The Scottish Association of Family History Societies
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The Scottish Association of Family History Societies (SAFHS) promotes and encourages the study of Scottish family history, and provides a forum for the exchange of information among members.
SAFHS is an umbrella association of Scottish Family History Societies, and individual direct membership is not possible.
Full Membership (£55 annually) is open to Scottish Family History Societies and those associations with an interest in Scottish family history. Applicants should have a Constitution and Office Bearers, and should operate on an open membership basis. Full members are expected to send representatives to Council meetings. A new society, wishing to become a full member, is offered the first year's subscription free of charge, and the opportunity to receive help and advice from established societies.
Associate Membership (£30 annually) is available to other societies outwith Scotland with an interest in Scottish family history. All member societies receive copies of the Minutes of the Council meetings.
The Council Of SAFHS is made up of representatives from the full member societies, who meet twice a year in Edinburgh. This enables members to exchange information and debate matters affecting family historians in Scotland. The Council defines policy and, by discussion, agree and set standards for family history societies.
Our newsletter, the Bulletin, is published twice yearly and distributed worldwide. It contains reports on the latest news and activities of member societies, with an up to date list of the secretaries' addresses.
SAFHS will try to help members with competent advice on such matters as Copyright, the Data Protection Act and Charity status in Scotland.
Annual Conferences are organised by member societies in conjunction with SAFHS who is willing to help and underwrite such events. They promote family history to the public through programmes of talks, sale of publications and recruitment of new members to societies. Those attending have the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and exchange ideas.
SAFHS is spokesperson with national and local government bodies and agencies in Scotland on matters affecting the study of family history. SAFHS is represented on The Family History Centre User Group; ScotlandsPeople Website User Group and the Scottish Council on Archives. SAFHS through member societies represents approximately 70,000 family historians in the UK. It seeks to co-operate with archive centres, museums, and Public Record Offices in Scotland, and has regular contact with the Federation of Family History Societies, who represent England and Wales, on matters of common interest.
National projects are co-ordinated by SAFHS to avoid duplication of effort by societies. SAFHS also co-operates with other national bodies in the UK to ensure uniformity in research projects.
Education, an important aspect of promoting family history, is achieved through annual conferences, regular programmes of talks, seminars and workshops by member societies.
SAFHS has a range of publications on topics that cover the whole of Scotland. Members benefit through purchase of SAFHS publications at two thirds of normal cost; SAFHS produces these publications at a lower cost per copy, giving members publications for sale with low capital expenditure. Members exchange journals, information and advice concerning new publications and review other societies' publications in their journals.
SAFHS acts as a clearing house for Scottish inquiries, and advises correspondents which societies are most likely to be able to assist them. Member societies have gained many new members through these introductions.
If you would like to join, please use our Contacts page, to contact the Secretary.