Tips on searching

Searching for archival material can be fun and extremely rewarding.  However, it can also be frustrating so patience and time are absolute necessities.  Just because you can’t find what you are looking for quickly or easily, doesn’t mean that relevant archives don’t exist.  It may be that they haven’t been catalogued electronically or they are in collections that have not yet been uploaded to Your Scottish Archives.  

 

Archival descriptions are created by professionals and, in some case volunteers, working in different kinds of organisations, including local authorities, universities, schools, businesses and community organisations.  Although there are recognised standards there will be variations in terms of format, style, and level of description. 

 

Descriptions are created by individuals working within archive repositories across the country. There are recognised standards that are used but inevitably there will be variation in style, format and level of detail. 

 

If you are new to searching for archives then visit our ‘Discover Archives’ section.