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Correspondence and papers of Dr Hew Morrison, Gaelic scholar, including extracts from the diary of Rev. Murdo MacDonald, minister of Durness.

 Collection
Identifier: Acc.14317/1-34

Content Description

Correspondence and papers of Dr Hew Morrison (1850-1935), Gaelic scholar and a native Gaelic speaker from Torrisdale, Sutherland. He became the first librarian of the Edinburgh Free Public Library, now Central Library, a post which he held until his retirement in 1922. The library had been founded with the help of a gift from Andrew Carnegie, with whom Morrison remained in close friendship while acting as representative for Carnegie's library foundation scheme.

The papers include: letters on Gaelic-related and more general subjects; papers concerning Morrison's post as librarian and his own collection of Gaelic books, many of which are now held in the Library (shelfmark H.M.); research papers concerning, and extracts transcribed from, the lost diary of Rev. Murdo MacDonald (Murdoch MacDonald), minister of Durness (1695-1763); a heavily annotated proof copy of Morrison's edition of the poetry of the Gaelic poet Rob Donn (Mackay) and research papers connected to the edition.

Dates

  • Creation: 1877-2003 and undated, with most of the material dated 1877-1920s.

Creator

Language of Materials

The papers are in English and Gaelic.

Extent

34 Folders

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 2021, by Mrs C L Smith, Kirriemuir, through the good offices of Dr Ellen Beard.

Related Materials

MS.1669 (volume of poetry of Rob Donn formerly belonging to Hew Morrison)

MSS.14953-14955 (Papers of Hew Morrison concerning his edition of the poetry of Rob Donn)

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700