Rose Ethel Bassin was born in Edinburgh of Ukrainian extraction, and studied music under Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and others. She taught in schools in England (1907-1911, 1919-1920), Edinburgh (1915), Newton Stewart (1916-1919), Stornoway (1920-1924) and Skye (1924-1927). During 1927-1934 she lectured in the University of British Columbia. After some time in London she spent the war years teaching in Harris, the Uist and Barra. She moved to Dingwall Academy in 1945, finally becoming Music Organiser for Dingwall and District. On retirement in 1949 she taught privately in Strathpeffer and Edinburgh. The present part of her bequest consists largely of her general collection of Gaelic song.