Two evenings • Two Communities • Two stories

Join us online via Zoom on Tuesday 3rd November 18:00 UK time and Tuesday 10th November 18:00 UK time Time zone

Go beyond names, dates and relationships — discover the stories in the archives.

Join us for this year’s study evenings. Two fascinating evenings exploring Tiree and Kintyre, and discover how archives, estate records and local sources can bring family and community histories to life. Our speakers will show how different sources can reveal the people, places and stories behind the names in our family trees.

Programme Schedule

Tuesday 3 November 2026, 18:00–20:00 GMT Time zone

TIREE — Beyond the Family Tree

Discovering An Iodhlann

David Beaman, An Iodhlann’s archivist and Dr John Holiday the Chair of the An Iodhlann will introduce the remarkable resources of An Iodhlann, Tiree’s historical centre and archive, and the stories they can reveal about the island and its people.

Tiree in Argyll Estates Archives

Alison Diamond, archivist for Argyll Estates, will explore the resources held within Argyll Estates Archives relating to Tiree and discover how estate records can complement other sources used in family and local history research.

Beyond the Family Tree: Finding My Family’s Story in the Archives

Catriona Smyth, volunteer at Argyll Estates Archives, will introduce a short personal case study showing how material from An Iodhlann and Argyll Estates Archives can add depth and context to traditional birth, marriage and death records. Rather than simply establishing who was related to whom, this session explores how archival sources can help uncover a fuller picture of our ancestors’ lives and the world in which they lived.

Tuesday 10 November 2026, 18:00–20:00 GMT Time zone

KINTYRE — Finding the Stories Behind the Records

Local Sources for Kintyre

Murdo MacDonald, Chair of the Friends of Argyll Estates Archives and former archivist at Lochgilphead, will introduce local sources relating to Kintyre held within the Live Argyll Archives in Lochgilphead.

Kintyre in Argyll Estates Archives

Donald MacDougall, assistant archivist at Argyll Estates, will explore the resources relating to Kintyre held within Argyll Estate Archives, and how these records can add context and detail to family and local history research.

“Shadows in the Dark: Casting Light on Past Kintyre Lives”

Rob Lee will demonstrate a case-study approach to researching individuals and families using multiple archives, including NRS, Scotland’s People, the Mitchell Library and others. His talk will focus on the practical “how to” of building up a picture of a person or family from different sources — including some of the pitfalls and challenges encountered along the way.

Please note

Tickets are available until Monday 2nd November . They will go on sale again Wednesday 11th November for those that missed the 2nd November deadline and wish to join the second evening .

📌 Recordings of both evenings will be available for all customers after the event.

(Email judynmuhn@gmail.com for a student code)

If you missed last year’s study sessions, you can still access them at the shop

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Tickets

Tickets

Finding your Scottish Family: Argyll Archives and Beyond

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