Stirling Archives

[lfm]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on a trip to Stirling Archives to try flesh out my family tree a bit. I was wondering if anyone can offer me advice on what sort of things would be most useful to check? I've had a look at the archives website, but if anyone has been before or has advice it would be most appreciated!

I'd like to check the newspapers for obituaries, but does anyone know if there is some kind of indexing in place at the archives for newspapers or will I have to trawl through microfilm?

I would also like to look at kirk session records to try find details of pre-1855 births that don't appear in the IGI. Is this advisable or is the information generally a duplicate of what appears in the IGIs?

Finally, does anyone know if the archives hold any burial information, and if not where I could find it? Any other hints/tips for an archives visit?

Sorry for so many newbie questions... I think I'm at the point where I've exhausted the resources avaliable on the internet, so time to venture out and find more bits to consult. Any help would be very welcome

[Billy Anderson]

Hi laurenw,
welcome to rootschat.
The IGI records are a  only copy of whats known as the Old Parochial Records (opr,s) and mistakes are made in the transcribing, these records should always be backed up with further research.
These can be viewed and purchased just like records after 1855 on
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
If you know were your ancestors died then you could check out the local  news papers and local cemeteries.
Stirling library is a good place to start for checking out local papers.
also get in touch with the local family history society they would be a good contact Cental Scotland Family History Society.
www.csfhs.org.uk
And last but not least have you checked out GENUKI Scotland.
www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ 
regards,Billy.

[Hannah29]

Central Reference Library in Stirling (it's in Corn Exchange Road) has all the OPRs for Stirling and Clackmannanshire, and they are indexed. They have the 'Stirling Journal and Advertiser' from 1820 - 1970 and it has been indexed. There's also the 'Stirling Observer' from 1836 - to date, which has a 'People Index 1836 - 1856'. The Observer had a Christmas Annual which was an annual review of what happened in the town the previous year and is good on photographs. It ran between 1911 - 1969 and it's indexed too. I think they've got other newspapers like the 'Stirling Sentinel', the 'Bridge of Allan Gazette', and the 'Callander Advertiser' but as far as I know these are not indexed.

Hannah

[DDJJake]

Hi from someone who lived most of his life, until now, in Stirling ..
For access to information on burials, go up to Viewforth [Stirling Council Main Offices], right hand side just as you enter the town from the South .... all local and district graveyard data has been computerised. I found that department most helpful.
DDJJAKE

[shyann]

I can confirm the department for burial records at Stirling were very helpful when I needed info. I phoned made arrangement to visit telling them what I was looking for and they had all the information for me when I arrived with plan of cemetery plot number etc.
Good luck Shyann

[lfm]

Thank you so much for all your replies Really helpful info, especially re burials (good to know they are computerised!)... really looking forward to my visit now. Glad the newspapers (at least some of them) are indexed too, should make it somewhat easier.

It will prob be a couple of weeks before I get the chance to go to Stirling, but when I do I'll post and let people know so if anyone needs a couple of look-ups I can do that while I'm there.

Again many thanks for all the helpful info,
Lauren