Pandemics and major public health emergencies are very rare events in modern Scotland but they were once far more common, particularly in eras preceding modern housing and sanitation. Archivist Bruno Longmore looks at what a letter he found in our archives in the 2000s tells us about a deadly cholera outbreak in Paisley in the … Continue reading Voices From Our Archives: Pandemic in Paisley, 1832
Plastic Fantastic: Archives and Modern Materials
Plastics are a wonderful material for creating all manner of useful items but as NRS conservator Andy McFarlane explains, they can create difficult conservation challenges... Whatever image comes to mind when you hear the word “Archives”, I am pretty certain it will be of something old, pre-modern. “Modern” and “Archives” seem contradictory - they just … Continue reading Plastic Fantastic: Archives and Modern Materials
The “Radical Rising” of 1820, Part Two
In our previous article, published on 29 May, NRS archivist Simon Johnson and conservator Jackie Thorburn shared the first of two articles relating to their work to open up improved access to the trial papers of the Scottish ‘Radical Rising’ of 1820 (NRS ref. JC21). They set the papers in their historic context and focused … Continue reading The “Radical Rising” of 1820, Part Two
“Stench, Corruption and Filth”: The Leith Plague of 1645
Empty streets, self isolation, physical distancing... Not scenes from 2020 as you might expect but Leith in 1645, the year the bubonic plague ravaged the port and killed over half of its population. Scotland was no stranger to the plague. The country had suffered waves of the disease ever since the time of the Black … Continue reading “Stench, Corruption and Filth”: The Leith Plague of 1645
The “Radical Rising” of 1820, Part One
Conserving the Evidence of a Revolution NRS archivist Simon Johnson and conservator Jackie Thorburn recently collaborated on a six-month project to improve public access to the trial papers of the Scottish ‘Radical Rising’ of 1820. This facilitates our plans to mark the 200th anniversary of the Rising in September 2020. In the first of two … Continue reading The “Radical Rising” of 1820, Part One
Update: The 100-year-old mystery album…
Some time ago, NRS appealed to the public to help us identify the contents of a photograph album dating from the 1920s. We’re still on the trail of the people in the album, which was found in an Edinburgh hotel and was eventually handed in to the National Register of Archives for Scotland, but we … Continue reading Update: The 100-year-old mystery album…
75 Anniversary of VE Day – St Andrews House Memorial
Today marks the 75 anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day. The announcement that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast on 7 May 1945, and 8 May was declared a national holiday. It marked the end of nearly six years of war, the loss of millions of lives and an event which would … Continue reading 75 Anniversary of VE Day – St Andrews House Memorial
NRS #LockdownLearning
Online Learning Resources Our archives, records and statistics can tell us fascinating stories about the past and the present while offering a glimpse into the future. Although we’re unable to deliver our usual talks and workshops at present, our online resources can assist with teaching all ages, from primary and secondary pupils to college/university students … Continue reading NRS #LockdownLearning
#LockdownLearning – Preserving Your Papers
The National Register of Archives for Scotland (NRAS) was set up in 1946 to compile a record of collections of private papers in Scotland, to encourage their care and to make information about them available to researchers and others. Today, Dr Alison Rosie of NRAS provides some helpful advice on how you can preserve your … Continue reading #LockdownLearning – Preserving Your Papers
1320-2020 – 700 Years of the Declaration of Arbroath, by Dr Alan Borthwick
6 April 2020 is the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath - perhaps the most famous and important of Scotland's historic documents. Drafted in 1320, the Declaration is a powerful call for recognition of the Kingdom of Scotland's sovereign independence and it's a key treasure in the National Records of Scotland archives. The … Continue reading 1320-2020 – 700 Years of the Declaration of Arbroath, by Dr Alan Borthwick
