Archives For Beginners

8th February 2011

People in the Highlands with an interest in the history of the area can now take advantage of drop-in sessions being provided by The Highland Council Archive Service in Inverness.

Starting this week, from 9 February on Wednesday afternoons between 3 and 7pm at the Highland Archive & Registration Centre, staff will be available to explain how the Archive Service works and to provide an introduction to the extent of the information held on the history of the Highlands.

These new sessions are aimed at adults who would like to develop new or take further existing interests in Highland history.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "This is a great opportunity for people who are interested in the past to learn how to use the Highland archive service. With staff at hand to show them the ropes, there's a huge wealth of fascinating information readily available."

Highland Council's Archive Service has a vast collection of information freely accessible to the public including documents dating from the fifteenth century to the present day. These include: local authority archives; school and education records; poor relief records; valuation rolls; estate and family archives; business and solicitors records; records of societies and associations; maps and plans, including full set of 2nd edition Ordnance Survey sheets, c.1899-1905; Sasine registers; will registers; harbour and turnpike trusts; shipping registers; and the Tartan Archive.

The majority of the archives can be consulted in the public search room for a wide variety of purposes, including local and family history.

Anyone interested in booking a place at the drop-in sessions can contact: Highland Archive and Registration Centre, Bught Road, Inverness on tel 01463 256444 or e-mail: archives[AT]highland.gov.uk.

Information on The Highland Council Archive Service, and Highland Archive and Registration Centre is also on the council's website at: www.highland.gov.uk/archives