Crown Office and Lord Advocate (AD)
Criminal indictments (AD2-4) and precognitions (AD14-15, AD21) from 1797 (closed for 100 years); papers relating to legislation legal opinions and general Scottish government business, from 1798 (AD54-64); registers of sudden deaths, fatal accidents inquiries and accidents in mines, 1848-1987 (AD12, AD27).
For further information on records of crime, go to our guide on crime and criminals and our guide to High Court criminal trials.
The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department (AF)
Fishery Board and local fishery offices, from 1809 (AF1-38)[some held locally]; agricultural censuses, parish summaries, from 1866 (AF39-41, AF78, AF84, AF88); shipping and air services, from 1896 (AF48); Royal Commission on Highlands and Islands, Napier Commission, 1875-84 (AF50); emigration, 1885-1956 (AF51); St Kilda, 1890-1957 (AF57); harbours, piers and ferries, 1931-65 (AF58); crofting files, from 1847 (AF67, AF81); afforestation, 1909-83 (AF79). For further information on emigration, go to our Emigration records guide.
The Scottish Office Development Department (DD)
Roads and bridges (DD4), transport (DD8, DD17) from 1878; housing, from 1892 (DD6); local authorities' accounts, from 1885 (DD7); electricity and gas supply, 1889-1974 (DD11); planning, from 1905 (DD12); Highland development, 1911-68 (DD15).
The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (ED and SEP)
The Scottish Education Department was established in 1872 with its headquarters in London. In 1909 it moved to Queen Street in Edinburgh. Its responsibilities included primary and secondary schools, adult education, training and certification of teachers and school buildings. The department was also responsible for administering the Royal Scottish Museum.
Museums and galleries, from 1799 (ED3); child care files, from 1910 (ED11) (some closed for more than 30 years); approved schools and remand homes, from 1888 (ED15) (some closed for more than 30 years); school inspection reports, from 1847 (ED18) (closed for more than 30 years); probation service, from 1905 (ED20); endowment schemes, from 1610 (ED23); universities and further education, from 1826 (ED26); school buildings, from 1879 (ED31); social and community services, from 1937 (ED39); training and supply of teachers, from 1895 (ED51).
North Sea oil policy files, from 1940 (SEP1); Scottish Transport Group (Highlands and Islands), 1910-75 (SEP11); Highland development, from 1936 (SEP12); energy files, from 1941 (SEP14); new towns, 1910-97 (SEP15).
The Scottish Office Home and Health Departments (HH)
Police report files, 1887-1959 (HH4); Edinburgh Tolbooth warding and liberation books, 1657-1816 (HH11); prison records, 1813-1966 (HH12) (some closed for more than 30 years); prisoners' records, 1889-1947 (HH15); prison registers, 1798-1967 (HH21); Prison Commission for Scotland, minutes, 1878-1929, (HH35); Scottish civil and criminal law policy (HH41, HH61); Prisons in Scotland reports, from1845 (HH112). For further information on records of crime, go to our guide on crime and criminals and our guide to High Court criminal trials.
Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, minute books, 1845-1896 (HH24-27); infectious diseases and public health files, 1848-1982 (HH58); Medical Officers of Health reports, 1891-1975 (HH62-63, HH72); health service files, from 1891 (HH98-111).
World War 1 files, 1914-29 (HH31); World War 2 files, 1935-57 (HH50); civil defence files, 1929-92 (HH52); fire and police services general files, from 1871 (HH54-55); civil emergencies files, from 1912 (HH56).
Royal Commissions and committees of inquiry, 1835-1980 (HH37-39, HH84-86); Edinburgh Royal Observatory files, 1834-1966 (HH90).
The Scottish Office Central Services (SOE)
Manpower and Organization files, 1872-1984 (SOE1); personnel management files, from 1910 (SOE2); files on Devolution, 1969-1979 (SOE9) and 1997-99 (SOE22); Solicitor's Office files, from 1911 (SOE10).
Scottish Record Office (SRO)
The Scottish Record Office was the name given to the NRS before 1993. Inventories of records, from c.1580 (SRO1); Register House building and housekeeping records, from 1765 (SRO4); correspondence, from 1790 (SRO8); National Register of Archives (Scotland), from 1946 (SRO26).
