To mark the bicentenary celebration of the birth of George MacDonald we have a programme of fantasy-themed events and activities. Access the full programme
Interested in local history and family history? Our Local Studies Centre can be found in Oldmeldrum and is open for research. The Local Studies Centre and our informative staff can help you find out more about your local history and genealogy. We have many resources available about the local area, past and present.
You can book an appointment to visit the centre, or alternatively we can offer a short online session to discuss any enquiries. An email with the link to the online meeting will be sent out.
For further information about who we are and what we do, please refer to the link below:
You can book an appointment to research into local interest and family history at the Local Studies Centre in Oldmeldrum. This means that we will have resources ready for your arrival.
If you’re unable to visit us to carry out your own research, we can also undertake research on your behalf relating to the heritage of Banffshire, Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire covered by our resources. The first half hour is free and thereafter charged at £24.99 per hour. Any further research and charges are agreed in advance and payment can be made by online.
To request a search please contact local.studies@aberdeenshire.gov.uk with your enquiry. We will undertake the free 1/2 hour and advise on further resources which may be of interest.
Please note, the fee is for time taken and does not guarantee that everything asked for can be found.
- Books, newspapers, photographs, postcards, maps, census records, Old Parish Registers, Parish folders, valuation rolls, register of electors, Strichen Estate papers.
The Old Parish Registers (OPRs) are records of births/baptisms, banns/marriages, and deaths/burials kept by individual parishes of the Church of Scotland between the 17th century and 1854. They are the most important source for tracing your Scottish ancestors before the introduction of civil registration in 1855.
Census Records are available from 1841 - 1901 on microfilm in selected libraries. Before you start try and find out the name of your ancestor, birth year and address at time of the census.
You can find out which Old Parish Registers and Census Records are available in our libraries here:
OPRs and Census Records on Microfilm (PDF)
Historical newspapers are an excellent local and family history resource. We hold historic copies of many local newspapers in our collections, mostly on microfilm but also bound original newspapers. We also provide free access to The British Newspaper Archive in all our libraries.
Each month we release a new podcast with fascinating tales of Aberdeenshire - history, folklore, authors and more
Influential and innovative novelist and poet George MacDonald was born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
A substantial and important collection of his writings, the majority in manuscript and many showing significant differences from the published version, was gifted to the Huntly Library. The original manuscript items from the collection are located at Aberdeenshire Museums, Mintlaw, where they may be consulted by appointment.
The North East of Scotland has a rich ballad and folk song tradition and many of these songs mention specific areas, rivers, towns, villages and farms. Hundreds of these songs were gathered and transcribed by Gavin Greig and the Reverend James Bruce Duncan in the early years of the 20th century creating what is now known as the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection.
Ancestry Library Edition offers genealogical resources including censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents. You can access Ancestry Library Edition only in our libraries.
The British Newspaper Archive gives access to millions of pages of British and Irish newspapers from 1703 -2003 including selected local newspapers. Content includes news articles, family notices, obituaries, advertisements and illustrations.
Access to The British Newspaper Archive is from public libraries only and you need to register for a free account