The History of the Archive
The Scottish Catholic Archives (SCA) is the Archive of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and is responsible for preserving the historical memory of Catholicism in the modern era. The Collection housed in the Archive ranges from Pre-Catholic Emancipation (1829) up to present day.
The Scottish Catholic Archives, at present, occupies Columba House, 16 Drummond Place, in the new town of Edinburgh. The building is a corner pavilion, built in 1819 which was purchased in 1958 by the Bishop Hierarchy of Scotland, to serve as a repository and research centre. Father William James Anderson was the first Keeper of the newly formed Archives. This enabled the Historical Collection of the Church to be brought from St Mary’s College, Blairs to Edinburgh so it could be studied and cared for in one location. The main part of the Historical Collection (now housed at the University of Aberdeen) consists of the 46,000 Blairs Letters (1627-1887).
The period 1958 to 1972 was pivotal in the development of the Archives, as Father Anderson started the process of cataloguing and arranging the Archive, also adding significant collections along the way. The Archive is unique in the way it has drawn the Diocesan and Parish archives into one location, but ownership still lies with the Dioceses and Parishes, as dictated by Canon Law. Scotland has pioneered a system which is being explored by other Catholic Dioceses around the world. This centralisation of the Archive has provided a focal point for local, national, and international enquires. It has facilitated the employment of a qualified Archivist to oversee the care and preservation of the collections held, making them accessible to researchers and the public.