Councillors
This is a brief guide to tracing the records of councillors in Glasgow and Strathclyde.
What do I need to know before I start?
Try to find out:
- name of the person
- when they served as a councillor
- which council they served on
What records can I find in The Mitchell: Glasgow City Archives?
Councillors have been elected in Glasgow since 1833 and there are various sources which provide details of their election and subsequent work:
- Town Council lists, 1828-1975
- Domesday book, giving biographical notes and obituaries of councillors, compiled from 1890 to 1975 with retrospective information back to the 1850s
- oaths and declarations, 1807-1946 (incomplete)
- photograph albums, 1887 and 1893
- Glasgow Town Councillors, 1833-1912
- preliminary list by Irene Sweeney (1987)
The records of councillors for various areas in Strathclyde as follows:
- Lanarkshire - diaries and handbooks, 1920-1975
- Renfrewshire - county handbooks, 1899-1960 (incomplete)
- Rutherglen - election declarations and oaths of allegiance, 1671-1870
- Strathclyde Region – biographical notes and other information on councillors, 1982-1990
If your ancestor was a councillor in the Strathclyde area, contact the City Archives for information on other records that we might hold.
What records can I see online?
There are no records online.
What records can I see elsewhere?
Check local newspapers for an obituary on the death of a councillor as they can often provide details of their career.