In your area

Starting out on local history and family history research can be daunting, but we can help.

At the Mitchell Library, we regularly run sessions, free-of-charge, on local history and family history sessions to introduce customers to the variety of resources available here for example, census, directories, electoral registers, monumental inscriptions, our extensive newspaper archives and renowned Glasgow Collection. 

We also offer access to online sources, like Ancestry Library Edition, FindMyPast & British Newspaper Archive - all available for FREE in all Glasgow Libraries!

Look out for these popular sessions on our Events pages.

We also visit people closer to home by running similar drop-in sessions in Glasgow’s community libraries, often using the opportunity to share memories of the local area and celebrate local stories and characters. 

We recently visited Pollokshaws Library to explore the genealogy of schoolteacher and revolutionary, John Maclean, who has been celebrated in a recently designed stained glass window.

At Riddrie Library, as well as enjoying maps, newspapers and photographs from the Mitchell's collections, we focused on writer and artist, Alasdair Gray, who was a regular there.

At Woodside Library, we shared information about suffragist, Jessie Soga, and suffragette, Helen Crawfurd, who have been immortalised in a beautiful stained glass window by artist Keira Mclean.

At Elder Park Library and Riverside Museum, we are looking forward to exploring family and local history resources, with a focus on shipbuilding heritage.

If you’d like us to do something similar in your local library, or community venue, please get in touch at 0141 287 2988/2932 or specialcollections@glasgowlife.org.uk.