The 1921 census for Scotland is now available to search and view on ScotlandsPeople and in ScotlandsPeople Centres. Today, National Records of Scotland archivist Tessa examines a Scottish schedule preserved in the 1921 census for England and Wales which can be viewed online at Find My Past. Background to the 1921 census A census is … Continue reading A chance survival
St. Kilda’s last census
The 1921 census has now been added to ScotlandsPeople, the NRS ancestry research website. You can use the census to explore where a person was staying, whether they were at home or staying elsewhere, what their accommodation was like, who they were with, what their occupation was and much more. Today, we're looking at what … Continue reading St. Kilda’s last census
Who Lives in Scotland?
Our statisticians Daniel, Esther and Alan are on the telly this evening, and this is why you should watch… Senior assistant statistician Daniel Burns A new two-part BBC documentary aims to answer the question: Who Lives in Scotland? by taking a dive into our data. Who lives in your street, your town, your council area … Continue reading Who Lives in Scotland?
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
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
Old Declaration, New Discovery
Dr Alan Borthwick is giving a talk today at the Declaration of Arbroath International Conference at Newbattle Abbey College. Today, Alan updates us on the most recent work with the Declaration – and demonstrates that, even after seven centuries, conservation work and research on items in our archives are still revealing new surprises… The only surviving … Continue reading Old Declaration, New Discovery
Best laid plans: why I don’t work at a desk
Today, we revisit the NRS Conservation studio with conservator Jackie Thorburn, who tells us about the unique challenges that her team deal with – including conservation of gigantic maps of Scotland and historic plans … I’ve worked in the NRS Conservation department since 1992 and am no stranger to working on maps and plans. They … Continue reading Best laid plans: why I don’t work at a desk
What’s in a name?
Trends in baby names in Scotland It’s fascinating to see how the names people choose for their babies can tell us about changes in our society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daDJ_1QMS-I In Scotland, parents have the freedom to get creative when choosing the name of their new baby. Unlike in some countries, there is no formalised list of names … Continue reading What’s in a name?
Church records – Reform, dissension and coals for the poor
National Records of Scotland recently added over one million images from the kirk session records to our ancestry research service ScotlandsPeople, now free to search and view. With over 6,000 volumes now online, these church records offer a fantastic insight into the lives of people in Scotland spanning almost 350 years. Our colleagues work with … Continue reading Church records – Reform, dissension and coals for the poor
Conservation of a Sketchbook
Detail: Ilan Dun from the Village, showing the cragsmen of St Kilda (NRS: GD41/598) Sir Thomas Dick Lauder was an administrator in manufacturing and fisheries during the 1840s, required to travel extensively around Scotland’s coasts. In his journeys, he sketched detailed scenes of the coastlines and fishing villages he visited. NRS Conservator Jackie Thorburn has … Continue reading Conservation of a Sketchbook
Open Book 