National Records of Scotland is the national archive for Scotland. Our holdings provide a unique resource for the study of Scottish history from the early 12th century to the present day.
Where to access
Most of these records are original and can only be viewed in our Historical Search Room.
You can find more details of what we hold on our catalogue.
Some records are available as digital images on Scotland's People.
Who we collect records from
We collect records from:
- the Scottish Government
- the Scottish Office
- other national government bodies in Scotland
We are also responsible for collecting records of:
- the principal Scottish courts
- the Church of Scotland and its predecessor churches
NRS may also accept records of private individuals, families, businesses and other kinds of organisations.
Our Collections Development Policy tells you about:
- who we collect records from
- which kinds of records we keep
