A reawakening of Scottish history
Two major new websites make 5,000 years of Scottish history and archives accessible to all.
Scottish history and genealogy enthusiasts received an early Christmas present this year when two new websites, ‘Scotland’s Places’ and ‘Scotland’s History Online’ were launched, both provide a wealth of historical information, much of which was previously only available to view in research libraries. Best of all, these resources are open to all and they’re completely free.
Scottish history is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment. There has been a renewed global interest in ancestral research amplified by the 2009 Year of Homecoming initiative; a greater national emphasis on teaching Scottish history in our schools and quality productions on the television and radio examining the birth of the Scottish nation. Now, with the launch of two exciting and innovative new websites, Scottish history will be more accessible to the world than it’s ever been before.
‘Scotland’s Places’ is the collaboration of two of Scotland’s most important records archives, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and the National Archives of Scotland (NAS). The authentic documents that can be viewed include: maps, plans of cities, towns and villages; schools; public and private buildings; historical photographs; archaeological records on historic and prehistoric sites as well as manuscripts of government and private records. Users can enter a place name and filter down through a series of maps. Once the place has been located the records and archives associated with that destination will be available as links giving accurate information about Scottish places in the past and the present.
Rebecca Bailey, Education and Outreach Manager for RCAHMS believes that “as an educational resource it will add immense scope to local history projects or research into Scotland’s past.It will also have great appeal to those people trying to unlock their own histories or the stories of their communities”. With an eye on the global importance of the site, Head of NAS George Mackenzie added, “the site brings genuine archive material about Scotland right to your home so you can research your past or plan future trips”.
It’s hoped that more archive agencies will contribute to the site in the future. With new documents and information being added, the site will constantly evolve.
Developed for the use of teachers and students as well as the general public, ‘Scotland’s History Online’ is a mine of information on Scotland’s colourful past. Using a timeline starting from the prehistoric era, right up to the present day, the site covers over 5,000 years of Scottish history. Users can search over 200 topics with links to over 1,000 on-line sources as well as a whole host of other interactive features such as games, photographs, video clips and downloads. Developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Heritage Education Forum, this website aims to bring Scottish history lessons to life. With Scottish history now included in the curriculum for all of Scotland’s schools, this resource will ensure that history lessons are vibrant and interactive. However, these websites are not just for the classroom.
The introduction of the sites is great news for ancestral research projects globally. The sheer amount of information to be found, and the ease which it can be accessed, makes for better, far reaching results. Researchers who don’t know the specific place name, only the region that their ancestors came from, can research that locality on the maps on ‘Scotland’s Places’. Information on that area such as photographs, census records and town plans can be easily discovered, very much like piecing together an historical jigsaw. The information on the Scottish History Online site will then put any findings into a historical context by showing the bigger, global picture.
Adding to the canon of resources making Scotland’s rich history available to the world are BBC Scotland and The Open University. A second series of the epic ‘A History of Scotland’ and a large scale multimedia project have recently been launched. Fronted by Scottish archaeologist and broadcaster, Neil Oliver, the television series explores the history and growth of Scotland from AD 84 through to the present day. The programme’s stunning camerawork throughout Scotland and parts of the United States and Jamaica was awarded with a BAFTA this year. Audio walks, events and lectures accompany the series and show Scotland’s history in a global context. Other productions are BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Walking Through History’ which describes walks through Scotland’s historical sites and ‘In The Footsteps’ where famous Scots discover the histories of their Scottish heroes. Both programmes compliment ‘A History of Scotland’ and the launch of the ‘Scotland’s History Online’ website.
With these world-class resources available to all, and the wealth of information at hand, there has never been a better time to discover ancestral histories and connect with Scotland’s past.
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