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About Us

Mar Deidhinn

 

The Archive Service is responsible for locating, preserving and making accessible archives relating to all aspects of the history of the geographical area of The Highland Council.

 A repository in the Highland Archive Centre, InvernessThe Highland Council has formally adopted a Hub and Spokes Strategy for the delivery of its Archive Service. A central archive hub has been developed in Inverness, embracing specialist services such as Records Management and Conservation, and "spokes" or area archive centres have been developed in centres of population which are remote from Inverness.

There are three archive centres or "spokes" based at the Caithness Archive Centre in Wick, the Lochaber Archive Centre in Fort William, and the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre in Portree on the Isle of Skye.

Each of the four centres collects, preserves and makes available archives relating to their own area. The Family History Centre, part of the Archive Service in Inverness, is staffed by specialist advisers in genealogy.

The Highland Archive Service welcomes the donation of archives from individuals and organisations. Documents may also be deposited on indefinite loan, in order that they may be made available to the public, whilst ownership is retained by the depositor.

Archive material can be:

  • of any age, from several centuries old to something that was created yesterday.
  • one document or hundreds of boxes of documents.
  • in any format - paper, parchment, notebooks, bound volumes, maps, photographs, videos, digital files.

The following services are offered to owners of records who deposit records with the Highland Archive Service:

  • documents will be preserved in acid-free materials and stored in secure conditions.
  • minor repairs and preservation work will be undertaken where possible.
  • closure periods to ensure confidentiality of sensitive material and copying restrictions can be arranged.

Surveys of records, whether held by Council officials or private owners are undertaken. Archive staff will provide professional advice on the preservation and conservation of archival collections.

Exhibitions of archival material can be arranged at appropriate venues, and members of staff are available to give talks at external venues on the work of the Highland Archive Service, and related subjects.