149 years after the birth of entertainer Sir Harry Lauder, NRS archivist Veronica Schreuder investigates his "Million Pound Fund", established to help soldiers returning from the battlefields of the First World War... Sir Harry Lauder was the highest paid artist in variety theatre during the First World War, and the enthusiastic driving force behind ‘The … Continue reading The Harry Lauder Million Pound Fund
Exhibition: Prisoners or Patients?
A new free exhibition by National Records of Scotland (NRS) reveals the hidden histories of prisoner-patients of the Victorian era. Opening 1 August, Prisoners or Patients? Criminal Insanity in Victorian Scotland uses never before displayed records and photographs to reveal tragic stories of crime, treatment, recovery and release. Guest curator Professor Rab Houston of the … Continue reading Exhibition: Prisoners or Patients?
A Grand Day Out
A snap of a visit to Edinburgh records the beginning of a long transformation that changed an entire profession... This seemingly innocuous photograph captures a moment in the long transformation of the once all-male world of the Scottish registrars, a profession now staffed predominantly by women. It captures a visit to New Register House in Edinburgh by members … Continue reading A Grand Day Out
Why is life expectancy stalling in Scotland?
National Records of Scotland has recorded life expectancy for people in Scotland since 1980-1982, life expectancy is always calculated for three years to reduce the effect of unusual years. For the three decades that followed, life expectancy has increased, meaning that people in Scotland live longer than at any other time in history. However, over … Continue reading Why is life expectancy stalling in Scotland?
Scotland’s population at a record high
Today we published Scotland’s latest population estimates, one of our key statistical publications at NRS. We ask Beth Watson, Assistant Statistician, why these stats are so important and what they tell us about Scotland’s population. Beth Watson, Assistant Statistician at National Records of Scotland How are the stats used? “It’s so important to have high … Continue reading Scotland’s population at a record high
Baby Names – how do we do it?
NRS released the lists of all babies’ first names registered in Scotland in 2018 this morning. We told you that Olivia and Jack headed up the lists for 2018, but how do we know this? How did we compile all this information? A lot of things have to happen behind the scenes before we can … Continue reading Baby Names – how do we do it?
Scotland and Women’s Suffrage
Women’s suffrage was the pursuit of the right for women to vote in political elections. Pursued by both women and men, it was a long and arduous campaign that lasted 86 years before the Representation of the People Act came into force on 6 February 1918 and gave, some, women the right to vote. Some … Continue reading Scotland and Women’s Suffrage
Register House and New Edinburgh
Enthusiasts for the Georgian first New Town of Edinburgh sometimes called it New Edinburgh. Anyone who called it this knew that Register House was its most important building, as it remains today. As the home to our country’s archival history, this building plays an important role in celebrating the Scottish Enlightenment for both citizens and … Continue reading Register House and New Edinburgh
From the NRS Archives: The Douglas Cause
Heir Hunters, 18th century style 250 years ago today, Britain was gripped by a scandalous court case that divided the nation. On one side: those who supported Archibald Douglas as the legal heir to his uncle, the Duke of Douglas. Ranged against them, those supporting the rival claim of the Duke of Hamilton, who believed … Continue reading From the NRS Archives: The Douglas Cause
Voices From Our Archives: The George Square Riot, 1919
“Suddenly, without warning, police made a savage, totally unexpected assault on the rear of the meeting, smashing right and left with their batons…” Willie Gallacher, Revolt on the Clyde, 1936 Recently-opened papers in the National Records of Scotland archive reveal the inside story of the George Square Riot of 1919 – a violent and shocking … Continue reading Voices From Our Archives: The George Square Riot, 1919
