Call for Papers: ‘The Sources of Scottish History’
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 28 FEBRUARY
University of Edinburgh
28 March 2026
The Scottish History Society is the leading publisher of original sources related to the history of Scotland. Founded in 1886, the Society has published over 170 volumes that demonstrate the rich history of the nation as recorded by contemporaries. We are pleased to announce our annual conference at the University of Edinburgh on Saturday, 28 March 2026. Reflecting our commitment to publishing manuscripts, the conference will continue to explore ‘The Sources of Scottish History,’ ranging from the medieval to modern period.
We invite proposals for individual papers (20 minutes in length) that examine manuscripts related to Scottish history from a variety of perspectives. These include (but are not limited to) cultural, social, economic, legal, constitutional, intellectual, military, or religious history. Papers might also address:
- A manuscript’s significance for the history of Scotland
- Multiple manuscripts in a collection
- Different genres of manuscripts (correspondence, diaries, sermons, treatises, etc.)
- The use of non-textual manuscripts (maps, images, etc.)
- Relationships between textual and non-textual sources
- Reflections on transcribing and editing manuscripts
- The provenance and preservation of archival sources
- Methods for analysing manuscript sources
While papers should emphasise manuscripts related to the history of Scotland, the material discussed does not need to be held in Scottish archives. Papers which incorporate sources in languages other than English and Scots are also welcome.
The deadline for paper proposals is 28 February 2026. Please send an abstract (250 words maximum) and brief biographical note to secretary@scottishhistorysociety.com.
The Society’s AGM and the Presidential Lecture will be included as part of the conference. Further information about the conference, Scottish History Society events, and membership can be found on our website: https://scottishhistorysociety.com.