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Scotland has a long and proud education tradition. This is often traced back to the Scottish Reformation, which espoused the principle of universal education, with the call for a school in every parish. In practice this didn’t necessarily happen, but at the time it was a fairly radical idea.
But the roots of Scottish education reach back much further than 1560. Several schools still in existence today can trace their origins to the twelfth century (Dunfermline High School, High School of Glasgow, Royal High School Edinburgh, Stirling High School and Lanark Grammar School). Higher education also has a long history in Scotland. Before 1410, Scots had to leave Scotland to obtain a higher education. The most common destinations were England (Oxford and Cambridge), France (Paris and Orleans), and Italy (Bologna), although doubtless some Scots studied elsewhere. An excellent source for these early Scottish students is Donald Watt’s A Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Graduates to AD 1410 (Oxford, 1977). By 1410, the division of the Catholic Church with two rival Popes made it essential to found a seat of higher learning in Scotland itself. A group of masters, mostly graduates from the University of Paris, set about founding an institution in St Andrews, in Fife. Henry Wardlaw, Bishop of St Andrews, granted the school a charter in May 1411. At the time, only the Pope or the Emperor could grant university status, so Bishop Wardlaw wrote to Pope Benedict XIII seeking confirmation. On 28 August 1413, Benedict granted university status to what was now the University of St Andrews in the Bull of Foundation. St Andrews was to remain the only university in Scotland until Pope Nicholas V granted a papal bull to Bishop William Turnbull (a St Andrews graduate), authorising him to establish the University of Glasgow. In February 1495, Pope Alexander VI granted a bull to William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and a Glasgow graduate, establishing King’s College in Aberdeen. The last of the four ancient universities of Scotland to be founded, the University of Edinburgh, had a different start in life. Unusually for the time, it was established as a civic institution, by Royal Charter of James VI, in 1582 as the Tounis College. They were to remain the only universities in Scotland for hundreds of years. These days, when around half of school-leavers go on to higher education, it’s easy to forget that for most of their history, universities were for a very few only. My own alma mater, the University of St Andrews, has doubled in size in the 25 years since I graduated. So it’s likely that few of your ancestors would have gone to university. If they did, however, there are records to be found, although they may not provide much information. One very useful source for identifying people who studied at St Andrews is James Maitland Anderson’s The Matriculation Roll of the University of St Andrews 1747-1897 (Edinburgh, 1905). This has been digitised by the Internet Archive and can be found here. The information included is very limited, but it can offer some confirmation that your ancestor studied at the finest university in the world. (That last sentence may contain some personal bias …) For students before 1747, there is Robert N Smart’s Alphabetical Register of the Students, Graduates and Officials of the University of St Andrews 1579-1747 (St Andrews, 2012), although this is not available online. The University of Glasgow has an excellent site dedicated to the history of the University. As well as background information, it includes a database of nearly 20,000 graduates to 1915. Many of these entries contain additional information about the lives and careers of Glasgow graduates. This is an ongoing project and is regularly updated by the University Archive Services, who welcome any contributions of photographs and information about individual graduates. The University of Edinburgh Library and University Collections maintains a database of Alumni. As the site itself acknowledges, it is far from complete. The Special Collections department holds the University archive which includes many other records of university life. There are also some printed registers of graduates which can also help track ancestral students. Several of them are available in digitised versions online: Alphabetical List of Graduates of the University of Edinburgh from 1859 to 1888 A Catalogue of the Graduates in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, and Law, Of the University of Edinburgh, Since Its Foundation (Edinburgh, 1858) There are also a number of graduate rolls for the University of Aberdeen: Officers and Graduates of University and King's College, Aberdeen, 1495-1860 edited by Peter John Anderson (Aberdeen, 1893). Roll of the Graduates of the University of Aberdeen, 1860-1900 edited by William Johnston (Aberdeen, 1906) Roll of Graduates of the University of Aberdeen : 1901-1925 : with supplement 1860-1900 by Theodore Watt (Aberdeen, 1935) [We are unaware of any online version of this] Roll of Graduates of the University of Aberdeen : 1926-1955 ; with supplement 1860-1925 compiled by John Mackintosh (Aberdeen, 1960) [We are unaware of any online version of this] The individual universities may have additional information on some of their graduates, and it is always worth contacting their alumnus relations departments or libraries/archives to check, although you should always bear in mind that sometimes they may be unable to search their records due to a lack of resources, and that often the records themselves may contain limited information about your ancestors.
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Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 29 February - 6 March 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. 
Monday, February 29 2016, 7.30 pm These Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines Leonard Hart Venue: Millennium Room, Cramond Kirk Hall Leonard Hart, the Aircraft Preservation Society, on the rebuilding of a Sopwith Strutter from scratch Monday, February 29 2016, 7.30 pm Glasgow's Magnificent Mansions Bill Black Venue: Caldwell Halls, 16 Campsie Road, Torrance, G64 4BN Torrance Heritage and History Group Tuesday, March 1 2016, 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm White, Black and Grey: recent discoveries in Aberdeen’s friaries Alison Cameron Venue: Regent Building Lecture Theatre, Regent Walk, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Alison Cameron of Cameron Archaeology will present this lecture at the Regent Building Lecture Theatre hosted by the Aberdeen and North East Section of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Tuesday, March 1 2016, 6.45 pm for 7.15 pm Film Evening Ian Rintoul Venue: Morningside Parish Church Hall Morningside Heritage Association Tuesday, March 1 2016, 7 pm AGM
Venue: Shetland Family History Society, 6 Hillhead, Lerwick Shetland Family History Society Tuesday, March 1 2016, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm Exploring and using the 1911 Scottish Census Ken Nisbet Venue: Lanthorn Community Education Complex, Kenilworth Rise, Livingston EH54 6JL West Lothian Family History Society Tuesday, March 1 2016, 7.30 pm The Southern General Hospital in the 20th Century: From Poorhouse to Powerhouse Alistair Tough Venue: Fairweather Hall, Barrhead Road, Newton Mearns, G77 6BB Tuesday, March 1 2016, 7.30 pm Old Ayrshire Farming John Stevenson Venue: Kilmarnock College, Holehouse Rd, Kilmarnock Kilmarnock & District History Group Thursday, March 3 2016, 1.00 pm The Memoirs of Captain Boyd Capt John Watson Fraternity of Masters & Seamen Venue: Glasite Hall, St. Andrew’s Church, King Street, Dundee Friends of Dundee City Archives
Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 15 - 21 February 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. Monday, February 15 2016, 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm The Literary Forgeries of ‘Antique Smith’ Dr Ralph McLean, National Library of Scotland Venue: National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EW Society of Antiquaries of Scotland This talk examines the career of Alexander Howland Smith ‘Antique Smith’ who rose to notoriety in the 1890s through his forgeries of famous Scots such as Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott. By looking at the Society of Antiquaries extensive Smith collection this talk will investigate Smith’s techniques, provide examples of his forgeries, and relate his eventual discovery and downfall. Monday, February 15 2016, 7.30 pm Cathedrals and Palaces of St Petersburg David Wright Venue: Morison Memorial Church, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank Clydebank Local History Society Preceded by AGM Monday, February 15 2016, 7.30 pm Thomas Smith Tait and the Glasgow Empire Exhibition 1938 Neil Baxter Venue: Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society Monday, February 15 2016, 7-9 pm The Office of The Lord Lyon Dr Joseph Morrow, The Lord Lyon of Scotland Venue: Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh Preceded by AGM Monday, February 15 2016, 8 pm Mavisbank and the Villas of the Esk Dr James Simpson, Architect & Historian Venue: Dreghorn Loan Hall, Colinton, EH13 0DE Colinton Local History Society Tuesday, February 16 2016, 7.30 pm Coats & Clarks – The Binding Thread of Paisley’s History Valerie Reilly Venue: Kilmarnock College, Holehouse Rd, Kilmarnock Kilmarnock & District History Group Tuesday, February 16 2016, 7.30 pm Scotland's Air Ambulance Andrew Farrington Venue: West Kilbride Community Centre, Corse Street, West Kilbride, KA23 9AX Air Ambulance generally crosses our path when watching the television news. Behind the scenes is an extraordinary organisation which responds daily to the day’s needs and emergencies. Come and fly with our speaker who, as pilot, will take us up in the air and behind scenes. Tuesday, February 16 2016, 7.30 pm Forth Cruise Tourism Group
Venue: Leith Community Education Centre in the New Kirkgate Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.00 pm The pre-historic landscape of Edinburgh Dr Tom Armitage Venue: Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm A founder’s workshop from the Bronze Age? Excavations in the shadow of Hunterston Tom Rees, Consultant Archaeologist, Rathmell Archaeology Limited Venue: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness, IV2 3EB Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Investigations during construction of the Western Link Convertor Station at Hunterston in Ayrshire (http://www.westernhvdclink.co.uk/) revealed a small area of intense prehistoric activity. Excavation revealed a sequence of enclosures bounding a hollow within which were dense pit clusters, working surfaces and post-holes. Field evidence for bronze and iron smelting, founding and smithing (respectively) combined with late Bronze Age pottery suggests a remarkable discovery – an open air workshop from the Bronze Age. Booking is essential: phone 01463 237 114, email mailto:[email protected] or in person at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery In association with High Life Highland Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.30 pm Geology, Archaeology and History of Ettrick and Yarrow Walter Elliot Venue: Selkirk Parish Church Hall Selkirkshire Antiquarian Society Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.30 pm The Devil in Dirleton Green: Witch hunting in 17th Century Scotland Laura Paterson Venue: Gullane Village Hall Gullane and Dirleton History Society Speaker is Postgraduate researcher, University of Strathclyde Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.30 pm Scottish Womens Hospitals Allan Cumming Venue: Falkirk Old and St Modan's Parish Church Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.30 pm Our Evolving Avifauna Stephen Welsh Venue: Supper Room, Town House, Haddington East Lothian Antiquarian & Field Naturalists' Society Stephen Welsh, local ornithologist, will explain how some well-known and some lesser known species have evolved over the past centuries. Wednesday, February 17 2016, 7.30 pm The Disruption: the most significant event in 19th Century Scotland Prof Stewart Brown, Edinburgh University Venue: Torphichen Parish Church Hall, High Brae West Lothian History and Amenity Society Thursday, February 18 2016, 2.30pm Missing in Action; Travellers and the Effect of War Jess Smith Venue: Moulin Hall, Moulin North Perthshire Family History Group £3 for visitors Thursday, February 18 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm Charles Cameron and Other Famous Architects of St Petersburg Jeremy Watson Venue: Adelaides, 209 Bath Street, at the corner of Pitt Street, Glasgow Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Jeremy Watson, our former Chairman, will illustrate developments in Russian architecture, including a strong Scottish contribution, from the reign of Peter the Great up to the present day. Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm The Cry of a Young Child: Pregnancy, Community and Infanticide in early 19th Century Sutherland Elizabeth Ritchie Venue: Brora Community Centre Speaker University of the Highlands and Islands, Dornoch Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm Archaeology at Culzean Ian Joyce, National Trust for Scotland Venue: Town Hall, Ayr Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm
Venue: Council Chamber, Carnegie Building, Dornoch Talk title not confirmed Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm The Office of The Lord Lyon Dr Joseph Morrow, The Lord Lyon of Scotland Venue: Paisley Museum, High Street, Paisley Renfrewshire Family History Society Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm Kellogg Durland: Among the Fife Miners Hugh Hoffman Venue: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Kirk Wynd Kellogg Durland, 1881-1911, was an American journalist and social reformer who spent four months living and working with the Fife Miners Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm Roman frontiers in their landscape setting Prof David Breeze Venue: Haddington Town House Thursday, February 18 2016, 7.30 pm - 8.30 pm A founder’s workshop from the Bronze Age? Excavations in the shadow of Hunterston Tom Rees, Consultant Archaeologist, Rathmell Archaeology Limited Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Boyd Orr Buildings, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Investigations during construction of the Western Link Convertor Station at Hunterston in Ayrshire (http://www.westernhvdclink.co.uk/) revealed a small area of intense prehistoric activity. Excavation revealed a sequence of enclosures bounding a hollow within which were dense pit clusters, working surfaces and post-holes. Field evidence for bronze and iron smelting, founding and smithing (respectively) combined with late Bronze Age pottery suggests a remarkable discovery – an open air workshop from the Bronze Age. Booking is essential: phone 01463 237 114, email mailto:[email protected] or in person at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery In association with High Life Highland Friday, February 19 2016, 6 pm Preserving Historic Glasgow Dr Tony Lewis and Anna Serafini Venue: GCHT, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow Delve into Eighteenth Century Glasgow with Dr. Tony Lewis and University of Strathclyde PhD candidate, Anna Serafini. Learn more about the architect Allan Dreghorn (1706 - 64) and Scottish timber roof structures from the period. Friday, February 19 2016, 7.30 pm An Archivist Life for Me! Steve Connelly, PKC Archivist Venue: Aytoun Hall, High Street, Auchterarder Auchterarder and District Local History Association Saturday, February 20 2016, 2.00 pm Memories and Memory Anne Reid Venue: Manchester Central Library Anglo-Scottish Family History Society Saturday, February 20 2016, 2.30pm-4.30pm Children Of The 1950s in Aberdeen Lesley Diack (ANESFHS) Venue: Unitarian Church Centre Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society |
Old ScottishGenealogy and Family History - A mix of our news, curious and intriguing discoveries. Research hints and resources to grow your family tree in Scotland from our team. 
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