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Orkney Archive
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The Orkney Library and Archive
44 Junction Road
Kirkwall
Scotland
KW15 1AG
Telephone: 01856 873 166
Fax: 01856 875 260
Email: archives@orkney.gov.uk
Open: Monday-Tuesday 9.15-5; Thursday 9.15-7; Friday-Saturday 9.15-5
- Book in advance
- Wheelchair access
ARCHON code: 241
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Collections information
Businesses (29)
- Bremner & Co, shipowners Stromness, Orkney
- British Broadcasting Corporation: Radio Orkney Orkney
- David MacGregor, merchant Kirkwall, Orkney
- DM Kirkness, joiner Kirkwall, Orkney
- Eday Peat Co Eday, Orkney
- G Leitch & Son, fruiterers and florists Kirkwall, Orkney
- George Coghill, merchant Harray, Orkney
- George Leonard, photographer and postcard maker, Orkney
- Housebay Farm Stronsay, Orkney
- James Grant & Co (Highland Park Distillery) Ltd, whisky distillers Kirkwall, Orkney
- James Oddie, mason Tankerness, Orkney
- Jannet Mouat, midwife Kirkwall, Orkney
- John Miller Slater, joiner Dalkeith, Orkney
- John Scott & Miller Ltd, wine, spirits and hardware merchants, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- John Urquhart, merchant Kirkwall, Orkney
- Magnus Russell, general merchant Shapinsay, Orkney
- Nicol Spence & Son, ships agent and chandler Kirkwall, Orkney
- Orkney Steam Navigation Co Ltd Kirkwall, Orkney
- Peter Sinclair Heddle, notary Kirkwall, Orkney
- Samuel Baikie & Son Ltd, timber merchants Kirkwall, Orkney
- Shoemaker Rousay, Orkney
- Stromness & South Isles Steamship Co Stromness, Orkney
- Swarsquoy Farm Tankerness, Orkney
- Taylor family, straw plaiters Kirkwall, Orkney
- Thomas Brown, writer Kirkwall, Orkney
- Thomas Smith Peace, architect Orkney
- Tormiston Mill Tormiston, Orkney
- William Tait, farmer Birsay, Orkney
- William Watt Junior & Co, merchants Kirkwall, Orkney
Organisations (106)
- Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Barony and District Stock Improvement Society Barony, Orkney
- Birsay Free Church, Twatt Twatt, Orkney
- Birsay Literary Guild Birsay, Orkney
- Civil Aviation Authority: Kirkwall Airport Kirkwall, Orkney
- Deerness Churchyard Committee St Andrews and Deerness, Orkney
- Earldom of Orkney Orkney
- East Mainland Horticultural Society Orkney
- Educational Institute of Scotland: Orkney branch Orkney
- Episcopal Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
- First Orkney Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) Kirkwall, Orkney
- Firth and Stenness Kirk Session Firth, Orkney;Stenness, Orkney
- Firth United Presbyterian Congregation Firth, Orkney
- Francis Walter charity, Stenness Stenness, Orkney
- Girlguiding Orkney Orkney
- Harray Kirk Session Harray, Orkney
- HMS Antelope (1703)
- HMS Culloden (1747)
- HMS Hampshire (1903)
- HMS Royal George (1756)
- HMS Topaze (1858)
- Holm Church of Scotland Holm, Orkney
- Holm United Free Church Holm, Orkney
- Inquiry into the removal of children from Orkney Kirkwall, Orkney
- International Order of Good Templars: Flower of Pomona Lodge No 910, Finstown Finstown, Orkney
- International Order of Good Templars: St Magnus and Excelsior lodges, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Italian Chapel Preservation Committee, Holm Holm, Orkney
- Jannet, of Cairston
- Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Arts Club Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall burgh Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Choral Union Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall East Parish Church Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Friendly Society Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Incorporation of Cordiners Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Incorporation of Hammermen Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Incorporation of Shoemakers Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Incorporation of Tailors Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Incorporation of Trades Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Port Employers Association Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Temperance Hall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Unionist club Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall United Presbyterian Congregation Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall United Presbyterian Sabbath School Kirkwall, Orkney
- Kirkwall Young Mens Literary and Scientific Association Kirkwall, Orkney
- Midbea School Midbea, Orkney
- National and Local Government Officers Association: Orkney branch Kirkwall, Orkney
- North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme
- Orcadia, of Kirkwall
- Orkney Admiralty Court Orkney
- Orkney Agricultural Society Orkney
- Orkney and Shetland Admiralty Survey Shetland;Orkney
- Orkney and Shetland elections Shetland;Orkney
- Orkney and Shetland Fencibles Orkney
- Orkney and Zetland Association Orkney
- Orkney Arts Society Orkney
- Orkney Club, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Orkney Constabulary Orkney
- Orkney Customs and Excise Orkney
- Orkney Field Club Orkney
- Orkney Folk Festival Orkney
- Orkney Football Association Orkney
- Orkney Golf Club Orkney
- Orkney Islands Council Orkney, Orkney
- Orkney Movement Orkney
- Orkney Norway Friendship Association Orkney Islands
- Orkney Pig Producers' Association Orkney
- Orkney Presbytery Orkney
- Orkney Record and Antiquarian Society Orkney
- Orkney sheriffs Orkney
- Orkney Territorial Army Association Orkney
- Orkney Trout Fishing Association Orkney
- Orkney Youth Theatre Kirkwall, Orkney
- Papa Westray United Free Church Westray, Orkney
- Papdale Primary School, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Peggy and Isabella, sloop, of Kirkwall
- Ringansay (North Ronaldsay) Kirk Session North Ronaldsay, Orkney
- Rousay Agricultural Society Rousay, Orkney
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution: Longhope branch Longhope, Orkney
- Sandwick Mutual Improvement Society Sandwick, Orkney
- Save the Children: Orkney branch
- Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Birsay branch Birsay, Orkney
- Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Costa branch Orkney
- Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Deerness branch St Andrews and Deerness, Orkney
- Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Orkney Federation Orkney
- Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Rousay branch Rousay, Orkney
- Shapinsay Parish Church Shapinsay, Orkney
- Skelwick School Skelwick, Orkney
- Society for the Relief of the Destitute Sick, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- South Ronaldsay and Burray Social and Debating Society South Ronaldsay, Orkney
- South Ronaldsay Literary Society South Ronaldsay, Orkney
- SS Countess of Bantry
- SS Earl Sigurd
- SS Earl Thorfinn
- SS Fawn
- SS Orcadia
- St Andrews parish St Andrews, Orkney
- St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- St Olaf's Episcopal Church, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Stenness Agricultural Society Stenness, Orkney
- Stromness Burgh Stromness, Orkney
- Stronsay War Memorial Fund Stronsay, Orkney
- Thoms bequest for the restoration of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Westray baillie court Westray, Orkney
- William, sloop, of Kirkwall
- Young Mens Literary Society, Northend branch, Sanday Sanday, Orkney
Persons (57)
- Baikie, John, (1787-1875), Captain RN
- Bain, Thora, (1917-2012), folklorist and local historian
- Balfour, John, (1750-1842), MP for Orkney and Shetland
- Balfour, Thomas, (1810-1838), MP for Orkney and Shetland
- Balfour, William, (1781-1846), Captain RN Vice Lieutenant of Orkney
- Brown, George Mackay, (1921-1996), author
- Clouston, Joseph Storer, (1870-1944), author and antiquary
- Colebrooke, Sir Thomas Edward, (1813-1890), 4th Baronet MP
- Colquhoun-Stirling-Murray-Dunlop, Alexander, (1798-1870), church lawyer and politician
- Craigie, Sir William Alexander, (1867-1957), Knight, philologist and lexicographer
- Cursiter, Stanley, (1887-1976), painter and limner
- Cutt, William Towrie, (1898-1981), Childrens Writer
- Doughty, S Clifford, (fl c1940-1949), engineer, Balfour Beatty
- Dundas, Henry, (1742-1811), 1st Viscount Melville, statesman
- Esson, Harald, (d c2015), local historian, film-maker and film collector
- Finlay, Ian Hamilton, (1925-2006), poet
- Flett, James, (1881-1960), Provost of Kirkwall, antiquary
- Graeme, Alexander, (1741-1818), Admiral
- Grimond, Joseph, (1913-1993), Baron Grimond, politician
- Johnston, Alfred Wintle, (1859-1947), architect, founder of the Viking Club, antiquary
- Johnston, Henry Halcro, (1856-1939), physician and botanist
- Leask, Henry, (1804-1892), antiquary
- Leslie, Harald Robert, (b 1905), Chairman of Scottish Land Court
- Linklater, Eric, (1899-1974), author
- Lockman, John, (1698-1771), Writer and Translator
- MacInnes, Ian, (1922-2003), artist and teacher
- Mackintosh, J A, (d 1938), editor of the Orcadian newspaper
- Manson, William, (fl 1773-1780), Naval Captain and Merchant
- Marwick, Ernest Walker, (1915-1977), historian and author
- Marwick, Hugh, (1881-1965), historian and educationalist
- McNeill, Florence Marian, (1885-1973), author and journalist
- Meyer, Gerry, (1918-2014), editor of Orkney Blast and Orcadian newspapers
- Miller, Ronald, (1910-1990), Professor of Geography, Glasgow University
- Moberg, Gunnie, (1941-2007), Swedish photographer, painter and designer
- Mooney, John, (1862-1950), Antiquary
- Muir, Edwin, (1887-1959), poet and author
- Muir, Willa, (1890-1970), author and translator
- Omond, John Reid, (1804-1892), Free Church of Scotland minister
- Peterkin, Alexander, (1780-1846), lawyer, journalist and antiquary
- Pirie, Alex, (fl 1968-2000), writer and husband of Margaret Tait, film-maker
- Pottinger, Johnny, (1924-2016), writer and journalist
- Rae, John, (1813-1893), Arctic explorer
- Raine, Kathleen Jessie, (1908-2003), poet
- Reid, George William, (1865-1940), schoolmaster and local historian
- Rendall, Robert, (1898-1967), poet
- Robertson, John Davie Manson, (1929-2015), businessman and author
- Saunders-Dundas, Robert, (1771-1851), 2nd Viscount Melville, statesman
- Skea, Betsy I, (d 1994), Writer and Local Historian
- Spence, Magnus, (1853-1919), Schoolmaster and Botanist
- Stewart, Patrick, (d1615), Earl of Orkney
- Thomson, William Aird, (1773-1863), Minister of Free Church, Perth
- Traill, George, (1789-1871), MP for Orkney and Caithness
- Traill, Thomas Stewart, (1781-1862), physician and specialist in medical jurisprudence
- Traill-Burroughs, Sir Frederick William, (1831-1905), Knight General
- Troup, Jim, (fl c2000), tecaher, historian and author
- Watson, William John, (1865-1948), Celtic scholar
- Wishart, Sylvia, (1936-2008), landscape painter
Diaries (10)
- Aim, John, (fl 1837-1838), Schoolmaster Sandwick, Orkney
- Astles, F C, Gunner Royal Military Artillery
- Marwick, Leonie, (1940-1944) Holm, Orkney
- Miller, Robert, (fl 1894-1899), emigrant
- Rendall, David, Soldier Seaforth Highlanders Orkney
- Scott, David, (1823-1864), accountant with P&O Kirkwall, Orkney;Sanday, Orkney;London
- Sinclair, Annabella, Emigrant Orkney
- Taylor, H Murray, Salvager Scapa Flow, Orkney
- Traill, Margaret Elsness, Orkney
- Unnamed male, (fl 1895-1985), diarist Birsay, Orkney
Families (12)
- Baikie family of Tankerness Tankerness, Orkney
- Balfour family of Balfour Balfour, Orkney
- Burroughs family of Rousay and Viera Rousay, Orkney
- Clouston family of Nisthouse and Holodyke Nisthouse, Orkney
- Douglas family, Earls of Morton Auchterhouse, Angus;Conaglen, Argyllshire;Inverscadle, Argyllshire;Cranshaws, Berwickshire;Applegarth, Dumfriesshire;Aberdour, Fife;Bellfield, Fife;Dalkeith, Midlothian;Dalmahoy, Midlothian;Westcraigs, West Lothian;Smithfield, Peeblesshire;Melrose, Roxburghshire
- Dundas family, Marquesses of Zetland Moor Park, Hertfordshire;London;Aske, Yorkshire;Loftus, Yorkshire;Marske, Yorkshire;Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire;Ballinbreich, Fife;Flisk, Fife;Falkirk, Stirlingshire;Grangemouth, Stirlingshire;Kerse, Stirlingshire
- Grahame family of Breckness Breckness, Orkney
- Gray family of Roeberry, Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney
- Heddle family of Melsetter Melsetter, Orkney
- Johnston family of Coubister Orphir, Orkney
- Sutherland-Graeme family of Graemeshall Graemeshall, Orkney
- Watt family of Breckness Breckness, Orkney
Paper catalogues available to view at The National Archives - (53)
- NRA 19069 Admiralty Survey of Orkney and Shetland link to online catalogue
- NRA 22245 Baikie family of Tankerness: family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 19331 Samuel Baikie & Son Ltd, timber merchants, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 16075 Balfour family of Balfour: family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 35510 J Mary Bosdet, British Council employee: literary corresp mainly with Edwin and Willa Muir link to online catalogue
- NRA 19338 Bremner & Co, shipowners, Stromness link to online catalogue
- NRA 22273 Lt General Sir Frederick William Traill Burroughs of Rousay: personal and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 41425 Civil Aviation Authority: Kirkwall Airport link to online catalogue
- NRA 31942 Clouston family of Nisthouse and Holodyke: family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 22143 Joseph Storer Clouston, historian and novelist: Orkney history collection link to online catalogue
- NRA 28976 Stanley Cursiter, painter: papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 19244 Walter Traill Dennison: Orkney historical collection link to online catalogue
- NRA 32338 Douglas family, Earls of Morton: family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 25647 Douglas family, Earls of Morton: Orkney estate papers
- NRA 15343 Dundas family, Marquesses of Zetland: earldom of Orkney estates link to online catalogue
- NRA 33665 Educational Institute of Scotland: Orkney branch link to online catalogue
- NRA 20435 John Elphinstone-Fyffe collection: Baikie of Tankerness family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 18896 James Grant & Co (Highland Park Distillery) Ltd, whisky distillers, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 31618 Gray family of Roeberry: family and estate papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 19961 Halcro and Johnston families of Orphir link to online catalogue
- NRA 22274 Alfred W Johnson, founder of the Viking Club: papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 35513 Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society link to online catalogue
- NRA 31939 Kirkwall Arts Club link to online catalogue
- NRA 30772 Kirkwall Incorporation of Trades link to online catalogue
- NRA 19994 Henry Leask: genealogical collection link to online catalogue
- NRA 33663 TP & JL Low, solicitors, Kirkwall: clients papers
- NRA 22142 Ernest Walker Marwick, historian and journalist: corresp and papers rel to Orkney and Shetland hist link to online catalogue
- NRA 31620 Hugh Marwick, historian and educationalist: corresp and papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 34745 John Mooney, antiquary: corresp and papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 24709 AM Morgan & Son, jeweller and tobacconist, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 19068 Brigadier-General JS Omond, Kirkwall: local collection and corresp rel to the Disruption link to online catalogue
- NRA 18898 Orkney Archives: misc accessions
- NRA 30400 Orkney Club, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 31753 Orkney Field Club link to online catalogue
- NRA 31940 Orkney Golf Club link to online catalogue
- NRA 30401 Orkney Record and Antiquarian Society link to online catalogue
- NRA 19324 Orkney Steam Navigation Co Ltd link to online catalogue
- NRA 35514 Orkney Youth Theatre link to online catalogue
- NRA 30402 George William Reid, schoolmaster and local historian: corresp and papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 30770 Robert Rendall, writer and poet: corresp and papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 41420 Scottish Womens Rural Institute: Rousay branch link to online catalogue
- NRA 18751 Shepherd & Wedderburn, solicitors, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 22141 Sinclair family of Kirkwall: family papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 41423 Betsy I Skea, writer and local historian: papers link to online catalogue
- NRA 31752 Magnus Spence, antiquary and natural historian: corresp and papers incl botanical notebooks link to online catalogue
- NRA 35516 Nicol Spence & Son, ships agents and chandlers, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 31619 St Olaf's Episcopal Church, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 19371 Sutherland-Graeme family of Graemeshall: family and estate papers
- NRA 19351 Swarsquoy farm, Tankerness link to online catalogue
- NRA 19067 James Tait: Orkney local collection link to online catalogue
- NRA 19066 Taylor family, straw plait mfrs, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 33664 Thoms bequest for the restoration of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall link to online catalogue
- NRA 18747 Watt family of Breckness: family, estate and business papers link to online catalogue
Accessions
These are selected lists of new or additional collections that were acquired by this archive during a specific year. If a date is not displayed there are no accessions for that year.