Friday, 15 January 2010

National Library of Scotland - New Digital Archive


The National Library of Scotland has recently launched a new Digital Archive. It includes everything from photographs, prints and digital books to Scottish maps and items of European interest. The site is being added to constantly so go have a wee look.

Check it out at: http://digital.nls.uk/index.cfm

Alasdair
http://www.yourscottishancestry.com/
Professional Genealogy Research Service

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Clan Donald Society planned for Highlands and Islands

From the Stornoway Gazette, 10 November 2009
Clan Donald Society planned for Highlands and Islands

CLAN Donald, which in the days of its Lordship of the Isles held sway over huge tracts of the Highlands and Islands - from the Butt of Lewis to the Glens of Antrim - is seeking to establish with others a Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands.

The Society would hold meetings and ceilidhs and aim to bring about a focus for people in the Highlands and Islands who belong to Scotland's largest clan, which is in itself an amalgam of clans including those of Sleat, Clanranald, Glengarry, Keppoch, Glencoe and Antrim.

Events featuring guest speakers on Clan Donald topics or field trips to places of interest (such as Culloden Battlefield or the Museum of the Isles at the Clan Donald Lands Trust based on Skye) are just some of the ideas that the steering group is considering.

"But what we would like to know is the level of interest throughout the Highlands and Islands in such a society and what people would be looking for," said Alan Macdonald.

If you are of Clan Donald descent, are interested in this idea and would like to participate, please e-mail Graham MacDonell, the group's media relations officer, at: graham_macdonell (at) yahoo.co.uk or post to: Suite 324 – 24 Station Square, Inverness IV1 1LD.

Here is the original link:
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/Clan-Donald-Society-planned-for.5810605.jp

Alasdair Macdonald
Professional Genealogy Research Service

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Probe into Friends Reunited sale

ITV's £25m sale of social networking website Friends Reunited has been referred to the Competition Commission.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it had asked the Commission to study the deal due to fears over its impact on the family tree research sector.

For more information see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8339199.stm

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Scottish Place-Name Society - Autumn Conference - Saturday 7th November 2009

Discovering the origins of Scotland's place names has been one of my interests for many years and has been a great way to explore the extensive settlement history of the nation. 

The Scottish Place-Name Society are holding their autumn conference on Saturday 7th November 2009 at Glasgow University, Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre.

Here is the programme:

9.45: Registration

10.00: Welcome and introduction

10.15: Pete Drummond: Gaelic Place-names between Campsies and Clyde

11.00: Coffee

11.30: Richard Cox: Sanda

12.05: Jake King: Lost Aber-names

12.40: Guto Rhys: Towards a Phonology of Pictish

1.15: Lunch, and digitised book launch

2.15: Eileen Brooke-Freeman: Memories, meids, maps – the Shetland Place-Name Project

3.00: Paradox of Medieval Scotland research project

3:30: Short reports

4.15: Tea and departure

Find out more information here Scottish Place-Name Conference