Ayrshire

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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:

• The the Familia service includes links to Ayrshire libraries.

• 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.

• Museums around the UK on the Web There is a website which provides a comprehensive listing of Museums on the WWW.

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)