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What We Do

Our Annual Meeting 2025

Our Annual Meeting of the Anglo-Scottish branch was held on Saturday 5th April 2025 in-person at Manchester Central Library. 

Click here to download our chairman's report on the activites of the Anglo-Scottish Family History Societies over the last twelve months, or scroll down to read the report here:

Anglo-Scottish Report y/e 31 Dec 2024

Anglo-Scottish Branch Annual Report for 2024

Anglo-Scottish Branch: year ending 31st Dec 2024

I started my report for 2023 saying that the ‘normal’ after Covid was rather different to that which we expected.  The situation changed little in 2024.  Members still seemed reluctant to visit Central Library, and speakers are well settled presenting via Zoom.

Our programme secretary continued with her own high standards and arranged a series of talks.  These Zoom presentations ranged from Lorna Kinnaird talking about the information available within Caledonian Asylum Hospital records and how she is endeavouring to make them more available by transcription.  Ken Nisbet spoke about how we commemorate soldiers fallen in conflicts past and the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  Kay Williams spoke about the programme to provide homes fit for heroes after WW1.   Neil Frazer spoke about Historic Environment Scotland. This department of Scottish Government takes care of all the historic monuments and places in Scotland as well as hosting a large archive.

We had some very interesting ‘in person’ meetings at Central Library.  Bruce Durie posed the question ‘Who is a Scot. Why are we not Celts’, which engendered some lively comment. L. Bruce Keith returned to talk about his new book ‘Scotland beneath the Surface’ and Julia Marwood from Manchester Art Gallery gave a wonderful presentation about the group of artists known as ‘the Scottish Colourists’.  We also had a most interesting talk from Hilary on finding one’s way around the website, with reference to the Presbyterian records we hold.  We finished the year with the usual way with a social get together.  However the bogeyman of the day, Storm Darragh, resulted in a very select attendance, but an enjoyable afternoon.

There was no SAFHS Conference in 2024 but the Branch was represented at other outside events organised to promote the Society.  Our Scottish Marriage Index continues to receive contributions, and requests for more details of entries, but with less frequency that previous years.  Hilary Hartigan continues to work maintaining our section of the new Society website.  We are all extremely grateful, especially as Hilary took on so much responsibility as Society Chairperson at the Society AGM. During the year we co-opted Rhondda Griffiths onto the committee, and she took over drafting our committee meeting minutes

For all these activities I am indebted to the contribution given by the other Branch committee members, who were unanimously re-elected at our Annual Meeting.  Yvonne Gill-Martin, who does a wonderful job organised all our speakers, Hilary Hartigan for the items in the Journal, Mark Campbell for writing and distribution of our newsletter, Ina Penneyston as our representative at SAFHS, and with support from David Muil and Linda McInnes.  However, we are always looking for new committee members so we can share these responsibilities, so essential for the running of this Branch

Exchange Journals

Our members can access a range of Exchange Journals by logging in and, when they reach the Members Welcome Page, choose Exchange Journals. There they will find journals, in alphabetical order from all over the world. Scottish researchers will spot Aberdeen, Caithness, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and West of Scotland, Highland, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Maryborough, Orkney, SAFHS, Scottish Records Association and West Lothian

Scottish Archives Journal

Our friends at the Scottish Records Association have advised us that, in addition to being able to view their newsletter online in our 'Exchange Journals' section of the Member Documents, they also have their own Journal, 'Scottish Archives' available for our members to read.

At present, it is more practical to follow this link SRA Journals where they have their most recent volumes available for reading online. 

Our Quarterly Magazine

We also encourage our members to record their research, their methods and their results, in the MLFHS quarterly magazine, ‘The Manchester Genealogist’. Every volume in the archives has now been digitised and indexed creating a treasure trove of information that could provide that elusive clue to a family mystery, whether you are looking for ancestors in Scotland or Scots in Manchester and Lancashire, have a look at The Manchester Genealogist.

Scottish Marriage Index

Over the centuries there have been several huge movements of Scots from their homeland. The Scottish Marriages Index was set up to record marriages of people born in Scotland but married elsewhere - whether it be just south of the border, in any part of England, in Ireland, Australia, North America or anywhere else. Out Scottish Marriages Page gives more information on how to search and how to contribute to the Index. Start your search at Scottish Marriage Index

Scottish Resources

If there is one thing that the Manchester Central Library is not short of – it’s books! And if that is not enough, we also have a collection of our own books and records at the library including histories and transcriptions written before the arrival of personal computers. Our holdings of physical books are all recorded as part of the MLFHS Resources database - try searching for ‘Scotland’ or ‘Scottish’ to see what the Anglo Scottish FHS has to offer.

Our Meetings

Our meetings are our highlights; recently we were proud to be the first society outside of Scotland to welcome representatives from ScotlandsPeople and Scottish Records to our meeting. This was made into a special double-feature weekday meeting and the meeting room at the library was full to capacity.

Our Newsletter

e-Scotia - delivered digitally

Our monthly newsletter brings you the latest news and views on Anglo Scottish research, together with some lighter moments, and is free to all! Follow the link to the Newsletter page where you can view the current newsletter, sign up to receive a copy every month by email and browse our newsletter archives.

Our Helpdesk

The Anglo Scottish helpdesk is open for a few hours before our monthly meetings, using reserved computers on the third floor of the Manchester Central Library where experienced members of the society are available to help and advise on Anglo Scottish research. Please see our Anglo Scots Helpdesk page for up to date information.

Members of the Anglo Scottish branch also volunteer at the Society's main helpdesk in the library on weekdays, up to date information on opening hours and availability can be found here.

Manchester Central Library: Hilary Hartigan

Books, records, transcriptions

If there is one thing that the Manchester Central Library is not short of – it’s books! And if that is not enough, we also have a collection of our own books and records at the library including histories and transcriptions written before the arrival of personal computers. Our holdings of physical books are all recorded as part of the MLFHS Resources database - try searching for ‘Scotland’ or ‘Scottish’ to see what the Anglo Scottish FHS has to offer.

Over the years we have tried to source and make available information that will help our members trace their Scottish family in the Manchester area. Our volunteers have digitised some of those earlier transcripts and documents, some of which contain hundreds of names of Scots in this area, a valuable resource for our members. Most of these documents have not been indexed and do not appear in the society’s databases, but they are listed on the Anglo Scottish resources page where members can access the transcripts.

Speakers who inspire

Our meetings are our highlights; recently we were proud to be the first society outside of Scotland to welcome representatives from ScotlandsPeople and Scottish Records to our meeting. This was made into a special double-feature weekday meeting and the meeting room at the library was full to capacity.

Anglo Scottish meetings are open to all members of the society and often to non-members, too (there is usually a charge of £3 to non-members, refundable if you join the MLFHS at the end of the meeting, but do check booking arrangements on Eventbrite first).

We invite speakers who are both entertaining and knowledgeable in their subjects, whose experiences enhance our own knowledge and inspire our continuing research. A wide range of subjects have been covered at recent meetings including DNA and Irish research, when we welcomed Jill Williams to tell us about the Irish records that are available to researchers, a very popular speaker.  Some of our meetings are more causal and social in nature and give members a chance to exchange information and ideas, views and opinions, and to find those more nuanced ways of developing their skills or sharing their knowledge and experience. Find out more about our upcoming meetings.

The MLFHS also runs series of beginners talks throughout the year – follow the society’s calendar to find dates and timings of beginners talks on Scottish and Irish family history research.