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Highland Archive Service

The award-winning and accredited Highland Archive Service collects, conserves and makes accessible records which reflect the history and diversity of the Scottish Highlands and its inhabitants for the benefit of present and future generations. 

We have four centres covering the Highland region - in Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, and Skye and Lochalsh. The archives held at these centres are the records of official bodies, businesses, societies and individuals and are a unique record of our Highland past. They date from the 13th century to the present day and include records of schools, poor relief, churches, businesses, and family and estate papers. 

We aim to make the collections in our care as widely accessible as possible, in the welcoming and inclusive searchrooms at our Archive Centres, through digital channels, and through an active community engagement programme, enhancing opportunities in culture, learning, leisure, health and wellbeing. 

You are welcome to consult the archives during opening hours when staff will be on hand to assist you. We are also able to undertake research on your behalf if you are unable to visit in person (fees apply, please see our charges page). 

Our services

A historic document written on parchment with a wax seal appended

About the Archive Service

Highland Archive Service collects, conserves and makes accessible records which reflect the history and diversity of the Scottish Highlands and its inhabitants for the benefit of present and future generations.

A man with dark hair sits at a desk with three laptops, a desktop monitor displaying the Scotland's People website, a printer, and various office supplies. Shelves with files and papers are in the background, and a large chart with handwritten notes is pinned to the wall.

Can’t visit? We can help

Expert archival and family history research carried out for you by the Highland Archive Service

A close-up, slightly angled photograph of a printed family tree chart. The image shows connected boxes containing names, birth dates, and death dates. Visible entries include “John Trotter Ramage,” with dates “b. 8 Sep 1844 Wesruther” and “d. 23 Nov 1928 Denholm, shepherd,” and “Elizabeth Elliot,” with dates “b. 23 Nov 1852 Southdean” and “d. 5 Dec 1932 Crailing.” Lines link these individuals to others whose names and details appear partially out of focus. The overall document is printed in black text on white paper.

Family history

Highland Archive Service is here to help you research your family history

A group of people in a light bright room looking at a display of archive documents

Learning and outreach

Explore our learning and outreach activities for young and old

Person wearing blue gloves works on an open archival book held in a wooden book press, with a spool of thread on the table.

Conservation

Discover the Highland Archive Service Conservation Studios in Inverness and Newtonmore

What's on

Events, news and exhibitions form across the Highland Archive Service

A table displaying Angus Og–themed posters, flyers, and a mug arranged neatly.

Archive shop

Purchase research time or gift vouchers, local history books, conservation materials and more

Our collections

On a white background sit an array of archival items: a yellow Kodak leaflet, two rolls of microfilm, several photographs and a number of letters

Collections

The Highland Archive Service's collections comprise the archives of the Highland Council and its predecessors and thousands of privately deposited collections from Highland families, businesses, estates, and societies.

A screenshot of a website homepage for ‘CalmView’, a archival online collections database. The background features a collage of Highland Archie Service's archive centre buildings. In the centre of the foreground, a search box titled ‘Find a record’ indicates that this is a link to an searchable online archive catalogue.

Online catalogue

Discover the rich history of the Highlands through our online catalogue

Portrait photograph of three herring gutters c.1890 , taken by Johnston Photographers Wick. This photograph illustrates how the gutters would wrap their fingers in strips cut from flour sacks to protect them from cuts .

Online exhibitions

Explore Highland Archive Service's online exhibitions

A black-and-white photograph of a rural landscape featuring traditional stone cottages with thatched roofs, surrounded by low stone walls and dense vegetation. A dirt path leads toward the foreground cottage, which has a sloping roof and chimney. In the middle ground, additional cottages are visible among trees and open fields. The background shows a large, gently sloping mountain under a clear sky. The overall scene conveys a historic crofting settlement in a countryside setting.

Am Baile

Explore the Scottish Highlands and Islands through photographs, illustrations, maps, documents, audio and video

Our archive centres

A modern building with light stone walls and large windows, labeled “Highland Archive and Registration Centre,” stands on a neatly maintained grassy lawn. Two small trees are in front of the building, and the sky above is bright and clear.

Highland Archive Centre

Explore archives relating to Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Nairnshire

A white building with dark, pointed tiled roofs with a green grass lawn in front and sign indicating it is called Alexander Ross House and houses Lochaber Archive Centre

Lochaber Archive Centre

Explore archives relating to Lochaber

A modern building with a sharply angled facade shown against a dramatic cloudy sky. The building is surrounded by a paved entrance

Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives

Explore archives relating to Caithness

A large white building with a grey roof

Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

Explore archives relating to Skye and Lochalsh

Meet the team

Meet the team

Get to know the Highland Archive Service team

Donate to Highland Archive Service

The Archive Service preserves, conserves and makes accessible over 700 years of Highland history. There is no charge to visit our Archive Centres and access the collections we hold, but High Life Highland is a charity and we rely on your donations.