Founded in 1987 and based in Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow (Scotland's oldest), the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre aims to document and illustrate the religious, organisational, social, economic, political, cultural and family life of Jews in Scotland since the 18th century. It provides a research facility and an educational resource for the Jewish, and also the wider community, in order to heighten awareness of the Jewish heritage in Scotland and to stimulate study of the history of the Jews in this country.

The Centre collects a wide range of material, and its large collection includes old synagogue minute books and registers, membership lists, over 6,000 photographs, oral history recordings, annual reports of many communal organisations, a small library of books of Scottish Jewish interest, friendly society regalia, personal papers, war medals, ceremonial keys, newspapers, magazines, trophies, plaques, paintings and sculptures. These collections are documented, preserved and exhibited for the benefit of the general public, and visitors include researchers, school pupils, students, postgraduates, journalists, television producers, tourists, family historians and others.