Search

Search form will submit automatically when dropdown selections are changed.

123 articles available

James Wilson painted by Jean Pierre Henri Elouis, c.1792. Watercolour on ivory, 6.7 x 5.2cm oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1952.3.3
Article

Our Records: The Reverend John Witherspoon, James Wilson and the Declaration of Independence

02/07/2026

Learn about the lives of the two Scottish signatories of the Declaration of Independence
Read article
Disruption Assembly Hill no frame - Reproduced with kind permission of the Free Church of Scotland
News

The Disruption: what church records can tell us

24/06/2026

We have added over 1100 new records covering 262 congregations.
Read article
Building of the Bell Rock Lighthouse - attributed to Alexander Carse with kind permission of the Northern Lighthouse Board
News

Find your lighthouse keeper ancestors

12/05/2026

Explore lightkeeper records on Scotland's People and visit a new exhibition celebrating the history of lighthouses this summer.
Read article
Three women walking down the steps of General Register House, Edinburgh
News

New videos showcasing Scotland's People services

11/05/2026

Two new videos to showcase services offered by National Records of Scotland including Scotland's People have been launched today
Read article
Interior of the Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh, showing rows of computers on desks with natural light coming through the windows
News

Changes to booking options for Scotland’s People Centre

16/04/2026

An update for customers visiting the Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh.
Read article
A photograph of Eliza Thorpe and James Lyon who were imprisoned in Inveraray. NRS, AD5/32
News

100,000 Victorian prison records now online

14/04/2026

More than 100,000 Victorian prisoner records from Ayr and Inveraray jails are now available to search.
Read article
Inveraray Jail as it appears today. Image courtesy of Inveraray Jail
Article

Our records: a brief history of Inveraray Prison

14/04/2026

Discover some of the prison’s 19th century inmates
Read article
The building erected in the 19th century to imprison criminals. Today it is known as 'Ayr County Buildings'. Credit: SC336941 © Crown Copyright: HES
Article

Our Records: a brief history of Ayr Prison

14/04/2026

Find out more about the inmates held in the prison’s condemned cell
Read article
A page from a Victorian prison register, showing crimes such as 'riotous', 'drunk', 'breach of the peace'
News

Prison registers search tips

14/04/2026

Read our search tips and explore over 100,000 newly added prisoner admission records from Ayr and Inveraray prisons.
Read article