The Highland Council Archive Service is responsible for locating, preserving and making accessible documents relating to all aspects of the history of the geographical area of The Highland Council. The Archive Service has a key role in enabling the Council to fulfil its statutory duty to make proper arrangements for the preservation and management of its own records, those of its predecessors, and other records which have been placed in its care.
What are archives?
Archives are the records of official bodies, companies, societies and individuals which have been identified as being worthy of permanent preservation. Because they form a unique record of our past, archives need to be preserved in secure and environmentally controlled conditions.
The Highland Council Archive Service holds documents dating from the fifteenth century to the present day, including official archives and privately owned records. The majority of them can be consulted in our searchrooms for a wide variety of purposes, including local and family history.
The Archive Service welcomes the donation of archives from individuals and organisations. Documents may also be deposited on indefinite loan, in order that they may be made available to the public, whilst ownership is retained by the depositor
We offer the following services to owners of records:
- documents will be preserved in acid-free materials and stored in secure conditions
- minor repairs and preservation work will be undertaken where possible
- closure periods to ensure confidentiality of sensitive material and copying restrictions can be arranged
If you would like to deposit documents with the Archive Service or if you need advice on preserving them, please contact us: on 01463 220330 or e-mail archives@highland.gov.uk
Archive material can be -
- of any age, from several centuries old to something that was created yesterday
- one document or hundreds of boxes of documents
- in any format – paper, parchment, notebooks, bound volumes, maps, photographs, video, digital files.
Surveys of records, whether held by Council officials or private owners are undertaken. Archive staff will provide professional advice on the preservation and conservation of archival collections.
Exhibitions of archival material can be arranged at appropriate venues, and members of staff are available to give talks at external venues on the work of the Archive Service, and related subjects.
Records Management for The Highland Council
The Highland Council Archive is responsible for advising Highland Council Services on the management of their records and offering assistance as to their care and storage.