Our gifts and deposits series (reference GD) consists of more than 500 large collections of papers (GD2-GD525) and over 1400 smaller ones (GD1/1-GD1/1410). These range in size from the massive Seafield Papers (GD248) with almost 10,000 volumes, boxes and bundles, down to the smallest GD1s, containing single letters or charters.
The GD collections include the family and estate papers of landowners from all over Scotland as well as the records of businesses, societies and institutions. They contain documents from every part of the world to which Scots have gone as travellers, traders, settlers, soldiers or administrators and relate to every aspect of the political, social, economic, cultural and intellectual history of Scotland since the 12th century. You can see examples of items from our private record collections in our image gallery.
The records can be searched on our catalogue and consulted in the Historical Search Room. Please note that many are out-housed and that we require 24 hours' notice to ensure that they are available in the search room on the day of your visit.
