Highland Archive Service
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Reason for Nomination
The Highland Archive Service (HAS) is dedicated to collecting, conserving, and making accessible records that reflect the history and diversity of the Scottish Highlands and its inhabitants for the benefit of both present and future generations. Since our establishment in 1990, we have grown to include several archive centres across the region, each offering welcoming and inclusive search rooms. Our mission is to promote the use of our collections to inform local decision-making, strengthen community and cultural identity, and enhance wellbeing through the study and enjoyment of history.
We strive to make our collections widely accessible through both physical and digital channels. Our purpose-built facilities in Inverness, Fort William, Portree and Wick all separately provide state-of-the-art environments for preserving and displaying our archives. Additionally, our active community engagement programme enhances opportunities in culture, learning, leisure, health, and wellbeing. We work closely with local schools, community groups, and through initiatives like our Learn with Lorna series and the Am Baile digital heritage website, we reach audiences worldwide.
History of the Service
HAS was established in 1990 by the Highland Regional Council with the appointment of a professionally qualified Archivist based in Inverness. The collections held covered the historic counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness-shire, and Nairnshire. In 1992 a public searchroom opened at Inverness Library and in 2009 HAS relocated to a £10.5 million purpose-built archive facility including conservation studio, supported by The Highland Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
In 1995 the Caithness Archives was opened in Wick Library and in 2017 Caithness Archives relocated to Nucleus and became part of Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives which also houses the national archive of the British Civil Nuclear Industry. HAS is responsible for the operation of the public searchroom and supports the community engagement programme.
Lochaber Archives was established in 2007 at the West Highland College, Fort William and in 2018 it relocated to a purpose-built strongroom and searchroom in Alexander Ross House, Fort William.
Skye and Lochalsh Archives was established in 2009 in the Elgin Hostel, which is part of Portree High School Community Campus in Portree.
In 2011 HAS became part of High Life Highland, a charity formed and registered in Scotland by The Highland Council to develop and promote opportunities in culture, learning, sport, leisure, health, and wellbeing across nine services throughout the whole of the Highlands, for both residents and visitors.
In May 2022 HAS was awarded Archive Service Accreditation. The assessors acknowledged the strong relationship between the service and our parent organisation as well as praising our wide-ranging outreach programme and our community engagement throughout the Highlands. In particular, they commended our innovative solutions to meeting local recruitment challenges in rural areas.
Staffing
HAS has professionally qualified staff including 8 Archivists, 2 Conservators and a Records Manager. Additional para-professional posts include Archive Assistants (9 across the service as a whole), a Community Engagement Officer (with responsibility for overseeing our varied engagement programme across the service), a Family Historian and an Am Baile Co-ordinator post.
In addition, as part of a “grow our own” model and acknowledging issues with recruitment associated with the remote geography of the Highlands; we have an established Trainee Archivist model, which includes funding the postholder through the Archives and Records Management distance learning course delivered by the University of Dundee. These posts are tenable for a maximum period of four years, with the Trainee achieving a qualification during that period and thereafter moving into a qualified Archivist role. To date we have successfully deployed this model at all of our archive centres, with our Lochaber Archivist being the most recently qualified, in April 2024. We also offer a 4-year Trainee Records Officer post and a 4-year Trainee Digital Archivist which also include funding for the same course, with a focus on RM and digital preservation subjects respectively. Our Trainees receive support with their studies from our Senior Archivist and Records Manager who act as mentors, and regularly meet with the trainees throughout their studies.
Para-professional staff are supported through in-house training, and any relevant training courses as identified via the HLH appraisal system. In recent years this has included supporting staff with funding to undertake archives modules available through the University of Dundee as well as supporting access to other sector training opportunities as they arise.
Collections
In line with HAS’s Collection Development Plan recent accessions across the centres have included records relating to sport, from football and rugby to shinty and curling. In 2023/24 the service took in 266 new accessions across the service from a wide variety of organisations and individuals, all with a Highland connection. The accession types are also varied from paper and parchment, to photographs and maps and plans. In addition, we accessioned oral history recordings as part of Our Story: closing the queer history gap in the Highlands Project with cross generational interviews with participants from the LGBTQ+ community. As part of the Scottish Council on Archives Voices: The Community Story Project we worked with colleagues in Adult Learning to conducted oral history interviews with Syrian refugees who has settled in the Highlands. Their appreciation was summed up by one of the participants ‘ … of course I want to share my story with the Archives. As I write these words, I feel that someone cares about me’ https://www.scottisharchives.org.uk/community-archives/voices/#1657718471435-2b39c814-ef00
In 2021 HAS created a dedicated Digital Archivist post to focus on the management and preservation of digital records; both those which are born digital and those which have been digitised. To date an audit of our current digital holdings has been carried out, and over 32,000 legacy files have been identified for permanent preservation with the process of identification ongoing. The recent acquisition of a proprietary digital preservation software system will greatly enhance the ability to achieve the long-term preservation of these digital files.
Records Management
HAS provides an operational records management service to The Highland Council and last year records management retrieved almost 2000 files across all centres as well as answering queries and accessioning 811 boxes of semi-current council records. The service carries out information audits across all record centres, support The Highland Council in the preparation and delivery of their Records Management Plan as well as supporting the council elections team during all local, Scottish and UK parliamentary elections.
A customer survey was recently conducted with our council records management customers who access the service and an average of 4.72 out of 5 rating was achieved.
Feedback - ‘I don't have enough good things to say about records management - the staff in particular are just excellent - they do an excellent job, keep you informed and are so helpful. They are an asset to HLH and the Council.’
‘Very professional and helpful. Nothing too much bother for the team. A perfect example of how services should be run’.
Conservation
The HAS Conservation service was established in 2009 when a purpose-built conservation studio was opened at Highland Archive Centre. The service strives to stay current and continues to innovate while delivering a wide range of conservation activities, from full collection projects to individual item repairs, as well as offering a wide range of training and advice.
The Senior Conservator further contributes to the wider sector through his work as an instructor on the Archives and Records Association (ARA) Conservation course and delivers training as part of both the Introduction module as well as the Maps and Plans module.
The Conservation service has a wide portfolio of external clients including archives, museums, universities, cultural organisations, estates, distilleries, and private individuals throughout the Highlands and beyond. The service provides a steady income stream through external projects including conservation of paper and parchment, maps and volumes, delivery of training, condition surveys and building assessments, including the support of grant funding applications to support of the wider heritage community.
Education and Outreach Programmes
HAS actively engages with local communities and schools across the region with colleagues from all centres supported by our dedicated Community Engagement Officer. By involving our communities in hands-on learning experiences, we seek to ensure that historical knowledge is made accessible and effectively transferred to younger generations. This approach not only educates but also fosters an appreciation for local heritage.
Supporting and working with communities – examples
Staff across all centres regularly participate in community events including Highland Games, Clan Gatherings and County Shows as well as delivering Archive Open Afternoons, inviting the public to explore historical records on a regular basis. These activities foster community involvement, lead to new deposits and increased public interest in archives.
Caithness Archives (Nucleus) regularly delivers reminiscence sessions across Caithness, with monthly visits to care homes. The sessions (delivered on average to 20 residents per session) involve sharing reproductions of photographs and records from the archive collections on a variety of topics with lots of engagement from the residents.
Recent feedback - “One lady got really involved in sharing her memories of living in Thurso with the rest of the group. Chatting with the Activities Coordinator after the presentation, she mentioned that the lady never normally speaks so she was delighted she was so engaged. As I left, the lady was chatting away animatedly with the lady beside her, telling her stories the presentation had sparked in her memory”.
Across all centres we have a total of 18 regular volunteers who support us with tasks ranging from box listing, cleaning, repackaging, adding additional detail to captions, cleaning up images for images which will be published digitally and translating captions into Gaelic. HAS offers a wide range of volunteer placements and works with Skills Development Scotland and other organisations to give opportunities to those with autism and other disabilities experience of working in an archive setting.
In 2023/24 our volunteers provided us with 1284 hours of their time and support to improve our collections. A selection of our volunteers shared their experience of working with the archives here,
https://www.highlifehighland.com/highland-archive-centre/our-volunteers/
Working with hard-to-reach communities - example
Fife College Learning Centre Partnership: delivering workshops at HMP Inverness
HAS Community Engagement Officer has an established relationship with the college delivering workshops on topics including war and combat, the history of mental health care and the Highland Connections to the Caribbean, which were all subjects requested by the prisoners.
In March 2024 Community Engagement Officer delivered a webinar to Archives & Records Association UK professionals to showcase HAS 6-year partnership with Fife College bringing archive material to learners in HMP Inverness, and the impact this partnership has had on prison learners. Positive outcomes include pursuing qualifications and feeling they were able to engage with history in a way they hadn't been able to at school.
HAS actively seeks to work with groups and individuals with a restriction, self-perceived restriction, or access requirement which could prevent them from engaging with archives. We have successfully engaged ESOL learners with a language barrier and those living with dementia who might feel isolated/excluded. We work alongside experts who routinely support these groups and learn from their knowledge about the best ways to adapt our offering to meet their needs.
Working with Schools - examples
Bicentenary of Central Primary School
HAS supported Inverness-based Central Primary school, in collaboration with Eden Court Theatre, Inverness and The Highland Council, to deliver a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the school which was opened on 13th August 1821. Amongst other things the project gathered oral histories, created a timeline of school events, and delivered a series of workshops with pupils across all parts of the school from p1-p7. The pupils also went on a behind-the-scenes of the archive centre including visiting repositories and the conservation studio, learning about the collections we care for and the way we store and repair them.
Mr Monteith quote about the visit –
“It was fascinating to see behind the scenes at the Archive Centre. The documents and pictures really brought the history of our school to life for the children! It was great to hear the children discussing what goes on at the Archive Centre – we may have some archivists in the making!”
Two pupil quotes when asked what they had enjoyed about the visit –
“I liked to learn about history, and I liked the handles for the bookshelves”.
“Everything!!!!!!!!!! Especially answering the ‘what kind of documents do we have’ question and learning about the hangman!”
HAS have long-established working relationships with several secondary schools in the Highland area. At Highland Archive Centre, one of the most notable of these is our work with Millburn Academy, Inverness with 200 pupils in s2 studying English and History visiting Highland Archive Centre, to study a different theme each year.
Our Community Engagement Officer delivers a lecture at the school about the relevant theme and then the students visit the Archive Centre in groups to look at original archive material, take notes, and go on a behind-the-scenes tour. The students then produce a piece of factual or creative writing inspired by the archives. Archives can provide immense inspiration for young people, giving them empathy and awareness of different life experiences, an outlet to talk about difficult subjects and an understanding of the area they call home.
Pupil comments;
'Wish I could stay longer’.
''It was awesome’.
'Coming back in my free time'
'It has encouraged me to take history.'
Teacher comments;
'Thank you to all Archive Centre staff involved in this wonderful project. '
'Over the past few years our S2 English pupils have benefitted greatly from the stimulus for writing provided by source material held at the Archive Centre. '
'We really value our partnership with Highland Archive Centre, and it is clear to see the impact the sources have on pupils' writing and on the conversations, they've been having back at school and doubtlessly at home too.'
Guthan na Tire Project – working with Portree High School and local communities.
This programme involved volunteers from Portree High School’s Gaelic department and the local community with participants received training in oral history techniques, including interviewing skills and historical research into archive collections, focusing on local traditions and stories.
By equipping communities with the skills to document their own collection of diverse oral histories we are both enhancing the richness of archival holdings and supporting the documentation of contemporary cultural narratives.
During summer holidays, the service collaborates with High Life Highland’s Schools Out Programme, working with colleagues in museums, libraries, and the rangers service to deliver popular heritage learning activities as part of a wider interactive day. Examples of activities include making personal archive boxes, creating Jacobite cyphers, and investigating dragons and monsters in archival records.
Angus Og Project - Tir nan Og innovative after school graphic arts club.
This project developed and supported the creative talents of young people through a series of workshops where the group discussed and explores the Angus Og collection of cartoons; encouraging them to select the issues that they felt most relevant to themselves and their communities.
Tir nan Og was designed in response to a report highlighting mental health and wellbeing in rural communities outlining that ‘living in rural and remote areas can create distinct challenges for children’s mental health. Poor transport infrastructure, fewer local choices, alienation and isolation, poor digital connectivity, and a lack of opportunities to socialise with peers outside of school can all have an impact on children and their wellbeing.’ This project has worked closely with local support services to encourage young people to discuss and explore the collection. The group have responded to these through drawing, comic creation, storytelling, film, podcast, or animation inspired by the original cartoon format. The creative output from this project raises awareness of current local issues through a linked exhibition and online showreel to raise awareness of local issues and how to access local mental health support networks.
Exhibitions
Not all our archive centres have a dedicated exhibition space, but those which do, Skye and Lochalsh and Nucleus; The Nuclear and Caithness Archives have a well-established programme of exhibitions throughout the year. Here are recent two examples.
The Wick Society Exhibition – December 2023 – January 2024 (Nucleus Archives)
Wick Society Collection exhibition launched to celebrate the completion of the cataloguing of the collection by the Caithness archive team at the end of 2023. The Collection which dates from 1476 to the start of the twenty-first century it is fascinating in its historical richness, and is an eclectic mix of events, people, and places from Wick and wider Caithness area. The herring boom and the role of Wick within the fishing industry is prevalent, both directly and indirectly, throughout the collection. The Societies’ entrenchment within the county’s communities and involvement with local initiatives is also heavily reflected in the volume of material associated with societies, clubs, and other social and cultural events The exhibition was accompanied by a series of well attended monthly evening talks delivered by the Wick Society between January- April 2024.
Angus Og: Out of the Archives – November 2023-May 2024 (Skye and Lochalsh Archives)
Launched in November 2023, this exhibition features original ‘Angus Og’ cartoons by the well-known Scottish cartoonist Ewan Bain. It includes thematic displays that explore aspects of Scottish life and culture, with interactive elements for visitors.
This exhibition was preceded by a touring element which featured creative workshops and discussions about the Angus Og collection. Supported by funding from the National Island Plan (Scottish Government) and supplemented by Ward Discretionary Funding (The Highland Council) the exhibition successfully toured 19 different venues. The costs associated with the touring element were directly reinvested in local communities and enabled broader community interaction and participation.
Classes
The HAS offers a wide range of classes including Archives for Beginners, Family History for Beginners and Advanced Family History classes. These are delivered both in-person at the Highland Archive Centre and online, allowing participants from around the world to take part. The format comprises different themes each week eg education, poor relief, statutory entries, census with the in-person classes enabling participants to view and research original archive material.
Digital Engagement
Learn with Lorna
The educational films, Learn with Lorna, which put a spotlight on the Highlands and its rich written heritage, have attracted attention from around the globe with viewers regularly tuning in from the USA, Germany, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Holland and New Zealand. The series broadcasts on all four of the HAS Facebook pages, at 11am on Thursdays with recordings subsequently made available on the High Life Highland YouTube channel. Each week, HAS Community Engagement Officer Lorna Steele-McGinn, delivers a talk on a particular archive topic, supported by colleagues from across the service who compile research which is then pulled together into an informal and informative 30 minute presentation.
The idea of a weekly live talk came at the start of lockdown in April 2020, when archive centres were closed, and with HAS trying to find new ways to engage. The series struck a chord with interested followers and went from strength to strength. Key to its success is working with historic documents, uncovering stories, and connecting people to the Highlands’ past and the format has proved the widespread interest in the Highlands’ unique and captivating written history and the endless love people have for a good story.
The series has covered a huge range of topics - showcasing stories from all our centres from items in the collections such as diaries and letters, to diverse topics from the First World War, crime, and punishment, the Jacobites, salmon fishing, shinty and the Highland Clearances. To date there have been a total of 192 Learn with Lorna Talks – featuring a huge variety of topics and the series has received over 375,000 views to date and counting.
When HAS created a survey asking viewers to give us their thoughts about it, we were delighted when 97% of people said the series had increased their knowledge of the HAS collections and 84% saying it had changed their understanding of what an archive is and does.
Am Baile
HAS manages and develops Am Baile – a digital image website which is bi-lingual – everything is captioned in both English and Gaelic and the site, which was established in 2001, is a key resource for Gaelic learners and speakers as well as just being a fantastic digital resource for all sorts of images, and audio relating to the Highlands and Islands.
Through Am Baile HAS is able to provide access to digitised copies of tens of thousands of items from archives, libraries, museums and private collections. Content ranges from photographs, illustrations, rare books and documents to short films and audio recordings, with digital images of items from our collections but also from a range of partners (including independent museums, community archives groups and individual clubs and organisations).
The site is managed by the Am Baile Co-Ordinator with the support of volunteers and Highland Archive Centre staff. Each staff member dedicates a day per week to enhance the accessibility of the site's extensive image collection, compiling metadata and enhancing image quality.
One current and notable project is Am Baile’s collaboration with Inverness Football Memories initiative which started in 2022, and aims to document the history of football in Inverness through photographs and research and has resulted in the publication of a book that celebrates local football heritage. This initiative not only preserves local history but also engages the community through regular Memory Meetings held at the stadium, and at community facilities throughout Inverness as well as generating new accessions across all centres, inspired by the ‘Football Memories’ theme.
Conclusion
The Highland Archive Service has established itself as a cornerstone of heritage preservation and community engagement in the Scottish Highlands. Through a network of state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team of professionals, HAS ensures the meticulous conservation and accessibility of diverse records that document the rich history and cultural heritage of the region. Our proactive approach includes robust educational and community engagement programmes delivering to schools, communities, and international audiences. By leveraging digital platforms and enabling staff to develop innovative initiatives, such as the Am Baile website and the Learn with Lorna series, we have broadened our reach and impact. Committed to sustainability and continuous improvement, Highland Archive Service not only safeguards the past but also enriches the present and future for all who seek to explore and connect with the unique history of the Highlands.
Supporting images
Highland Archive Centre - collage
Lochaber Archives - collage
Nucleus - collage
Skye and Lochalsh Archives - collage
Customer Feedback
Below is a small selection of the feedback which has been received across our archive centres within the last year. These reflect the breadth of the service which is provided and appreciated by our wide customer base.
General -
This is what I love about the Highland Archive Centre! The ordinary, everyday persons items and memorabilia are just as valued as the collections of the well known, rich or famous. When these collections are made available through the archives we can gain a greater understanding of the lives of all the different people of the Highlands. (Facebook)
Thank you for guarding these precious documents that require careful handling to ensure they'll be available into the future. We appreciate the time and expertise that you shared with us! (Facebook)
Thank you everyone for the generous support you have shared with folk all around the world this year. We are so fortunate to have access to such a wonderful service. (Facebook)
I’ve written a lot of history over the years and that’s involved me in spending a great deal of time in a whole series of archives. But my visit to Fort William yesterday was an exceptionally positive experience….I’m well aware that, at a time when budgets of every sort are under pressure, it can be no easy task to keep the Highland Archive Service in being. But you and your colleagues are doing a valuable job. And I just wanted you to know that it’s much appreciated. (Email to Lochaber Archive Centre)
‘Outstanding! We found so much information about grandfather’s fishing boat. We are overwhelmed!!! Thank you! You have excellent staff!’
‘this is wonderful of you to take such an interest. It is great to have a connection to my historical homeland as all my immediate family history and connections are in Moray and the Spey Valley. I am going to have to take a bit of time trying to absorb/understand the information you have sent me.’ (Email to Family Historian)
RE: Learn with Lorna Series of weekly ‘Live’ talks on Facebook -
What a fantastic, creative service this is. Such a brilliant way to bring archives to life and into the public domain. (Facebook)
Trying to piece together our family history is always a challenge, especially from the other side of the world, but your talks, Lorna, bring the days of our ancestors’ lives to life and therefore more ‘part of the family’…if that makes sense…Your love of history is apparent with each talk that you present and inspires and encourages further learning, keeping family history alive…sincere thanks. (Facebook)
Feedback from schools and universities
Highland Archive Centre has jointly run this session on archives and the public with our 3rd year Public History students for several years and Lorna is incredibly enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and professional in her approach. The students benefit significantly from having an expert from the archives come in and discuss the role of archives, Lorna’s own role in terms of engagement, issues of best practice and some of the benefits and challenges of taking history to the public through the archive and through sharing her own experiences helps the students think through the key points and areas of debate raised in the readings, and her presentation is full and thought provoking, encouraging the students to ask a number of practical, theoretical, and experiential questions. The students expressed their gratitude, with all 28 who attended the session stating thanks and several noting that it had been a ‘great’, ‘fab’, or ‘super’ class. One student summed up the benefit they had gained from the session by noting that the discussions held ‘further ignites the fire!’ for history. (University of the Highlands & Islands)
The presentation was excellent from start to finish. And relevant to the theme Archive which the students were studying. In particular archives like the letter about the land Charleston Academy was built on and the school roll of pupils born in Demerara was fascinating. The pupils rated the presentation ‘outstanding’ to very good, and the teachers were also very inspired by it too. (Charleston Academy)
The presentation and lesson were well suited to the children’s ability, providing a good mix of information provision and active participation for pupils. Information was relevant and pitched at an appropriate level. Resources were well prepared. We are very grateful of the visit to us in Strontian, rather than having to attend Fort William Archive Centre, particularly for younger pupils. (Strontian Primary)
“This was one of the best days of my life” –P5 pupil
From first point of contact regarding our school’s 200th anniversary project I can only express grateful thanks for the contributions to our pupil’s education from the community engagement team. Working alongside all of our teachers Lorna has guided, provided and helped to support and manage sensitive issues that are part of our history. Initially I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the service and have been constantly inspired by the way the archives have helped to capture interest in the wide variety of subjects and topics explored, along with Lorna’s ability to engage with children at every level. I know most of our children now have a much better of understanding of history and some of our older pupils are more proactively finding out information they can digest, analyse and compare to present day. In simple terms the work done by Lorna, supported by the wider team has been wonderful and significantly added to a quality experience for all. This was also noted by HMIe when they visited our school on a visit in May. (Central Primary)
The Archive Centre an invaluable resource for all our pupils and a special haven for our more vulnerable young people. Our S2 and S3’s loved the Tir nan Og club. The centre has offered time to help us reintroduce young people back into education in a step by step approach. The Archivist has worked with many different departments within the school; History, English, Art etc.
It is a very welcoming space to be in and attracts our curious young people in a positive way whether it is through a club, their own interest or part of the classwork. We hope to continue this partnership for a long time to come. (Portree High School)
Feedback from prison partnership:
Lorna has been delivering insightful and interesting archive presentations to prisoners residing in HMP Inverness via the Fife College Learning Centre for a number of years now…. This presentation was interactive and pitched so well for our students. Our learners are not always the most focused and can be hard to engage, but this was incredibly well received. Having Lorna come in to the prison is a joy. Our students enjoy it immensely, learn so much and develop new interests.
Feedback from independent museums/community archives’ training events
An excellent day which provided a very good background to the art of conservation. As someone who has not done any conservation this was a revelation!
Excellent presentations, advice and practical demonstrations, Thank you!
The training exceeded expectations. It was engaging and informative – thank you for your expertise.
Exhibition Feedback Forms
‘We loved the exhibition, fascinating, learned a lot about the Wick Society. Were shown Poorhouse records, super interesting, look forward to seeing more surrounding this subject. Thank you.’ (Wick Society Collection Exhibition – Dec 2023)
‘Underselling yourselves on the extent of the catalogue effort… outstanding!’ (Wick Society Collection Exhibition – Jan 2024)
Reminiscence Sessions Feedback
‘Today we enjoyed a morning of reminiscing with the Nucleus Archives who brought some wonderful photographs for us all to see. Everyone enjoyed looking at all the photographs which included shops in Wick, School Days, Occupations, and many more. It was lovely to hear everyone's stories, it created lots of different conversations. Thank you Doreen and Valerie, we hope to see you both again soon.’ (Apr 2023)
‘The ladies and gentlemen they love when Valerie and Doreen come up, they could sit and listen to you both for hours. Thank you for spending your time entertaining our ladies and gentlemen, we truly do appreciate it.’ (Nov 2023)
‘I very much enjoyed attending the sessions at the North Coast Visitor Centre. The leaders were very friendly and knowledgeable, and I was able to learn in a relaxed environment. I particularly enjoyed the craft sessions and meeting the other participants. The course encouraged me to go out and meet other people in, I was also able to cope with the facility despite my mobility problems and I would encourage others to try the courses, especially if they are lacking in confidence or socially isolated. The combination of learning more about the history and geography of my community, being able to develop creative skills and meeting others in the community was a very positive experience for me. Lifelong learning is a powerful tool for mental wellbeing, and I am grateful for having had this opportunity.’ (Participant in the Prescribe Culture Highlands’ Programme 6 Sessions at North Coast Visitor Centre which were delivered by archive staff Dec 2023)
Feedback from collaborators including artists, writers and community groups,
‘Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre is a fascinating, brilliant and much loved resource for our island. Our community trust has worked in partnership with the archive centre on various projects over the years and regularly sought professional guidance and advice from their capable staff. We are fully supportive of their work and contribution to deepening our understanding of our island community's rich history and look forward to seeing what projects they will be developing and delivering over the next few years.’ (Staffin Community Trust Development Officer, May 2024)
‘Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre has been more than a resource for me to use as a local resident and artist - it’s has been the source of much inspiration both in my work and in my personal life. I come from a working-class background and often find academic and professional spaces to be uncomfortable but that couldn’t be further from my experience with the archive centre and it’s willing, knowledgeable and skilled staff. (Feedback from Artist based at Kepow Theatre, May 2024)
We cannot praise the team highly enough in terms of how helpful, knowledgeable, professional and supportive they have been when we have collaborated on projects together. They are also incredibly friendly and approachable, and we look forward to working with them in the future. (Feedback from Guthan na Tire Community Project Officer, May 2024)
Feedback from class participants
Well presented, with loads of useful information delivered in a methodical manner, plenty of chance for questions. 2nd half - looking at the actual parochial registers, etc etc, SO interesting & brought it all the life. Many thanks for today. (Feedback from in-person student at HARC, February 2024)
Overall I enjoyed this series of talks very much. It has opened my eyes as to how much information the archives hold. Also, I am hoping that it will spur me on to doing more of my own research. (Feedback from in-person student at HARC, March 2024)
Excellent course for understanding what records are available for Scottish research. Sessions were at a good pace and the examples given for the various topics were well chosen. Thank you to all the presenters! (Feedback from online student, November 2023)
Overall a brilliant course! Very interesting and well presented by everyone involved. Organisation was very good. Handouts are clear and very informative. One of the best things was being able to ask questions on each of the topics as we went along. It was really good listening to the experiences of the other participants. This really enhanced the whole experience. The group dynamics were super and made it a really enjoyable experience. I really value the chance to keep in touch with others. I couldn't fault any of the individual sessions. The content was consistently excellent and very well delivered. It was great to have a variety of staff presenting as each one brought their own expertise and experience. Going into this I really had very little idea what an archive was and what work was carried out there. The variety of records is incredible. The course has helped me identify records that may be useful to my family history research. I'm hoping to follow up by undertaking the family history courses and visit some of the centres in person. A huge thank you to everyone involved. (Feedback from online student, Jan 2024)