FAQs

1. Why was this resource produced?

This website was created as part of the 2019 exhibition ‘Prisoners or Patients? Criminal Insanity in Victorian Scotland’. A partnership exhibition between National Records of Scotland (NRS) and guest curator Professor Rab Houston of the University of St Andrews, a display of records from NRS archives was put on show in General Register House, Matheson Dome, Edinburgh in August 2019. This website was first published and on display in the exhibition where it provided further information about the prisoner-patients featured, as well as some who we were unable to include in the display.

2. Are the records photographed and featured on this site accessible in person?

This site showcases a small selection of the records relating to the named prisoner-patients. The full record is accessible via the Historical Search Room in General Register House. For further information please see 'Visit Us' on the NRS website.

Please note, that following advice from the UK and Scottish Government to help delay the spread of Covid-19/Coronavirus the National Records of Scotland (NRS) has decided to close its Historical, Legal and ScotlandsPeople Search Rooms in Edinburgh. Further information is available on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page.

3. There are words used here to describe those with mental health disorders which are no longer appropriate. Why have these not been updated?

The exhibition, and this resource, examines the treatment of criminal lunatics in the Victorian era and uses vocabulary that is present in this historical context. This resource does not attempt to correct the language of the past, that features words no longer medically accurate or socially acceptable. Instead it examines how those suffering from mental health issues were treated and recorded in the 19th century. As such there are several references to historical medical terms including lunatic, mad, imbecile and insane, as well as descriptions of violent crime.

4. Who are the voice actors in the audio recordings?

These audio recordings were created with the help of the Acting for Stage & Screen course at Queen Margaret University, and their lecturer Marion Scott. All the recordings include voice credits for the individual students involved.

5. Where can I find more information about the National Records of Scotland (NRS) and the archives that they hold?

Please visit the NRS website: www.nrscotland.gov.uk. The website hosts a wealth of information about the NRS archives and services including: Research Guides that cover some of the most frequently used records; Features on topics that have been researched in the archives; and Services for Schools, which provides information on learning events and materials.