The Highland Archive Centre is responsible for collecting, preserving, and making accessible archives relating to the history of the Highlands.

In addition to a bespoke search-room and repository facilities, the Highland Archive Centre incorporates a dedicated Family History Room, and a specialist Conservation Studio. The centre also accommodates the Council’s Records Management Service.

The archive collections date from the 14th Century to the present day.

Family History Room

The Family History Room is located on the first floor of the Highland Archive Centre and contains a variety of resources, which will be of use to the family historian who is researching Highland roots.

The staff in the family history room are experts in the field of Highland and Scottish genealogy: their expertise can be accessed either in person, through their one to one consultation service, or via remote enquiry.

One to one consultations are available to book every day, and the family history staff can help you to research your family history, with access to Scottish, English and Welsh Civil Registration records and many other types of online resources.

The Family History room is also the only venue in the Highlands with direct access to ScotandsPeople Network, which provides access to a wealth of historic records from across the whole of Scotland including Census Returns from 1841 to 1911; Old Parish Registers up to 1854; and Births, Marriages and Deaths (from January 1855).

There are 4 available spaces which can be booked daily at a cost of £15 per day or part day and copies of historic images can be printed for a small fee.

The Highland Family History Society is based in the Family History Room at the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness.  Volunteers from the Society are available to assist visiting members on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am – 3pm. Members are advised to ring on the intended day of their visit to ensure that a volunteer from the Society will be available.

Free car parking is available.