National Records of Scotland holds a wealth of military records from many conflicts dating back to the start of the seventeenth century. As these records sometimes reach us in a disorganised state, our archivists catalogue them to make them more accessible to the public. We recently began a project to catalogue First World War Pensions … Continue reading Home From The Front
Records & Responsibilities
In December, the Keeper of the Records of Scotland (the Keeper) agreed the Records Management Plan (RMP) of Food Standards Scotland. This was the 207th RMP to be agreed by the Keeper but more significantly, it was the first RMP agreed for an authority which didn’t appear on the original Schedule of the Public Records … Continue reading Records & Responsibilities
Life expectancy in Scottish areas
How does where you live affect your lifespan? In September, NRS published life expectancy estimates which showed that a boy born in Scotland in 2014-2016 could expect to live until he was 77 years old and a girl could expect to live until she was 81 years old. Today NRS publish life expectancy in Scottish … Continue reading Life expectancy in Scottish areas
Annual Population Survey – Estimates
How many non-British nationals are living in Scotland, and how has that changed in the year since the EU Referendum? Today, National Records of Scotland released updated population estimates by country of birth and nationality from the Annual Population Survey (APS). These statistics provide information on the number of people living in Scotland and allow … Continue reading Annual Population Survey – Estimates
Voices from our Archives – Ewart Alan Mackintosh (1893 – 1917)
Image: Wikimedia Commons Today marks the centenary of the death on 21 November 1917 of the Scottish soldier poet Lieutenant Ewart Alan Mackintosh MC in the Battle of Cambrai. His death is listed in ScotlandsPeople, among the Minor Records (a copy of the volume ‘Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919’, HMSO, 1919). Mackintosh was … Continue reading Voices from our Archives – Ewart Alan Mackintosh (1893 – 1917)
An Archival Anniversary
At National Records of Scotland, we're fortunate to have many experienced and long-serving members of staff but none can equal the record set by Dr Athol Murray. Dr Murray started working at what was then the Scottish Record Office in November 1953, at the age of 23. He still works with us now, albeit one … Continue reading An Archival Anniversary
Voices From Our Archives – John Maclean (1879-1923)
November 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917. The revolution shocked the great powers of the day and inspired supporters around the world, including in Scotland. Their stories, like those of millions of people from Scotland’s past, can be found within the NRS archives. John Maclean (1879-1923) was a … Continue reading Voices From Our Archives – John Maclean (1879-1923)
Conservation for the Nation
"The fundamental role of the conservator-restorer is the preservation of cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations..."* I remember very vividly John L. Sharpe, a rare book historian and conservator, teaching a class at my conservation course in Italy and describing conservation as a triangle with History, Science and Craft at each … Continue reading Conservation for the Nation
Scottish Handwriting 1500-1700
Calling all budding palaeographers! Students wanted for evening short course at National Records of Scotland Archival records are amazing. They document the lives of our ancestors, allow us to peer into past societies and record the events - big and small - that shaped our country into what it is today. Reading old records, particularly … Continue reading Scottish Handwriting 1500-1700
Wrapping Up Scotland’s Archives
In 2013, the Scottish Council on Archives launched a three-year traineeship scheme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future programme. The Opening Up Scotland’s Archives scheme was created to provide opportunities for individuals to gain experience working in archives, in addition to the more traditional degree and post-graduate qualification route. At the … Continue reading Wrapping Up Scotland’s Archives
Open Book 