Bringing Auld Ayr Back to Life
One Woman’s Career in the Archives
Catherine Lawson
Tucked away upstairs in the Carnegie Library in Ayr you’ll find a local history department brimming with records, resources and memorabilia dating as far back as the 17th century. For those interested in the history of Ayr and surrounding areas it’s a treasure trove which connects past with present, bringing people and places back to life along the way. For Elaine Docherty who has been a library assistant at Carnegie for almost 47 years, the local history department has been a rich source of joy for herself and others; throughout her career she has worked closely and tirelessly with families looking for answers and seeking connection with their past. As you can imagine, there is no shortage of heartwarming tales as Elaine talks me through some of the most memorable moments while we sit surrounded by archives bursting with stories to tell.
“I love history and doing the research to find answers for people – often things which they’ve wanted to find out about for a long time but haven’t known how to begin. Every other day I find out something new depending on where the search takes me. I love that.”
In one recent search Elaine worked with a local author conducting research for her second book. She wanted to find articles which her grandfather had written in 1918 when he was editor of the Ayrshire Post. With the original copies carefully retrieved from the basement and handled with white gloves, they found what they were looking for – some of his original columns. It turns out that over 100 years ago, he was writing about the potholes in the roads – a stark reminder that some things never change.
In another enquiry, Elaine worked with siblings in Australia who were desperately looking for some information about their parents’ wedding which had been held in Ayr. Ahead of their parents’ 60th wedding anniversary they wanted to gather memories to share during the celebrations and Elaine became the point of contact. At first glance it looked like there was no information available about the hotel they mentioned on Racecourse Road where their parents had married but then, through a copy of one of the old official guides to Ayr, Elaine found mention of the very hotel they were looking for and so they were able to pull together the information needed to give their parents a lovely trip down memory lane. Enquiries from overseas are frequent, with many people who relocated abroad looking to reconnect with their hometown in Ayrshire as they trace family histories and their own personal journeys.
Pre-Covid, the local history department was open full-time and its primary use was to support locals to start their family trees. At that time subscriptions to library editions of ‘Find My Past’ and ‘Ancestry’ meant that locals could access information freely. Elaine worked with countless individuals to start them off on an exploration of their past.
“I always tell people these searches need to start with ‘self’ and work backwards. It’s usually their mum’s side first, followed by their dad’s which is what I did with my own family tree to learn the process. It was fascinating. There are almost always some surprises along the way – good and bad. I’ve worked with many people who’ve discovered grisly family histories!”
Unfortunately, the full-time service and family history search facilities became a casualty of Covid and are no longer available in the same format, but Elaine is keen to point out there is still a wealth of information and advice available from the local history department to support people keen to embark on such research: it may no longer be a discreet service provided, but pedigree charts are issued along with expert advice including where to find the best resources and how to start the most effective on-line searches.
“It’s such a pleasure seeing people get what they need to connect with their past. We’d encourage anyone interested in starting down that road to come in and talk to us.”
Since Covid, accessibility to the local history department has been significantly reduced and it’s now only open to the public on Tuesdays from 5pm – 7pm and on Thursdays from 2pm – 5pm. Because of these changes access is by appointment only so that Elaine and her colleagues can make sure there is someone available to support searches and enquiries as people come through the door. Often, if given an idea of the area of research, staff have scoured the archives in advance and have resources ready for those visiting the department.
It’s often a surprise to people just how much information is available. For homeowners of older properties in Ayr, for example, the Valuation Rolls record who has owned each property from 1906 to 1990 (only businesses are listed thereafter). In the early days, only the ‘head person’ (i.e. man) of the household was listed, sometimes along with his occupation which in itself is a fascinating look at how industries have changed and evolved through time: back in 1906 homeowners ranged from potato merchants to bankers to military personnel to miners with a whole host of now-lost professions in between. Running alongside the property histories you can also see the monumental inscriptions for every graveyard across Ayrshire.
Completed by local family history societies these records give individuals access to relatives’ details going as far back as the 1700s – a collection which is an ongoing labour of love. In addition, extracts from personal wills dated throughout the 18th century are accessible (full wills are available to see through the National Library in Edinburgh) along with electoral rolls going back to 1892, old street and land maps from the 1700s onwards, and a complete Burns collection all of which are highlights from the oldest sections of the archives.
More recent history archives include a letter from Frank Sinatra who wrote to a local club owner to thank him for a wonderful time in Ayr; boxes of event brochures, school shows and entertainment programmes dating back to the 50s; old photos and postcards; all the Ayr United football books and a full collection of the official guides to Ayr which date back to the 50s and show a vibrant, thriving, aspirational seaside location which many a local will fondly remember. Old reminiscence boxes, which were once issued to local nursing homes, lie sadly unused in light of recent staff cuts and service changes but a quick look inside immediately transported me back to my early childhood in the 70s with Cremola Foam tins, sewing patterns, magazine articles and all kinds of objects of interest bringing memories flooding back. These are resources which spark joy.
The local history department at Carnegie Library is more than an archive and a trip down memory lane – it’s a comprehensive social commentary on life in Ayr through the ages and something which is a privilege to explore. For Elaine, having devoted her career to connecting people with their pasts, the value of the local history department cannot be over-stated.
“What we have here is pure gold. For anyone interested in the history of Ayr or tracing their own family roots these archives open doors which offer an insight into a world they didn’t previously know. We’re so lucky to have this here – it’s a resource which should be protected and loved for generations to come.”
