Private papers

The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) holds over 500 large collections of papers (NAS ref. GD2-GD525) and over 1400 smaller collections (NAS ref. GD1/1-GD1/1410). These range in size from the massive Seafield Collection (NAS ref. GD248) containing almost 10,000 volumes, boxes and bundles, down to the smallest GD1s, containing single letters or charters. The collections include the family and estate papers of landowners from all over Scotland, records of businesses, societies and institutions. They contain documents from every part of the world to which Scots have gone as travellers, traders, settlers, soldiers or administrators and relate to every aspect of the political, social, economic, cultural and intellectual history of Scotland since the 12th century. The records have been gifted to the nation, deposited in the NAS on long-term loan (hence the series name 'Gifts and Deposits') or purchased by the NAS.

Family papers

'Historic Manuscripts Commission (HMC) Guides to sources for British history: Principal family and estate collections' (London, 1999)

Chris Cook, 'Sources in British political history, 1900 - 1951', vols 1-6 (London, 1975-85). Volume 6 contains a guide to papers of organisations, societies and pressure groups.

J M Hartley, 'A guide to archives and manuscripts relating to Russia and the Soviet Union' (London, 1987)

N Matthews and M D Wainwright, 'A guide to manuscripts and documents in the British Isles relating to Africa' (London, 1971)

N Matthews and M D Wainwright, 'A guide to archives and manuscripts relating to the Far East' (London, 1977)

J D Pearson, 'A guide to archives and manuscripts relating to South and South East Asia', vol.2 (London, 1990)

J W Raimo, 'A guide to archives relating to America in Great Britain and Ireland' (USA, 1979)

P Walme, 'A guide to manuscripts sources for the history of Latin America and the Caribbean in the British Isles' (London, 1973)

B G Wilson and A Burdett, 'Manuscripts and government documents in the United Kingdom and Ireland relating to Canada' (Ottawa, 1992)

Anne Thurston, 'A guide to archives and manuscripts relating to Kenya and East Africa in the United Kingdom' (London, 1991)

Major collections in our holdings

Business papers

The following list gives selected collection titles and covering dates. You should consult them at our search room in General Register House. However, as many are out-housed and will need to be brought in to the search room, you should contact us in advance of your visit to avoid delays.

Sources for locating private papers

The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) online catalogue

The National Register of Archives for Scotland (NRAS) online Register

The Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) catalogue - available through the SCAN website.

National Register of Archives online index.

A persons index to correspondence in older GD collections is available in the Historical Search Room.

Details of collections GD4 to GD96 are given in 'Lists of Gifts and Deposits in the Scottish Record Office' (2 vols). Their uses for family and local history are given in 'Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry' and 'Tracing Scottish Local History' both of which are available for purchase through our publications section.

Restrictions on access

National Archives of Scotland
Crown copyright 2006