The Register

The National Register of Archives for Scotland (NRAS) was established by the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) in 1946 to compile a record of papers of historical significance in private hands in Scotland. The principal aims of the NRAS are to locate such papers and to encourage their care so that their loss and destruction may be avoided. The Register now contains over 4,100 surveys of private papers including the records of landed estates, private individuals, businesses, law firms and societies. Please note:

• Copies of all the surveys available on the Register can be consulted in the National Archives of Scotland
• Surveys can also be searched on the online Register, though not all of the surveys are available electronically
• The NRAS does not hold any of the records listed in its surveys
  

What does the NRAS online Register contain?

Many owners are unable to deal with a large volume of enquiries and for this reason have asked us to restrict enquiries to non genealogical searches. Where this applies, the survey has been marked accordingly.

Which surveys are not available online?

Search the online Register

What should I do once I have identified items I would like to consult?