Records of The Salvation Army Scotland Command

Papers of The Salvation Army Scotland Command (1991-1994) and its predecessors, Scotland Territory (1958-1991), Scotland and Ireland Territory (1936-1958), and the Headquarters for Scotland (c1880s-1930s).

The collection comprises papers from Scotland Command Headquarters and its predecessors, including papers relating to Ireland from the Scotland and Ireland Territory period (1936-1958). For other records relating to Ireland, see Papers of Ireland Division (IRE). The present collection (ST) also includes the papers of historic Scottish Divisions, Districts and Provinces (pre-1991). For papers of the existing (as of May 2015) Divisions see their respective collections: East Scotland Division (ESD); North Scotland Division (NSD); and West Scotland Division (WSD).

The collection is arranged as follows:

ST/1 Administration

ST/2 Legal

ST/3 Property

ST/4 Finance

ST/5 Officers

ST/6 Events

ST/7 Photographs

ST/8 Divisional, District and Provincial records

Salvation Army work in Scotland began in Glasgow in 1879. Scotland was producing its own annual reports from August 1882 onwards from the Headquarters for Scotland, then at 5 St Vincent Place, Glasgow. The annual reports covering 1883-1888 include balance sheets for the 'Scotch Division', showing that the Scottish Headquarters had some degree of separate financial responsibility from this time. In May 1891, Colonel David Rees farewelled from the leadership of Scotland, and a note in 'The War Cry' stated that it was 'not intended to appoint another officer in charge of the whole of Scotland'. Records for the period 1891-1905 are lacking, but from 1906-1936 it appears that a succession of short-lived administrative titles and organizational arrangements were tried for Salvation Army work in Scotland. In 1936, Scotland was given the status of Territory, which it held with Ireland from 1936-1958 and alone from 1958-1991. The Territory temporarily became a Command following the 1990 administrative restructuring that established a UK and Ireland Territory entirely separate from International Headquarters, but in 1994 Command Headquarters were closed and the administration of Scotland was brought fully under UK and Ireland Territory.

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

A multi-level description of this collection can be accessed in the International Heritage Centre's online catalogue: http://www.calmview.eu/SalvationArmy/CalmView/. A paper catalogue is available in the reading room of the International Heritage Centre.