NHS Grampian Archives

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NHS Grampian Archives

NHS Grampian Archives hold the historic records of more than 100 hospitals & health organisations from across Grampian. Email: gram.archives@nhs.scot

The records held by NHS Grampian Archives cover the period from 1739, when the Infirmary at Aberdeen was founded, to the late 20th century. NHS Grampian possesses the most complete archival records for an NHS body and its predecessors, covering one of the longest time spans that can be found in the British Isles, excepting only Dublin, London and York. Most of the records from the 18th and 19th centuries are of hospitals: general and specialist hospitals, cottage hospitals and asylums. These collections have information on the administrative and financial affairs of the hospitals and on individuals who were patients, staff or managers. There is also information on members of the general public who contributed to local hospitals in the time before the National Health Service by means of annual subscriptions, donations or legacies. As some of the capital of the larger hospitals was tied up in land, estate papers are also to be found among some hospital records. In addition, there are records from three local poorhouses which in 1948 became hospitals in the newly-formed NHS. Material from the 20th century includes both hospital collections and the records of a range of local health organisation. Amongst the latter are the minutes of the local National Insurance Committees set up under the 1911 National Health Insurance Act and the records of the various NHS administrative bodies, i.e. the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board (1948-1974) and its constituent Boards of Management, local Executive Councils and, from 1974, Grampian Health Board, now NHS Grampian. Also contained in the archives are records of local authority health departments which, prior to 1974, had responsibility for a range of healthcare services including prevention of epidemics, mother and child welfare, and school medical services.

17/06/2025

Maps and plans are a great source for seeing how things used to be, and proposed changes taking place. This plan shows the layout of Aberdeen Royal Lunatic Asylum (now Royal Cornhill Hospital) along with some proposed new additions in the early 1890s. There are pencil amendments, including the new layout of Cornhill Road to meet the junction with Watson Street. This move didn't just change things for the asylum - it also meant the relocation of Aberdeen Convalescent Hospital to a site in Cults.

16/04/2025

It's not just medical information that can be found in the records of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. This entry explains why there is a gap in the minute books from 1745 to 1746 and how the Jacobites and Cumberland's army caused 'confusion' in the city.

A transcription can be found at https://sway.cloud.microsoft/qkajySABBuJOLmKj

Both the run up to, and the months following the Battle of Culloden, which took place on 16th April 1746 can be described as a tumultuous period in Aberdeen's history, and a brief glimpse of this can be found in the minutes for Aberdeen Infirmary.

This image shows an entry explaining what happened to the Infirmary, and begins by describing how, on the Wednesday after Michaelmas 1745, a party of rebels from Strathbogie led by John Hamilton put a stop to the election of magistrates in Aberdeen, which meant there could be no election of new Directors for the Infirmary. It goes on to say that about the end of December 1745, the rebels, having turned all things into confusion after the affair at Inverurie, possessed themselves of the Infirmary, putting not only their own wounded men, but also some of the McLeods who they had taken prisoner.

By the beginning of March 1746, however, things had changed. The entry states that after His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland had come to Aberdeen with the army under his command in quest of the rebels, some of his sick soldiers were put into the Infirmary, and until the middle of August the Infirmary was used as a hospital for the army, meaning that the old Infirmary Directors were not able to act as they formerly been able to, even after they had been chosen anew, following an act passed by the Town Council at the beginning of July 1746. Once the Duke of Cumberland's soldiers were removed from the Infirmary, the Directors were able to act and set the hospital on its former footing.

You can find out more about the Jacobites in Aberdeen, and some of the key locations in this leaflet -https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/Jacobite%20Trail.pdf

10/03/2025

Another new index has been published today, and in a first for NHS Grampian Archives, images from the volume in question are also available to browse online. Part of one of the Aberdeen County Register of Deaths from Tuberculosis volumes has been transcribed by volunteer Diane May for the period covering 1916 - 1923.

The volume continues up to 1943, but only information which is over 100 years old has been made available. This will be added to each year, so keep checking back!

*Edited to add - this volume only covers people within Aberdeen County, and does not include Aberdeen City notifications. Some people from Aberdeen County were admitted to the City Hospital in Aberdeen.

Visit https://sway.cloud.microsoft/KxM8lRrBST4hXAVU to take a look. It can also be accessed via the Guides and Indexes section at www.nhsgrampian.org/archives. You can also email gram.archives@nhs.scot for further information on other records available.

This volume of notifications of deaths within Aberdeen County from tuberculosis covers the period 1916 - 1923. The digitised images and corresponding transcription are now available to search and view

20/12/2024

We're almost at the Christmas and New Year holidays for 2024! Emails to gram.archives@nhs.scot won't be monitored from Tuesday 24th December until Friday 3rd January 2025, and bookings for accessing the Research Room will be taken from Thursday 9th January 2025.

Thanks to everyone who has enquired, researched, visited, and come along to talks this year.

The image here shows an example of Christmas fare at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1937. Most appropriately, the carver on this occasion is Professor Learmonth, Professor of Surgery at Aberdeen University. Hopefully his carving skills were up to scratch! Looking on are the nursing staff of Ward 8 in the surgical block, including Sister in her frilled cap.

04/12/2024

Delighted to announce a new index to some of the records in the collection has been published. Volunteer Christina has been working on indexing the admission register for Kincardineshire Combination Poorhouse (later Woodcot Hospital) for a number of years, and has completed the volume covering admissions from 1867 to 1917 (catalogue reference GRHB 21/2/1) 🎉

You can search it, and some other indexes which are available, online at https://www.nhsgrampian.org/work-with-us/professionals/library-services/NHSGArchives/guides-and-indexes/

12/11/2024

A fascinating and tragic story of two Aberdeen women, with a little bit of research from the archive collection.

The war memorial, the plane crash and the two Aberdeen women never seen again 💔

On their way to bring home prisoners of war, Jane Curran and Rhoda Fraser lost their lives... and we shouldn't ever forget 👇

Read more here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0dBnKt0

04/10/2024

I had a great evening, and it's such a pleasure to see the book in print! Contact Grampian Hospitals Art Trust to purchase your copy.

18/09/2024

Interested in learning about the development of what we now call Foresterhill Health Campus? In collaboration with Grampian Hospitals Art Trust, join NHS Grampian Archivist Fiona Musk for a talk at Aberdeen City Libraries and the launch of a new publication about the Joint Hospitals Scheme and its history.

The talk is free to attend, but booking is advised.

Foresterhill: Past, Present & Future
Where: Aberdeen Central Library Information Centre
When: Wednesday 2nd October 2024, 6pm-7.30pm
Booking link: https://aberdeencity.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=14219613 (Click "Register for Event" on the right hand side)

23/02/2024

These books are such a great resource. The records were indexed by members of the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society using the original admission registers (a huge task!) and list people who died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. They're so useful, especially for deaths before 1855.

Perhaps whilst searching your family in Aberdeenshire you discover that your ancestor died in hospital, but don’t know the date. Possibly your relative is listed in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Deaths Recorded. The ARI Deaths Recorded, from 1743 to 1897, list names, residence, dates of admission & dates of deaths and can be viewed at The Local Studies Centre.

22/12/2023

Merry Christmas from NHS Grampian Archives! We'll be back on Monday 8th January 2024, and wish everyone a peaceful time over the festive period.

The image shows the Christmas decorations in one of the wards at what was then the Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children in 1889 at its premises on Castle Terrace. The hospital moved to Foresterhill in 1929.

01/12/2023

There are various stories from the collections available to read online, including the story of a deserting soldier, a family known as 'Shake', and more. Visit https://sway.office.com/wkCsrQKT1Ew7KhA5 to take a look!

A selection of stories from the collections of NHS Grampian Archives.

16/10/2023

There's still time to book your free place on tomorrow's talk about the history of Foresterhill, and see the fantastic work in the exhibition at the Suttie Arts Space within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

📍 Suttie Arts Space, ARI (use the Main Entrance)
⏰ Tuesday 17th October at 6pm
🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foresterhill-past-present-and-future-talk-and-qa-tickets-722751829177

Join GHAT and NHS Grampian Archives in a talk about the new installation in The Suttie Arts Space on Tuesday 17th October.

Address

Special Collections Centre, Sir Duncan Rice Library
Aberdeen
AB243AA

Website

http://www.nhsgrampian.org/archives

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Our Story

NHS Grampian Archives hold the historic records of more than 100 hospitals and health organisations from across the Grampian region. These cover the period from 1739, when the Infirmary at Aberdeen was founded, to the late 20th century. NHS Grampian possesses the most complete archival records for an NHS body and its predecessors, covering one of the longest time spans that can be found in the British Isles, excepting only Dublin, London and York. Most of the records from the 18th and 19th centuries are of hospitals: general and specialist hospitals, cottage hospitals and asylums. These collections have information on the administrative and financial affairs of the hospitals and on individuals who were patients, staff or managers. There is also information on members of the general public who contributed to local hospitals in the time before the National Health Service by means of annual subscriptions, donations or legacies. As some of the capital of the larger hospitals was tied up in land, estate papers are also to be found among some hospital records. In addition, there are records from three local poorhouses which in 1948 became hospitals in the newly-formed NHS. Material from the 20th century includes both hospital collections and the records of a range of local health organisation. Amongst the latter are the minutes of the local National Insurance Committees set up under the 1911 National Health Insurance Act and the records of the various NHS administrative bodies, i.e. the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board (1948-1974) and its constituent Boards of Management, local Executive Councils and, from 1974, Grampian Health Board, now NHS Grampian. Also contained in the archives are records of local authority health departments which, prior to 1974, had responsibility for a range of healthcare services including prevention of epidemics, mother and child welfare, and school medical services.

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