Your mini guide to the 1921 census

Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk) has scored a partial victory in a long-running legal battle to publish family history records that are preserved by National Records of Scotland (NRS; nrscotland.gov.uk). On

There’s never been so many well-stocked sources of historic photographs online. We’ve tried to pull together some examples of regional image libraries, as well as useful nationwide resources. While ma

A collection of educational records that are of great use to family historians is exclusively available on Findmypast (findmypast. co.uk). ‘National School Admission Registers & Log-Books 1870–1914’ (

Q I can’t find any information about my great grandfather, William Smith (1871–1907), before 1893. In the 1901 census, he declares himself to be William Thompson, a “Traveller CT”, born in Scotland. H

This part of Scotland has historically been famous for agriculture and its associated trades – in particular skinners, dyers, shoemakers and glovemakers. But over the years a number of major manufactu

Dumfries And Galloway Heritage Service a Ewart Library, Catherine Street, Dumfries DG1 1JB t 030 3333 3004 e heritage@dumgal.gov.uk w dumfriesandgalloway. gov.uk/library-services/heritage-service Gene