It's International Archives Day! Who Knew?

For anyone traveling to an archival repository, the most important part of their research experience is not just the interaction with the archival documents, but their interaction with the Archivists themselves. The Archivists provide the road map to the archives and the records contained within. It is the Archivist who helps the researcher truly understand the information that can be gleaned from the records. The Archivist can put the documents into perspective. The Archivist can help the researcher know where to look next. And it is the Archivist’s enthusiasm and passion for what they do that puts the passion and enthusiasm into the researcher himself. It sparks the learning, and quells the yearning. Next time you are researching and seeking assistance, be sure to thank the archivist!

 

1895 Valuation Rolls Now Available on ScotlandsPeople

ScotlandsPeople has added the 1895 Valuation Rolls to its website. The Valuation Rolls contain the names of owners and occupiers of every property with a rateable value.

The Valuation Rolls are a great way to track your ancestors between census periods:

1881 census, 1895 VR, 1891 Census, 1895 VR, 1901 Census, 1905 VR, 1911 census, 1915 VR

Here is the link:

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=2206

Mapping Your Genealogy

If you have thought about printing out maps and putting push pins or sticker dots to represent all of the places your ancestors inhabited, save yourself the work and visit Ancestral Atlas:

http://www.ancestralatlas.com/ancestral-atlas-genealogy-mapping-network.php

This website is free to use. You simply upload your Gedcom file and the website takes over from there, plotting your ancestors onto maps. Little bubble-pins appear to show you who lived in that location and what events took place there.

Give it a try, but not until you have LOTS of time to lose yourself in the fun of mapping your genealogy!

Addressing History

This website takes old postal directory addresses and super-imposes them on both old and current maps. The listings also list address and occupation if known:

http://addressinghistory.edina.ac.uk/

Transporting of British Convicts Abolished

On May 22, 1840, the transporting of British convicts to the New South Wales colony was abolished. Do you have convict ancestors? Here are some databases that may be worth a look: 

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/family-history/info-guides/convicts 

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm

Tracing Your Scottish Rural Ancestors

If you have ancestors who owned or worked on farms here are a couple of databases you may wish to check out. The information you are seeking may not be online, but you can certainly send a query to the archivist for each database.

ROYAL HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND

http://www.scottishrecordsassociation.org/summaries_004.htm 

This database holds History and Accounts for the Society as well as information pertaining to their Shows & Competitions. Additionally, they have records for:

~St Kilda

~Agricultural Statistics

and what they classify as Miscellany:

~Aberdeenshire quarries, manuscript accounts by James Blaikie; 

~Descriptions, memoirs and reports of coalfields;

~Argyll Naval fund accounts and applications;

~Scottish Agricultural Committee for Relief of the Allies letter;

~Scottish Red Cross Agriculture Fund papers  

 

SCOTLAND'S RURAL PAST

http://www.scotlandsruralpast.org.uk/ 

This database is looking to compile information about the "vanishing settlements and landscapes" that once dotted the country.

 

RNIB Archives Collection Makes its Home at LHSA

The Lothian Health Services Archives have added the records of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to their collections, held at the University of Edinburgh. 

The RNIB started as a charity known as the Edinburgh Society for Promoting Reading Amongst The Blind on Moon's System (a braille-like reading system). The Edinburgh Society helped blind persons who were not living in institutions. The RNIB archives shows that many relied on additional income from various activities such as hawking, knitting, selling tea, housekeeping or music. 

The archive collection consists of annual reports and conference reports covering more than 130 years. The aim of the LHSA is to make this collection available to researchers. 

The Lothian Health Services Archives can be found at: http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/