George Anderson (1865-1925) emigrated to the Falkland Islands in 1884 with a five-year contract to work as a shepherd. In 1891 he formed a company with four other Scottish shepherds to start a sheep farm in Patagonia, Argentina. It took George nearly eight years to find suitable land in this remote region. Eventually, in 1898 after several unsuccessful expeditions and many privations, he found a place near Cape Watchman.

Although life in Patagonia was isolated and sometimes difficult, George’s farm, which he named 'Bahía Laura', started to take off. George visited Scotland in 1905 and 1907. During the second visit he persuaded his brother Adam to join him the following year. Before returning to Patagonia he acquired a Kodak camera with which he captured the progress of his farm and the lives of relatives and friends.

In 1924 George returned to Scotland permanently. He and his family settled in Peebles. Unfortunately George died prematurely of pneumonia in January 1925. His son George was born only two months later.

The collection consists mostly of copies of the original photographs. These document daily life and sheep farm activities at Estancia Bahía Laura. It also includes some typescript biographical notes in English and Spanish which provide an insight into George Anderson's emigration to and life in Patagonia, and a copy of article, 1920, from 'Territorios Nacionales', concerning him.

The contents of the folder is as follows:

1. George Anderson soon after arriving in the Falklands, 1884.

2. George Anderson on horseback in the Falklands, 1889.

3. Thought to be a Post Office built on the coast of Bahia Laura, 1902.

4. Adam Anderson's house at Bahia Laura. Adam (George’s brother) with wife and family left Innerleithen in 1907 and 1908 to join George, circa 1910s.

5. Lamb marking at Bahia Laura, 1908.

6. "Lamb marking 1908, Bahia Laura".

7. "Que Bueno el Asado, Bahia Laura, 1908".

8. The dwelling house completed at Bahia Laura, March 1908.

9. Stores arriving at Bahia Laura, 1908.

10. Agnes Anderson (on left) and her young sister (centre) with visitors and some of the farm workers, Bahia Laura, circa 1909.

11. Settlement of Comodoro Rivadavia, circa 1910s.

12. At Bahia Laura. "Mr Jolly and his shearing machine", circa 1910s.

13. The wool shed at Bahia Laura nears completion, circa 1910s.

14. Estancia Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

15. Estancia Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

16. Estancia Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

17. Dwelling house, Estancia Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

18. Visitors at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

19. Visitors at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

20. At Bahia Laura. Agnes Anderson on left, circa 1910s.

21. George's wife Annie (MacDougall) on left and niece Nellie dressed up as Tehuelche Indians, wearing guanaco skins. Annie is drinking maté from a gourd, circa 1910s.

22. A dance at Estancia Bahia Laura. The couple on the right are Agnes Anderson and her husband Jim Hope, c.1910s.

23. An outing to Cape Watchman. Adam (George's brother) is on the right, circa 1910s.

24. At Cape Watchman with penguins, circa 1910s.

25. Settlement at Puerto Deseado, circa 1910s.

26. Passenger disembarking, probably at Comodoro Rivadavia, circa 1910s.

27. Norfolk Rams, 1910s. Caption at the bottom of the photograph reads "Lincoln rams", circa 1910s.

28. At Bahia Laura. Agnes Anderson (Adam's daughter) on the left, circa 1910s.

29. Original caption: This is Jim Anderson (nephew of G.A. – possibly George Anderson) driving a lot of "Bobbies", circa 1910s.

30. Probably view (from sea) of settlement at Puerto Deseado, circa 1910s.

31. Wool shed and windmill at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s

32. Mounted farm workers driving herd of horses at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

33. Mounted farm workers and some horses at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

34. Mounted farm workers and some horses at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

35. Horses and cart with farm worker at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

36. Farm worker, horses and mounted uniformed men at Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

37. Mounted farm worker leading another horse with bridle Bahia Laura, circa 1910s.

38. Estancia Mate Grande in San Julian, home of Robert and William Patterson who emigrated from Dumfries to the Falklands and crossed to Patagonia in 1890. This building was burned down by the group known as the 'Huelguistas' around 1920.

39. Saved by the marines. The group known as the 'Huelguistas' having burned down farms and terrorised the area around San Julian moved north towards Bahia Laura and the men prepared to defend it. But the 'Huellguistas' were intercepted by a detachment of the Argentine navy before reaching the buildings, defeated and shown no quarter. This shows some of the sailors (or marines) at Bahia Laura afterwards; Maria, George's daughter is on the right, circa 1920.

40. Photograph of newspaper article in 'Territorios Nacionales' about George. Article has picture of George, his wife and daughter, 20th November 1920.

41. Photocopy of a page of George Anderson's diary. The entry refers to his first visit back to Scotland in 1907, sailing from Punta Arenas in the far south of Argentina. Before sailing for Scotland he had to go down the coast on a smaller ship and had a tiring night ride before he could board on it.

42. History of the life of George Anderson (in English) compiled by his son, also named George Anderson, in chapters entitled:

"The Early Years 1865-1884"

"In the Falklands 1884-1891"

"A province called Patagonia"

"The search for land 1891-1898"

"Estancia Bahia Laura 1898-1924"

43. Document (in Spanish) with brief history of George Anderson's life.