Dr Lachlan Grant MD (1871-1945) was born in Renfrewshire, spent much of his youth in Argyll, and graduated from Edinburgh University in 1896. He took a Diploma in Public Health in 1911 and in 1921 became a Fellow of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow. He was Medical Officer for Ballachulish and Kinlochleven, bacteriologist to Argyll County Council and consulting medical officer to British Aluminium, Kinlochleven. He came to note nationally as the founder of the Highland Development League in the 1930’s, which followed on from the publication of his pamphlet New Deal for the Highlands.

The collection comprises fourteen volumes of press cuttings and other papers collected by Dr Grant relating to social conditions in the Highlands. The volumes cover a broad range of subjects within that area, but principally refer to medical, economic and political matters. The collection is arranged within two broad series. The first three volumes contain material relating to the Ballachulish Slate Quarries Company and the dispute surrounding Dr Grant’s dismissal as Medical Officer which resulted in a year-long lock out. Volume three also has material on a later lock out at Ballachulish. From Volume four onwards the volumes of cuttings become less specific and relate to all aspects of social conditions. However, specific topics that are covered in detail are noted below.