Shedding a light on slavery – a lesser-known chapter in Angus history

Angus Archives is thrilled to announce that they’ve successfully secured funding of £14,700 from Museums Galleries Scotland for a significant project that will shed light a lesser-known chapter of Angus’s history, uncovering links to the legacy of slavery.

The Archives department holds unique documents from the Langlands family, whose 18th-century plantations in Jamaica were run by enslaved people. These papers, including detailed census records of enslaved individuals, provide a rare and poignant glimpse into this complex past.

Through this Museums Galleries Scotland project, these documents will be catalogued, digitised, and made available online, expanding access for researchers and the public alike. Additionally, the project will:

• Employ a part-time Archives & Local History Research Advisor (see MyJobScotland for more information).
• Collaborate on a Black History Month 2025 exhibition at Montrose Museum.
• Commission research into the Langlands’ Caribbean connections.
• Develop educational materials for Angus schools, fostering a better understanding of our history.

This project aligns with the goals of Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy and will be an essential step in making the diverse stories of our shared past accessible to all. Stay tuned for updates and insights as Angus Archives work on this journey of discovery and reflection.