AYRSHIRE, Archives and Libraries

Ayrshire, under the 1960s local government reorganisation of Scotland, became part of the Strathclyde Region which had a number of archives.

The regional archives are the Strathclyde Regional Archives at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. The former Strathclyde District Libraries for Cunninghame, Cumnock & Doon, Kilmarnock & Loudon and Kyle & and Carrick, following further reorganisation have been restructured centres serving Ayrshire as a whole as well as three District Archives:

• Ayrshire Archive Centre [New address from August 1998.]
  Craigie Estate
  Ayr
  Ayrshire KA8 0SS
  Scotland
  Tel: 01292 287584

  The Centre is open three days a week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The staff prefer researchers to book in advance, although they do not appear to require a lot of notice. The staff have a good reputation for being very helpful to telephone enquirers.

• South Ayrshire District
  Local Studies and Archives
  Carnegie Library
  Main Street, Ayr
  Ayrshire KA8 8ED, Scotland
  Tel: (01292) 286385; Fax: (01292-611593)
  
  email address: jcastle@lib.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

  Three microfilm reader/printers available, which can be booked for 2-hour periods, up to 2 weeks in advance. Postal and personal enquiries welcome. Open: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, 9am-7.30pm; Wed & Sat, 9am- 5pm.

• North Ayrshire District
  Library Headquarters and Archives
  39/41 Princes Street, Ardrossan
  Ayrshire KA22 8BT, Scotland
  Tel: (01294) 469137

  The email address is reference@naclibhq.prestel.co.uk

  Three microfilm reader/printers available. List of publications available on request. Postal enquiries welcome. Personal callers by appointment. Open: Mon,Tue,Thur, Fri 9am-5pm; Wed closed; Sat 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm.

• East Ayrshire District
  Local Studies Department
  The Dick Institute, Elmbank Avenue
  Kilmarnock, Ayrshire KA1 3BU
  Scotland
  Tel: (01563) 526401

  Leaflet (revised) - "Tracing Your Family Tree - sources in East Ayrshire Libraries". Postal and telephone searches undertaken. No photocopies undertaken due to copyright, but full transcription sent for each successful search. No charges.
  Opening times: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9am-8pm; Wed and Sat 9am-5pm.

  Baird Institute History Centre and Museum
  Mrs Anne Geddes, Heritage Librarian
  Lugar Street, Cumnock
  Ayrshire KA18 1AD, Scotland
  Tel & Fax: (01290) 421701.

  There are two microfilm readers, and you can book a half-day session in advance. This location houses the main genealogical sources for the local area, as well as local history collections. No charges. Opening times: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10am-1pm, 1.30pm- 4.30pm.

Other Archives

The following national archives may be useful to family historians:

• SCRAN The Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN) is a Millennium Project to build a networked multimedia resource base for the study, teaching and appreciation of history and material culture in Scotland. Their website has an easy to use search engine.

Family History Societies

There are a large number of local and family history societies in the county. Dave Killicoat is the secretary of the co-ordinating federation:

Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies
Dennison House
11 Chalmers Road
Ayr KA7 2RQ
Scotland

Family History Societies covering Ayrshire include:

• Alloway & District FHS
• East Ayrshire FHS
• Glasgow & West of Scotland FHS
• Troon & District FHS
• Isle of Arran FHS (no longer functioning).

Return to top of page