Have you ever wondered …

• Who lived here before me?
• How did people live 100, 200, 300 years ago?
• Why did that street or town get its name?
• When was that building erected, who built it and for what purpose?
• What did that person do to have a statue erected to them?
• What was here before the town was built?
• Where was the road, the market place, the harbour, the old bridge?

What does SLHF do for you?

The Forum:-

• Publishes the journal Scottish Local History
• Produces the e-newsletter Clish-Clash
• Organises conferences and events
• Promotes member societies, their events and publications on its website
• Hosts a Facebook page
• Hosts a Directory of Scottish local history resources and the organisations which hold them on its website
• Provides news, advice and information about research projects on its website
• Campaigns on behalf of local history

Join SLHF to become part of Scotland’s local history community

Individual Membership

SLHF is for individuals interested in all aspects of Scotland’s history, whether you are an amateur or academic historian, involved with heritage, or a provider of sources for historical research.

If you are a family historian, you may be curious about where and how your ancestors lived. Local history helps to put your ancestors’ lives in context. Overseas members are most welcome.

If you are an academic historian, local history is the foundation of regional and national history, and an understanding of local developments can give specific examples to colour broader histories. But also national events in the past have had an impact on local life. As an umbrella group for local history, SLHF tries to help to make the links between local and national history: social, economic, or political.

Societies

SLHF is an umbrella organisation for local history societies. There are local history groups all over Scotland, but sometimes these groups are unaware of what is happening elsewhere. SLHF helps you to share information and expertise. The journal Scottish Local History offers an outlet for your research and the articles you write. Research which is relevant to Scotland as a whole is particularly welcome.

If your society produces publications, SLHF can promote and sell these for you on our website. Contact us for more information.
Find out more on Publications.

SLHF can publicise your society’s activities to a wider audience, or you can get ideas for speakers or events from other societies.
Find out more on Events.

Libraries, Archives, Museums and Heritage Organisations

If you are a professional working in a heritage environment, SLHF helps you to keep in touch with your public, to share information with each other, and to promote your services and events. We welcome reports about your services to publish in Scottish Local History, the newsletter Clish-Clash and on our website.
Find out about more: Contribute.

Membership Cost

The membership year runs from 1 October to 30 September each year. Members joining partway through the year will receive the journals previously issued during that year. There is also the option to gift a membership to someone else; details on the order form.”

As a member you will automatically receive the journal Scottish Local History by post and our newsletter Clish-Clash will be sent by email (unless you opt out – contact us to do so). Additional copies of the journal and back issues are available to purchase online here.

Membership Fees