From unmissable online resources to expert tuition from National Records of Scotland, Scotland’s People, and leading genealogists, each session gives you practical tools you can use immediately in your own research.

📅 What’s Included in the series?

The masterclass consists of four sessions:

• 3 February, 6.30pm: Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Meet the Experts — Free introductory discussion panel
• 10 February, 6.30pm: Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Online Resources with Chris Paton
• 17 February, 6.30pm: Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Research Skills with Tahitia McCabe, University of Strathclyde
• 24 February, 6.30pm: Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Searching the Records with National Records of Scotland & Scotland’s People

All sessions are recorded and available on catch-up until 30 March.

🧭 What Will I Learn?

Across four expert-led sessions, you’ll learn how to:

• Begin your Scottish genealogy with confidence
  Understand the essential first steps and avoid the most common research pitfalls.
• Use Scotland’s key online resources effectively
  Including Scotland’s People, National Records of Scotland, and other digital archives.
• Strengthen your research skills
  Interpret historical evidence, follow complex family lines, and tackle gaps in the records.
• Search and understand Scottish records
  Explore BMDs, census returns, parish registers, wills, maps, and more.
• Break through brickwalls
  Learn techniques for overcoming missing data, name variations, and confusing entries.
• Understand the social history behind your ancestors
  Discover the communities, traditions, and laws that shaped their lives.