Where are the National Galleries of Scotland Archive and Special Collections held?

There are Archive and Special Collections holdings at both the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. For further details about the holdings at each gallery, see About the Collections.

How can I tell which gallery holds the material I am interested in?

Item Reference Numbers (in the RefNo field) identify the home gallery for each item on the catalogue. Numbers starting with PG are held at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Numbers starting with GMA are held at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Each individual record should also identify the Repository (e.g. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Archive).

How do I access the Archive and Special Collections?

We have two dedicated research spaces, open by appointment, Monday to Friday. Please contact us directly to make an enquiry or book an appointment.

Library and Print Room at the Portrait
1 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JD
+44 (0)131 624 6407
PortraitCollection@nationalgalleries.org

Is it possible to arrange a group visit?

Yes, please contact us to make arrangements. Numbers are limited due to space restrictions and appointments should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Do you have wheelchair access?

Yes, both galleries have wheelchair access. Please let us know your requirements when making your appointment.

Can I make copies of documents?

Copies can be made of some material. This is at the discretion of Archive & Library staff, please ask for details. There are modest charges for photocopies and scans of documents.

Can I take photographs of documents?

No, but it may be possible to arrange photography via the NGS Picture Library.

Can I use my laptop?

Yes, there are power outlets in the research spaces and there is also Wifi access.