Web features
Web features highlighting items with a focus on history within the Library collections. They contain interpretation and background information.
Slezer's Scotland
John Slezer was a 17th-century military engineer who travelled Scotland making detailed prints of towns and buildings across the country. His images reveal what Scotland looked like over 300 years ago and can be searched by town or theme on this feature. Useful for making links between the past and present by comparing Slezer's Scotland with modern towns and sites.
Curriculum Areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies.
The last letter of Mary Queen of Scots
View online Mary Queen of Scots' last letter, written only six hours before her execution. English and French transcriptions and background information on Mary's reign are also provided.
Curriculum areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies. History (Higher).
Propaganda: A weapon of war
A selection of our collection of propaganda used in the Second World War. Includes sections on propaganda to raise morale on the home front and demoralise the enemy abroad.
Useful for: individual study and for teachers to select examples of primary evidence for classroom activity.
Curriculum areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies. Standard Grade History: The Home Front, 1939-1945; Advanced Higher History: Britain at War and Peace, 1939-1951.
Scotland's Pages
An interactive timeline recording 1,000 years of Scottish history. Useful as a reference tool for students and teachers.
Curriculum areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies. History (Standard Grade, Higher, Advanced Higher).
Union of the Crowns
An introduction to the Treaty of Union, illustrated with material from the NLS collection.
Useful for: an introduction and overview of the topic for students and teachers.
Curriculum areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies. Higher History: The Treaty of Union.
Scottish Science Hall of Fame
An introduction to 10 great Scottish scientists chosen by the public. Site includes information about the scientists, their lives and discoveries, illustrated with documents from the NLS collections and suggested reading and other sources of information.
Useful for studying the history of science and impact of technological change in the past.
Curriculum Areas: Curriculum for Excellence: People, past events and societies.
Library video guides
Watch our video guides to find out how to access National Library of Scotland resources from home, school or in person.
Emigration from Scotland
Find out about six Scots who started a new life abroad. Go to 'A home away from home'.
Scottish Enlightenment
Explore the Scottish Enlightenment – a remarkable period of change in Scotland's history. Go to 'Northern lights'.
Library favourites
Find out about the 18th century version of the gap year, known as 'The Grand Tour'. Watch video.