The next step after finding out names and dates for your family tree would be to find out the history. This can be done via Falkirk Council Archives and libraries. The Archives are based in Callendar House, Falkirk. They store many pieces of historical importance to the budding genealogist. Other useful information in the Archives includes:
Photographs – Over 40,000 photographs relating to the local area (e.g. work places, streets and houses). These are indexed and can be searched for specific places or people. Copies can be purchased (subject to copyright) and some can be seen on the Collections Browser|.
Valuation Rolls and Electoral Registers – Various valuation rolls are held for the local area. They record all the property in an area and the name of the owner and occupant along with the rateable value of the property. They can be used to trace how long a particular family lived at an address.
Church Records - Records of local Church of Scotland congregations are held in the Archives, including baptismal rolls, marriage proclamation registers, communion rolls and session minutes. Remember that most registers dating from before 1855 were transferred to the General Register Office for Scotland. Church records can be used to find out more about the social history of the area as well as identifying individual ancestors.
School Records – This includes admissions registers, school log books and other miscellaneous documents. Access to some records is restricted for 75 years under the Data Protection Act.
Cemetery Registers – The Archives hold burial registers for some local cemeteries from about 1880.
Personal and Family Papers – A number of families and individuals have deposited various items of local interest in the Archives. These types of collections have personal correspondence and legal papers which can be relevant to family research. They include the extensive Forbes of Callendar Papers which can be a useful source for other families and individuals as well as the Forbes family. The Russel & Aitken Collection contains a wealth of information in the legal papers and correspondence of clients of this Falkirk firm of solicitors and detailed information about the collections will be made available during 2009.
Poor Law Records – Unfortunately there are very few poor law registers still in existence for this area. However, minutes and papers of the Parochial Boards and Parish Councils do contain detailed information about a few individuals. Registers of adults are closed for 75 years and registers of children are closed for 100 years under the Data Protection Act.
More information on Archives can be found on the Falkirk Council Archives| page.
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