Homecoming for Highland archives
22 Oct 2009 04:58 PM
The Homecoming of the first of hundreds of archive records to the Highlands will be marked by Parliamentary Business Manager Bruce Crawford, during a visit to the new Highland Archive and Registration Centre in Inverness today.
Hundreds of volumes from 150 Church of Scotland Highland parishes and congregations as well as Customs and Excise, Fishery and JP court records are due to be sent to the Highlands from the National Archives in Edinburgh by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.
Mr Crawford will then go on to chair a discussion with the Highland Youth Voice on the National Conversation at the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness.
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said:
"Archives act as a magnet to attract people researching their family histories and bring tourists to the local area.
"These records are of immense importance to the history and identity of the Highlands and I am delighted they are returning in this Year of Homecoming.
"The National Converstaion is important in discussing how we want Scotland to look in the future.
"I am proud that more than 7,000 young Scots have taken time to give their views on what they want for the future of their country."
The archive was received by Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council's Administration.
He said: "This state-of-the-art facility provides a bright, safe and spacious home for our archival heritage and it is fitting that it opens on the Year of Homecoming. Linked to our archive centres in Fort William and Portree, it will not only allow us to store our own rich collection of archives in the Highlands, but we will attract new material, providing a great facility for people searching their family history and Highland roots."
The Highland Archive Registration Centre in Inverness was built at a cost £10.5 million is a state-of-the-art building and uses sophisticated environmental monitoring and security systems to protect its records. It opens to the public on Monday 26 October.
The services provided at the new centre replace the archive service at Inverness Library, Farrlaine Park, and the registration service at Moray House, Bank Street, Inverness.
The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £4,312,000 towards the cost of the centre, which was built by Morrison Construction.
The new archive will eventually hold hundreds of historic and modern records covering the local government areas of Inverness, Ross and Cromaty, Nairn and Sutherland under the charge and supervision of the Keeper of Records.
The Highland Council has built one the first local archives to operate as a family history centre.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the National Conversation engages with all the people of Scotland. The feedback we receive will help shape Scotland's future.
More than 7,000 young Scots have responded to the National Conversation through a consultation led by the Young Scot.
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