Palaeography for Household Collections

Palaeography Workshop for Private Household Collections, 10am–2pm, with a short break for lunch (provided) around 12 noon.

This workshop introduces researchers and archive staff to the skills and techniques necessary to read and interpret Scottish household papers, in the early-modern period. Part 1 focuses on accounts and inventories in an informal, fun, and supportive setting. The documents, selected from Glamis Castle Archives, include a surgeon apothecary’s account for medicine, 1707; a goldsmith’s account, 1698; and two household inventories dated 1648 and 1713.  

Part 2 of the workshop will deal with correspondence, journals, and other household records, such as recipes, and the Scottish Records Association (SRA) aims to have it available in 2024. Each part can be tackled as separate workshops on different days, and it does not matter whether the first or second part is tackled first.  

Anyone attempting this course should have a basic knowledge of early modern handwriting, and should preferably have completed a beginner’s course in palaeography, such as the Scottish Records Association’s beginner’s guide or the ScottishHandwriting.com 1-hour tutorial: www.scottishhandwriting.com/1hour.asp          and Dunlop letters tutorial: www.scottishhandwriting.com/dunlop.asp

Places on this workshop are limited. Email archives@inveraray-castle.com to reserve your place.

The Argyll Papers @ Inveraray Castle, Cherry Park, Inveraray, PA32 8XE,