Catalogue of Archives and Manuscripts Collections | National Library of Scotland | NLSMSS | Manuscripts, proofs and editorial commentary, with some associated correspondence, papers and notes, of John Francis Campbell and his team of collectors for ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’, 1859-1862, and of the later tale collection fieldwork by Campbell himself, 1870-1871.

Language of Materials

EnglishScottish Gaelic
Scope and Contents

The terms, `Gaelic version` or `English version` refer to the original manuscript texts produced by (`transcribed by` or `told to`) one of his team of collectors or by Campbell. Unless stated otherwise, all English versions of the tales and textual notes are the work of Campbell.
Arrangement

The arrangement and original binding order of the collection was by Campbell, who numbered his `M.S. West Highland Tales` from I to XVIII, corresponding to the numeration Adv.MSS.50.1.1-50.1.14, 50.2.1-50.2.4. The series of original tales and editorial material was continued from 1870 as `Gaelic M.S.`, XIX-XXII, now Adv.MSS.50.2.5-50.2.8.
The order of the material does not always follow the final publication order in ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’.
For conservation reasons some of Campbell`s volumes have been taken down and boxed in fascicles. Of these volumes, many are split into more than one box, with some of the individual tales split between two boxes. In some cases, the original boards and endpapers have been retained.
Bibliography
Campbell, John Francis. ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’, 4 volumes (Edinburgh, 1860-1862).

Manuscripts, proofs and editorial commentary, with some associated correspondence, papers and notes, of John Francis Campbell and his team of collectors for ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’, 1859-1862, and of the later tale collection fieldwork by Campbell himself, 1870-1871. Edit