Monday, November 21 2016, 4.30 pm

Scottish identity and empire: from the 18th to the 20th centuries

Prof John MacKenzie (University of St Andrews)

Venue: Room 1.10, St Katharine’s Lodge, St Andrews

Institute of Scottish Historical Research

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Monday, November 21 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm

Earlier Records

Venue: Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Scottish Genealogy Society

Non-members welcome from whom a small donation would be appreciated.

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Monday, November 21 2016, 7.30 pm

The Sunday Post

Bill Hicks and Jill Scott

Venue: Morison Memorial Church, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank

Clydebank Local History Society

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Monday, November 21 2016, 7.30 pm

The Making of Italian Scotland

Ronnie Convery

Venue: Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society

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Monday, November 21 2016, 7.30 pm

People's History: Exploring Oral History in the Community

Dr. S. Morrison, Strathcyde University

Venue: St John's TocH, Largs

North Ayrshire Family History Society

Joint meeting with Largs Historical Society

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Tuesday, November 22 2016, 7.30 pm

Aylmer Hunter Weston - An Ayrshire General at Gallipoli

Venue: West Kilbride Community Centre, Corse Street, West Kilbride, KA23 9AX

West Kilbride Civic Society

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Wednesday, November 23 2016, 2 pm

Monifieth in World War 1

Elspeth Johnson

Venue: Monifieth Community Cabin, South Union Street, DD5 4JG

Monifieth Local History Society

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Wednesday, November 23 2016, 4 pm

Being in the World With Witches: exploring alternative ontologies in early modern Scotland

Morgana McCabe, University of Glasgow

Venue: Lecture Theatre (109), Gregory Building

University of Glasgow

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Wednesday, November 23 2016, 7.30 pm

Highland Homecomings: Peter Fraser, John Diefenbaker and 20th century Highland Imperial Connections

Dr Jim MacPherson

Venue: Highland Archive Centre, Bught Park, Inverness

Highland Family History Society

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Wednesday, November 23 2016, 7.30 pm

Celts: Art and Identity

Dr Fraser Hunter, National Museums Scotland

Venue: Volunteer Hall, Galashiels

Old Gala Club

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Thursday, November 24 2016

Celts: Art and Identity

Dr Fraser Hunter, National Museums Scotland

Venue: Blue Room, Town Hall, Ayr

Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society

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Thursday, November 24 2016, 2 pm - 4 pm

Find Your Ain Folk Drop in Service

Venue: Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs

North Ayrshire Family History Society

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Thursday, November 24 2016, 5.15 pm for 5.30 pm

James VI and noble power: New thoughts on an old theme

Dr Miles Kerr-Peterson and Dr Steven Reid (University of Glasgow)

Venue: New Seminar Room, St John’s House, 71 South Street, St Andrews

Institute of Scottish Historical Research

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Thursday, November 24 2016, 6 pm - 7.30 pm

Paper Obsessions: Books and book collectors in Enlightenment Scotland

Kelsey Jackson Williams, University of St Andrews

Venue: Newhailes House, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY

Newhailes House

£8, including complimentary glass of wine. Limited space, book online

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Thursday, November 24 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Robert Burns

Jim Law

Venue: Glen Halls, Neilston

Barrhead & Neilston Historical Association

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Thursday, November 24 2016, 7.45 pm

Waterloo - a Stirlingshire mystery!

David Smith Education Officer at the Smith Museum, Stirling

Venue: Drymen Village Hall, Main Street, Drymen, Glasgow, G63 0BP

Drymen & District Local History Society

Was Marshall Ney a local lad? Come and hear the evidence!

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Friday, November 25 2016, 2 pm - 3.30 pm

The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry’s Scottish archives

Crispin Powell

Venue: New Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh

National Records of Scotland

Crispin Powell (Archivist to Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry). Crispin will talk about the rich archives still held at Drumlanrig Castle and Bowhill House, in addition to the pleasures and challenges of his role as the first professional archivist to look after the Duke’s collections in Scotland and England. Cataloguing, conservation and access are key elements of Crispin’s work, and he will outline the progress that has been made so far, and what plans he and the Duke have for the future. (New Register House)

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Sunday, November 27 2016

Soldiers' Wills

Dr Tristram Clarke

Venue: Corn Exchange & Ormiston Institute, Market Square, Melrose, TD6 9PN

Borders Family History Society

An introduction to the collection of Soldiers' Wills, mainly from the First World War which have been digitised and are preserved in the National Records of Scotland.

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7 pm

The History of the Victoria Cross

Alex Hall, Glengarnock

Venue: Newton Lounge

Cumbrae Historical Society

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm

BBC Scotland: Early Years and the Edinburgh Connection

Mike Shaw

Venue: Drummond Community High School, Bellevue Place, Edinburgh

Broughton History Society

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7.30 pm

Midlothian Castles Then and Now and Peebles Town History

Andrew Stewart

Venue: Dalkeith Baptist Church, North Wynd, Dalkeith

Dalkeith History Society

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7.30 pm

Open Evening

Venue: Luncarty Church Centre

West Stormont Historical Society

Non-members: adults £3, concessions £2. (Open discussion meetings at Luncarty are free)

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7.30 pm

National Trust of Scotland Archives

Ian Riches, NTS Archivist

Venue: Gibson Craig Memorial Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie

Currie & District Local History Society

As we wander and delight in the gardens, the properties and the landscape who knows what else is held? Ian Richies, NTS Archivist, leads us on a visual trip into the vast archives of the NTS.

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7.30 pm

TBA

George Haggarty

Venue: Partick Burgh Hall, room 1, 3-9a Burgh Hall Street, Glasgow, G11 5LN

Scottish Pottery Society

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Monday, February 8 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Uncovering a Medieval Transport Hub: Cambuskenneth and its lost causeway and harbour

Dr Murray Cook

Venue: Alloa Town Hall (Tommy Downs Room)

Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society

Speaker is Archaeologist, Stirling & Clackmannanshire Councils

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 2.00 pm

St. Athernase Church & Scottish Churches Trust

Roma Roy

Venue: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Kirk Wynd

Kirkcaldy Civic Society

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 2.00 pm

Genealogy of Fishermen

Iain Murray

Venue: Fife Fisheries Museum, Anstruther

Fife Family History Society

Speaker from Fife Fisheries Museum

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 6 pm

Focus on Built Heritage for Communities: Scotland’s canal buildings, Scotland's Sporting Buildings

Nick Haynes

Venue: Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee, DD1 4EN

Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm

The origin of the Picts? Excavations at Dunnicaer sea stack

Dr Gordon Noble

Venue: Regent Building Lecture Theatre, Regent Walk, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

Dr Gordon Noble, University of Aberdeen, will present this lecture at the Regent Building Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen, hosted by the Aberdeen and North East Section of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 7.30 pm

One Small Step for Amphibians, but a Giant Leap for Life on Earth

Dr Nick Fraser

Venue: Auditorium, Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre, Peebles

Tweeddale Society

The evolution of vertebrates from water to land some 350 million years ago is a major step in the history of life on earth. Until recently, there was a worldwide gap in the fossil record but discoveries in the Borders have filled this gap. Dr. Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at the National Museum of Scotland, will explain the significance of these finds and how they provide a fascinating insight into the development of land-living vertebrates.

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 7.30 pm

The Sixth Earl of Mar

Murray Dickie, local historian

Venue: Dining Hall, Dollar Academy

Dollar History Society

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 7.30 pm

Birdie Bowers of Scott's Antarctic Expedition

Drew McKenzie

Venue: Largs Library Community Room

Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society

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Tuesday, February 9 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Dugald Semple (1884-1964): The Hermit of Linwood Moss and the Idea of Life Reform in the Early 20th Century

Steven Sutcliffe

Venue: Masonic Halls, Collier Street, Johnstone

Johnstone Historical Society

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Wednesday, February 10 2016

Travellers in East Lothian

Jess Smith , author and traditional storyteller

Venue: Coastal Communities Museum, School Road, North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 4JU

Coastal Communities Museum

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Sir Edward Elgar’s Life and Work

Paul Bassett

Venue: Kincardine Community Centre - Hepburn Room

Kincardine-on-Forth Local History Group

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 2.15 pm

Dundee Afternoon Lecture: ‘Independent and Individualist’ – Art in Dundee 1867-1924

Venue: D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, University of Dundee

Abertay Historical Society

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 7.30 pm

Little Ross Lighthouse: How it came to be built

David Collin

Venue: Parish Church Hall, St Mary Street, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4DN

Kirkcudbright History Society

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 7.30 pm

Someone to Watch Over Me: Kirk and Community

Margaret Fox

Venue: Volunteer Hall, Galashiels

Old Gala Club

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 7.30 pm

Kolkota, Scots Cemetery

Ian Stein

Venue: Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling

Central Scotland Family History Society

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Wednesday, February 10 2016, 7.30 pm

Arthurian links with Dumbarton, the Rock and the local area

Hugh McArthur

Venue: Concord Community Centre (next to the Denny Theatre), Dumbarton, G82 1LJ

Lennox Heritage Society

There is tantalising evidence of King Arthur across Scotland, even at Dumbarton Rock. Hugh has studied the subject for many years and has published his findings.

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Thursday, February 11 2016

Members' Night

Elie & Earlsferry History Society

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 4.00pm-6.00pm

The Journey to the District Asylum: Royal Asylums, Private Madhouses, and Stirling District Asylum

Dr Iain Hutchison, University of Glasgow

Venue: A96, Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling

University of Stirling

The surviving records of Stirling District Asylum, opened in 1869, and known locally as Bellsdyke, were recently deposited with the University of Stirling's archive collection where they have been cleaned, repaired and catalogued in readiness for their use as a valuable research resource. Institutional confinement of people with mental troubles prior to the opening of Bellsdyke and other district asylums was made by "the Royals" - a network of seven asylums that catered for both pauper and private (i.e. fee-paying) patients - in accommodation that befitted their social stations and economic circumstances. The modest fees for lowly paupers were nonetheless too high and "extravagant" in the eyes of some parochial boards administering the Poor Law and this enabled privately-run "madhouses" to offer an alternative. This structure of dual provision began to change following probing investigations in 1855 and the implementation of the Lunacy (Scotland) Act in 1857. The Act resulted in the gradually construction of district asylums, such as Bellsdyke, for pauper lunatics - a development that was to see the Royals direct attention solely towards private patients, and the closure of private madhouses. This paper will trace the roles of the Royals, private madhouses, and district asylums in nineteenth-century Scotland. It will endeavour to gauge inmate experience, with particular reference to Stirling's Bellsdyke Asylum. Iain Hutchison is Research Associate in Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow. He is on the Board of the worldwide Disability History Association and, more locally, he is a member of the board of trustees of Disability History Scotland. He is reviews editor for H-Disability. He has recently been working on the history of Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, funded by Wellcome and other bodies; and on the Leverhulme-funded "Matrons to Microbes" project where he has been investigating the history of infection control at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. However, he is primarily an historian of disability and most recently was the research historian for the HLF-funded "Seeing Our History" project for RNIB Scotland. This event is free and is open to staff, students and members of the public.

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 7.30 pm

Raised from the Ashes - the Levenhall Story

Nick Aitken, ranger, East Lothian Council

Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, High Street, Musselburgh

Musselburgh Conservation Society

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 7.30 pm

Forth Estuary Forum

Christopher Cutts

Venue: Queens Hall, Charlestown, KY11 3EG

Gellet Society

The North Queensferry Heritage Trust is a long established group that has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and beauty of North Queensferry and the immediate surroundings. It aims to encourage, preserve, develop and improve features of historic, architectural or environmental value. Their role in the future development of the town’s tourist industry is vital. The Trust was originally constituted on 4th May 1988 as a charity, registered in Scotland and is a member of Scottish Civic Trust, Scottish wildlife Trust and the Forth Estuary Forum. James Lawson is Chairman of the trust and will be telling you all about the recent attractions and activities that the Trust have actively been involved with.

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 7.30 pm

Your Local Archive

Venue: MacRobert Hall, The Square, Tarland

Cromar History Group

The Archive Team will be launching the Cromar History Group archive web-site which will give public access to all the material categorised to date. Full of fascinating items – pictures, postcards and artefacts – come and see what we hold and how you can access details and photos of the material in the archive.

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 7.30 pm

Waterloo Uncovered: The archaeology of Europe’s most famous battle

Tony Pollard (University of Glasgow)

Venue: The Shawl Gallery, Paisley Museum, High Street, Paisley

Renfrewshire Local History Forum

Speaker is Director, Centre of Battlefield Archaeology, University of Glasgow

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Thursday, February 11 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm

History of Lanark Visitors Centre

Ainsley Gough

Venue: Johnnie Walker Bond, Strand Street Kilmarnock

East Ayrshire Family History Society

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