdings: 

      School Records

      Council Records

      Justice of the Peace Records

      Church Records

      Customs and Excise Records

      Sasine Registers

      Newspapers 

Aberdeen Archives: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/education_learning/local_history/archives/loc_archiveshomepage.asp

Aberdeen Archives have records for: 

      Burgh Records

      County Records

      Poor Relief Records

      School Records

      Militia Records

      Baptism Records

      Tax Records

 Scottish Borders Archives: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/476/local_history_heritage_and_museums/32/heritage_hub

Located in Hawick, the Scottish Borders Archives has a collection unique to the Borders Region. This includes:

      School log books

      Poor relief registers

      Police records

      Local business records including the textile, fishing and farming industries

      Land records

      Kirk Session records

      Censuses

      Old parish records

      Monumental inscriptions  

Fife Council Archives:

Located in Markinch, the Fife Council Archives contain:

      Commissioners of Supply minute books

      Statute Labour Road Trustees and Turnpike Trustees records

      Poor Board Records

      School Records

      School log books

      Some School Admissions Registers

      Police Records

      Electoral Registers

      Records of several hospitals in Fife

      Burial records

      Records of the Fife County Nursing Association

Many Ayrshire Archives can be found at the Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock http://www.burnsmonumentcentre.co.uk/

These include: 

      Census Returns

      Old Parish Registers

      Registers of Births, Marriages, Deaths, Divorces, Corrected Entries

      Wills and Testaments

      Poor relief records

      Council records

      Burial records

      Monumental inscriptions

      Ayrshire newspapers