Correspondence, notes, photographs and audiotapes of Dr Alice G. Vines relating to her book `The MacDonald Women: Margaret and Ishbel`.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, research papers, photographs and audio tapes, 1904-1994, of Dr. Alice Gilmore Vines (1923-2009) relating to her PhD thesis on Margaret Ethel Gladstone MacDonald (1870-1911) and Ishbel MacDonald (1903-1982), James Ramsay MacDonald’s wife and daughter.
Dr. Vines collected this material in the course of her research for an intended biography of the two women. Over a number of summers she visited Ishbel in Lossiemouth and corresponded with her. Unfortunately, she had not finished the text when Ishbel died in 1982 and thereafter failed to find a publisher for it. Dr Vines lectured in British history at the University of Dayton, Ohio, in the USA. A great enthusiast for Britain, she spent almost every summer in the UK and retired to St. Andrews, Fife, where she lived for twenty years.
The collection includes letters from Ishbel to Dr. Vines and also from other members of the MacDonald family. Of particular significance are the manuscript notes of Ishbel MacDonald containing many recollections about her life and relationship with her parents. In addition, the 15 audio tapes are also significant as they contain interviews with Ishbel and read out extracts from her personal journals. The collection also includes some photographs and transparencies.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-1994
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions
Extent
0.24 Linear metres (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged into the following series:
1-3 Correspondence, 1976-1994
4-11 Research notes and thesis, c. 1970s-1982
12 Tapes, c. 1970s-1980s
13-16 Photographs and slides, 1904-1980
17 Newspaper cuttings, 1961-1977
18-21 Miscellaneous
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The collection contains audiotapes and slides.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, May 20156 May 2015
Appraisal
Most of the material has been retained. Several transparencies have been returned to the donor as they do not fit in with the collection.
Subject
- MacDonald, James Ramsay, statesman, 1866-1937 (Person)
- MacDonald, Ishbel Allan, Labour activist, 1903-1982 (Person)
- MacDonald, Ishbel Allan, Labour activist, 1903-1982 (Person)
- MacDonald, Margaret Ethel Gladstone, socialist and feminist, 1870-1911 (Person)
- Vines, Alice Gilmore, Dr, historian, 1923-2009 (Person)
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 07 05 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk