“O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,wie treu sind deine Blätter!Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.” - Opening lines to Ernst Anschütz's 1824 version of the German song ‘O Tannenbaum’ (O Christmas Tree, or ‘O Fir Tree’), variations of which go back to at least the 16th century. Prince Albert, the consort … Continue reading ‘O Tannenbaum’: The root of a Christmas tradition
Archives Online – Maps and Plans
RHP7041 – Architectural drawing of Dalkeith Parish Church, 1848, W Burn and D Bryce, architects. ScotlandsPeople is our ancestry research service and Scotland's leading website for genealogical research. In addition to records of births, deaths and marriages in Scotland going back centuries, you can also find many more record sets from the National Records of … Continue reading Archives Online – Maps and Plans
The Declaration of Arbroath: HES and NRS education resources
The Declaration of Arbroath "As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with … Continue reading The Declaration of Arbroath: HES and NRS education resources
A Tumult in the City
Following the 'Glorious' or 'Bloodless' Revolution of 1689 , when William of Orange was crowned King of England and Scotland and displaced James VII and II , in Scotland, there was still resistance from the people. As fighting continued to break out, people were arrested and imprisoned for petty crimes, such as not praying for … Continue reading A Tumult in the City
Doors Open Days 2021
The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is taking part in Doors Open Days (DOD) again this year, on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September. The aim of DOD is to give everyone the opportunity to explore some of the most architecturally and culturally significant buildings in Scotland, places which are not usually open to the … Continue reading Doors Open Days 2021
250 Years On: Sir Walter Scott and Register House
On Sunday 15th August 2021 we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s most famous poets and novelists. Although a record of his birth is not preserved in the National Records of Scotland (NRS), there is a wealth of material linking him to Register House in Edinburgh (or … Continue reading 250 Years On: Sir Walter Scott and Register House
Ancestry Research: Lightbulb Moments and False Trails
A chance discovery last year, in one of our registers inspired NRS Registration casework officer Rachael Lloyd to investigate the life of Malvina Wells – born into slavery in Grenada, and later making a life for herself in Edinburgh in the 1800s. Little did Rachael know that while she was researching her article Frances Macdonald, … Continue reading Ancestry Research: Lightbulb Moments and False Trails
Objects, Archives and Diseased Potato Tubers
When we think of archives, the first thing that comes to mind is books, paper, plans and maybe photographs or film. Objects are not the first thing that we think of, but the National Records of Scotland has gained a number of objects over the years, from knives that have been involved in murders, to a … Continue reading Objects, Archives and Diseased Potato Tubers
Ethel Moorhead – ‘Scottish Leader of the Suffragettes’
National Records of Scotland (NRS) holds a wealth of records about suffragette activities in Scotland, including their prosecution, imprisonment, newspaper reports and cases of force-feeding. In 2018 we celebrated the centenary of some women gaining the parliamentary vote with the exhibition 'Malicious Mischief? Women's Suffrage in Scotland'. As part of the exhibition, a mini-website was … Continue reading Ethel Moorhead – ‘Scottish Leader of the Suffragettes’
PRSA Surgeries Move Online
The PRSA team are part of the Records and Archives Engagement Branch at National Records of Scotland, responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Public Records Scotland Act (2011) (PRSA). The Act requires named Scottish public authorities to submit a Records Management Plan (RMP) for the Keeper’s agreement, which must then be implemented and regularly … Continue reading PRSA Surgeries Move Online
Open Book 