Midlothian archives

Archive collections

Midlothian Council holds a large collection of historical records about the local area. Many of the records are unique making the collection invaluable if you are interested in the history and culture of Midlothian, including family history.

In our archives

Amongst the most important archives are:

  • Council and Town Council records
  • Local business records
  • Local clubs, societies and organisations
  • Local families and individuals

The Guide to Midlothian Archives has advice about how to access the collections and an index to help you find relevant material:

Principal collections

Many of our archive catalogues can be accessed here:

Scottish Archive Network

There are descriptions of our collections at the Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) website. Go to the online catalogue and use the Search function, entering your search term and then 'GB584' in the 'Archive Reference' field to get results from Midlothian Council collections.

Other collections

Many items about Midlothian are held in other collections in Scotland, especially in the City of Edinburgh archives. You can also use the Scottish Archive Network to find these.