SCOTS ANCESTRY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 153, 30 June 1945, Page 7

SCOTS ANCESTRY

RESEARCH COUNCIL WILL TRACE FOREFATHERS Scots all over the world who take, pride in their ancestry may now, by expert research, discover the facts about their own .forefolk. A Scots Ancestry Research Council has been established in Edinburgh, its trustees being Mr. Thomas Johnston, M.P., Lord Rosebery and' Lord Alness. This new organisation, which is an independent and unofficial body, will undertake to trace the ancestors for many generations back of any person of Scots birth or descent According to a recent calculation made by Mr. Johnston there are throughout the world at present probably not less than twenty million people who are proud to claim Scots ancestry. Every year letters from Scots exiles abroad arrive for librarians, lawyers, ministers, and a great variety of public officials and private individuals asking for help in tracing Scots-born ancestors. These inquiries may now be dealt with for a small fee by the Scots Ancestry Research Council.

In the first place inquirers will fill up a form giving particulars so far as they know them. From this information the council will know whether a search over a 150-year period is practicable. If so, the inquirer will be informed that a search can be made over a period of 150 years. The fee for the search will depend upon the research involved, and will be based on a scale with a maximum of £3. If the ancestral links appear to run clearly back through the records beyond 150 years, the search may be extended.

The work of the council is intended to give Scots at home or abroad a live interest in the people from whom they come. Everything will be done to ensure historical accuracy, but the searches are not intended, for example, to provide information for legal purposes. It is hoped that through the work of the organisation the interest of Scots families abroad in the land of their ancestors will be increased, and that many will be encouraged to visit Scotland, i The effect upon the tourist traffic may be considerable.

The Council itself will consist of leading figures in the Scots historical scene who have agreed to give their services in a personal and honorary capacity. They are: Sir Francis J. Grant, K.C.V.0., Lyon King of Arms; Mr. H. W. Meikle, C.8.E., M.A., D.Litt., Historiographer Royal for Scotland and Librarian of the National Library of Scotland; Mr. William Angus, Keeper of the Register and Records of Scotland; Mr. H. M. Paton, Curator of Historical Records; Mr. J. G. Kyd, C.8.E., Registrar-Gen-eral for Scotland; Mr. H. A. Scott, Chief Clerk, Registrar-General's Department; Mr. R. Bain, City Librarian, Glasgow; Professor J. D. Mackie, C.8.E., M.C., Professor of Scottish History, University of Glasgow; and Professor W. C._ Dickinson, Professor of Scottish History, University of Edinburgh.