local History Research
National Records of Scotland
Local history and Family History are complementary to each other. Its all about People and Place.
Family history is more than just names and dates or a tick box exercise and move on to reach as far back as one can. To make sense of it all one needs to know the world and local events and circumstances that perhaps made our ancestors work, rest and play or move on for pastures new. Actions are created by events and are inseparable. To tell our Scottish Ancestral Story we need more than just names and dates. Local History Research is the answer.
Scotland was the first country to establish a national system of registration for land and property 700 years ago. From the humble croft to the stately castle there is usually some record of its existence. Of course only a few could afford to actually own it. Useful resources are:
Sasine Registers
Census Returns
Valuation Rolls
Maps and Plans
Street Directories
Postcards and photographs
Ordnance Survey Name Books
Historic Environment Scotland
Registers of Scotland
Newspapers
Monumental Inscriptions
Statistical Accounts
National Library of Scotland
“Who possesses the landscape?
The man who bought it or
I who am possessed by it?
False questions, for
this landscape is
masterless
and intractable in any terms
that are human.”
Where are these records to be found? Well the main hub is the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh but there are other archives spread throughout the country serving their immediate area. Also the National Library of Scotland and Mitchell Library in Glasgow, hold a huge range of material.
Don’t overlook university collections, Health Boards, Police etc. The list is endless
I can carry out research either on a specific person or place. If locations are too far away, I can usually recommend someone local or point you in the right direction for more assistance.
The marketing slogan for Glasgow was ‘People Make Glasgow’ and people and the place certainly make Scotland.