R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Scotland
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Introduction
     Obtaining Copies Of Publications
     Using This Outline
Scottish Search Strategies
Records At The Family History Library
The Family History Library Catalog
     Records Selection Table: Scotland
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Directories
Church History
Church Records
     Nonconformist Church Records
Civil Registration
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Civil Registers
     Finding Civil Registration Records
     Indexes To Civil Registration Records
Court Records
     Types Of Courts
     Finding Court Records
     For More Information
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     General Background
     Emigration From Scotland
     Records Of Scottish Emigrants In Their Destination Countries
     Immigration Into Scotland
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Heraldry
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Language And Languages
Maps
Merchant Marine
Military Records
     Army
     Navy
     Militia
     Other Branches Of The Military
     Handbooks On Military History And Military Records
Names, Personal
Newspapers
Nobility
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
     Determining The Court
     Finding Probate Records
     Indexes To Probate Records
     Difficulties In Finding A Probate Record
Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.
Schools
Societies
Taxation
Other Records For Scotland
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESLook this term up in the glossary.

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 one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about its 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 are in an archive or library, the Family History Library may have printed or microfilmed copies of them.

In Scotland, several types of repositories have records of value to the family historian.


National Archives

Scottish Record OfficeLook this term up in the glossary.. This office collects government, legal, and other records for which they are the most suitable repository. You need a reader’s ticketLook this term up in the glossary. to use its collection.

Scottish Record Office
HM General Register House
Princes Street
Edinburgh EH1 3YY
Scotland
Guides to this record office are:

Sinclair, Cecil. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestry Research in the Scottish Record Office. Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990. (FHL book 941 D27s.)

Sinclair, Cecil. Tracing Scottish Local History: A Guide to Local History Research in the Scottish Record Office. Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1994. (FHL book 941 H27s.)

The National Inventory of Documentary Sources includes other inventories and catalogs from this record office.

National Library of ScotlandLook this term up in the glossary.. This library houses manuscript material relating to Scotland, such as historical documents, family papers, and archives of organizations. A reader’s ticket is required.

National Library of Scotland
Department of Manuscripts
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Scotland
The Registrar GeneralLook this term up in the glossary.. This office contains records of births, marriages, and deaths from 1855 to the present; census; and the Old Parochial Registers.

The Registrar
General Search Unit
New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT
Scotland
The Public Record OfficeLook this term up in the glossary.. 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 Public Record Office
Ruskin Avenue, Kew
Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU
England
A guide to this repository is:

Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office. 4th. ed. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990. (FHL book 942 A5p no. 19 1990.)


University Libraries

University libraries house family papers, estate records, and other historical and genealogical material. Three main ones are:

Aberdeen University Library
Manuscripts and Archive Section
King’s College
Aberdeen AB9 2UB
Scotland
University of Edinburgh Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ
Scotland
University of Glasgow
Archives
The University
Glasgow G12 8QQ
Scotland

RegionalLook this term up in the glossary. and DistrictLook this term up in the glossary. Archives

Regional and district archives collect records about the areas that they cover. These archives may have valuable records to help you in your search for your ancestors.

The Scottish Records Association has published a brief summary (datasheet) of the holdings of regional and district archives. To find the number of the datasheet for the archive you want, see the back page of:

Scottish Records Association Conference Report. No. 15 1990. Edinburgh: Scottish Records Association, 1983-. (FHL book 941 J55s No. 15 Oct 1990.) The book call number for the datasheets is FHL book 941 J55d no. 6.

To obtain addresses for the regional and district archives, consult the following books:

Foster, Janet, and Julia Sheppard. British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. 3rd ed. New York: Stockton Press Ltd., 1995. (FHL book 942 J54f 1995.)

Libraries in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. 18th edition. London: The Library Association Publishing Limited, 1992. (FHL book 942 A5lu.)

Dunsire, Gordon, and Brian Osborne, eds. Scottish Library and Information Resources. Motherwell: Scottish Library Association, 1991. (FHL book 941 J54s.)


Public Libraries

Public libraries collect many published sources such as local histories, city directories, maps, newspapers, family histories, and 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: Pinhorns, 1986. (FHL book 942 C4h 1986.)


Special Archives

City, occupational, and ecclesiastical archives also hold family history information. The holdings and services of these places vary widely. The book, British Archives, listed under “Regional and District Archives,” gives more information about special archives.


Published InventoriesLook this term up in the glossary., CatalogsLook this term up in the glossary., and Schedules

Most archives have catalogs, inventories, guides, or 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.

The Family History Library Catalog lists many published inventories, guides, catalogs, and directories for archives and libraries under:

SCOTLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY][CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES

A microfiche collection of inventories, calendars (lists), and finding aids for British archives, libraries, and museums is the National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United Kingdom and IrelandLook this term up in the glossary.. It provides a detailed listing of the box, folder, or sometimes individual documents contained in various collections. These calendars are invaluable in helping you determine which documents may be useful to your research. The National Inventory also provides document numbers, which you can use to order copies of the documents you want.

A name and subject index to this collection is:

Index to NIDS, National Inventory of Documentary Sources. London: Chadwyck-Healey, 1986-. (FHL fiche 6341118; FHL 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 - INDEXESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS - INDEXESSCOTLAND, [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. (FHL book 942 J54f 1995.) This guide lists addresses, major records, and 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 LIBRARIESSCOTLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESSCOTLAND - [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESSCOTLAND, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES

Computer NetworksLook this term up in the glossary. and Bulletin BoardsLook this term up in the glossary.

Computers with modemsLook this term up in the glossary. can be useful tools for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. In a way, computer networks themselves serve as a library. The InternetLook this term up in the glossary., certain computer bulletin boards, and commercial on-line servicesLook this term up in the glossary. help family history researchers:

You can find computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Scotland in a variety of sources at local, state, national, and international levels. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost.

Addresses on the Internet change frequently. As of April 1997, the following sites are important gateways linking you to many more network and bulletin board sites:

•GENUKI
http://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.

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