Public invited to unravel the mysteries behind thousands of historic pictures
● Online archive relies on audience to provide captions
Thousands of mystery images that help tell the story of Scotland’s past have gone online – with the public asked for their help to identify the faces and places captured over time.
From men sitting in smokey pubs, to crumbling crofts, playing children and everyday street scenes, the digital archive of Historic Environment Scotland gives a long gaze into the country’s heritage.
The collection gives an insight into what life was like throughout the decades with pub interiors, fashion trends and interior design choices all documented by Canmore, the digital catalogue of the HES collection.
Also included are extensive records of Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Scotland’s new towns with a fresh batch of photographs of major archaeological excavations at sites such as Skara Brae in Orkney now added to the archive.
But with more than 5,000 of the online images captioned as unidentified, it is hoped the public will be able to add to the details of where and when they were taken.
Lesley Ferguson, head of archives at HES, said: “These archives give a unique perspective on civic planning in the 20th century including the development and growth of Scotland’s new towns, while the images of excavations showcase the sites that helped archaeologists unlock the secrets of Scotland’s past – from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know where some of these historic photographs were taken and that’s why we are asking for the public’s help. Perhaps there’s a photo of your street, or your local pub, or even the flat you lived in as a student.
“Help us discover more of Scotland’s past by visiting Canmore and letting us know if you recognise any of the places documented in these archives.”
The Canmore catalogue has been greatly expanded after more than 170,000 items from the HES archives were digia tised in the past 12 months. The new online records include negatives and images from Scottish Development Department (SDD) which was formed in 1962. The archives showcase rural and urban Scotland in the 1970s and 1980s, from farms in Orkney to large estates in Fife and city tenements.
Approximately 14,000 prints were also digitised from personal research and work by prominent archaeologists such as Dr Euan Mackie, Roger Mercer and Vere Gordon
Childe, with the oldest image dating from around 1927.
The Dr Mackie collection features photographs as well as field notes, drawings and publication material collected over the career of the archaeologist, the former curator and keeper of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow University.
Subjects include investigations of threatened sites, including the East Wemyss Caves and the Auchentorlie prehistoric rock sculptures. large amount of material relates to his deep interest in Iron Age brochs and duns.
Ms Ferguson added: “By digitising our archives, we’re able to make them available to even more people. Digitisation helps us make heritage accessible to all as well as ensuring the long-term preservation of these important documents and photographs.”
To provide HES with details, please email archives@hes. scot