For Scottish history, the library and archive
facilities in Edinburgh are unrivalled. This
section contains information about our facilities
and our current and recent research projects.
The University of Edinburgh itself has
the largest university
library in Scotland, with many important
holdings of Scottish material, both printed
and manuscript. Scottish History has a research library in our new accommodation,
a popular and accessible place to find the
major primary and secondary sources on Scottish
history.
Edinburgh also possesses two unique and
vital research institutions. The National
Library of Scotland is a copyright library
containing all books and periodicals published
in the UK and many from overseas. It has
a Manuscripts Department with a large collection
of manuscripts from all periods of Scottish
history. The National
Archives of Scotland is the single largest
depository for Scottish historical records;
it holds the national records of Scottish
government from medieval times to the present
day, and many local, church and private
papers are also held there.
Edinburgh contains many specialised archives,
libraries and other institutions for the
study of Scottish history. Examples include
the archives of the Bank of Scotland, the
Church of Scotland, or the Royal College
of Surgeons. The Royal
Commission on the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) holds
the National Monuments Record of Scotland,
an important resource for the history of
Scotland’s buildings. The collections
of the National
Museum of Scotland are important for
other aspects of material culture. Edinburgh
City Library has a Scottish
Library and an Edinburgh
Room with important holdings.
Next: Research projects
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