Genealogies of divorce: law and family in the Scottish diaspora, 1830 – 1939
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Scottish population was mobile as a result of land clearances, economic pressures, and the broader colonial context, meaning that migration offered a route out of failing marriages as well as new opportunities for relationships. At the same time, Scotland was seen as having progressive divorce laws, as men and women could petition on equal grounds for adultery or desertion. This project looks at the connections between divorce laws across English-speaking jurisdictions and the experiences of Scottish people who were involved with divorce, using digital and archival research to track them across countries.
The project builds on work done in Scotland on divorce in the nineteenth century, looking particularly at the interactions of law and society through specific cases.
Duration: 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026
Funder: Leverhulme Trust