William Simpsons Asylum patient database

Background information: The William Simpsons Asylum opened in Plean in 1836 as a home caring for old sailors and soldiers. It was founded by Colonel Frances Simpson (1760-1831), a military man and merchant seaman, who purchased an estate in Plean, a village near Stirling, in 1800. In 2014 a collection of nineteenth century records relating to the asylum (and the Plean estate) were discovered during building works at the home. This material was transferred to the University Archives and provides a detailed record of the management of the asylum and estate in the nineteenth century. In 2021 a volunteer project created a database of the first 100 residents of the asylum, transcribing details from the asylum registers.

Project details: This project will add additional information to the patient database of the William Simpsons Asylum by (a) continuing to add entries for patients beyond the first 100 residents of the asylum from the asylum registers, and (b) adding additional information on the first 100 residents which has been identified in letters, documents and reports held in the archive. Volunteers should have an interest in Scottish history. Experience of reading nineteenth century handwriting would be an advantage (but guidance and training are available).

Location: In person in the archives reading room (located in the University Library). Cataloguing will be carried out using Microsoft Teams and Excel.

Skills gained: The project will provide experience of handling historical documents, historical research, transcription and cataloguing.

Contact: archives@stir.ac.uk