Two Evenings • Two Communities • Two stories.
Tuesday 3 November & Tuesday 10 November 2026
18:00–20:00 GMT Online.
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
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 the Argyll Estate Archives
Alison Diamond, archivist for the Argyll Estate Archives will explore the resources held within the Argyll Estate 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 volunteers at the Argyll Estate Archives will introduce a short personal case study showing how material from An Iodhlann and the Argyll Estate 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
KINTYRE — Finding the Stories Behind the Records
- Local Sources for Kintyre
Murdo 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 the Argyll Estate Archives
Donald MacDougald, archivist for the Argyll Estate Archives will explore the resources relating to Kintyre held within the 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.
Book Now
🎟️ Tickets & Recordings 👉 Purchase tickets here
📌 Recordings will be available for those unable to attend both evenings.
- £25 – Standard ticket
- £20 – Friends of Argyll Estate Archives
- £20 – Student ticket
(Email judynmuhn@gmail.com for a student code)
If you missed last year’s study sessions, you can still access them at https://argyllestatesarchives.org/shop/