The British Isles Family History Society is pleased to announce this year’s conference dates and theme: Flittin’ Day: Forces That Moved our Scottish Ancestors.
Moved by economic hardship, social clearance, or the promise of new horizons, our ancestors’ decisions to relocate shaped history and families across generations. This year’s conference dives deep into the forces behind Scottish migration and emigration, offering expert speakers with invaluable insights and practical strategies to help you trace your family line back to their homelands in Scotland.
Sir Tom Devine, Professor Emeritus at Edinburgh University, will lead off with an overview of the socio-economic changes within Scotland from 1815-1914 that led to the emigration of so many;
Graeme Morton, Professor of Modern History and Director of the Centre for Scottish Culture at the University of Dundee, will tell us how the forces of industrialization drove people in Scotland to move;
Alison Spring, professional genealogist, will tell us how those who moved into cities lived, and how we can find them;
Morag Peers, professional genealogist and Director of Scottish Studies at the International Institute for Genealogical Studies, will show us how to trace a ship’s passenger back to their Scottish home;
Chris Fleet, Map Curator at the National Library of Scotland, will show the most useful maps for emigration and migration, and then give a website demonstration focused on newer tools and more advanced features of the NLS Maps website;
Dr. Frances Wilkins, Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, and a professional musician, will explore the musical and cultural traditions of Scottish communities in Scotland and Canada, examining what emigrants brought with them, what they left behind, and how their heritage evolved in new homes.
Marjory Harper, Professor of History, Aberdeen University and Visiting Professor at the Centre for History, University of the Highlands and Islands, will speak about the effects of religious fragmentation in Scotland and how it drove internal and external migration.
The Expert Connect Q and A session will return, where conference participants can engage with many of our speakers in small group discussions.
The conference registration fee ($40 for BIFHSGO members and $60 for non-members) includes attendance during the conference; handouts and other conference related resources; the Expert Connect; and access to the session recordings and handouts until 30 November 2026.
Registration will open on the first of September.
Visit the BIFHSGO conference website for all the details and follow us on Facebook and Bluesky for the latest updates.
While on the home page, watch conference Program Chair Barbara Tose explain the meaning behind “Flittin Day” and her thought process in building the program.
