In the descriptions, references to publication generally give only the earliest traceable place and date.

James Allan Ford was educated in Edinburgh and entered the Civil Service in 1938, rising to become Principal Establishment Officer in the Scottish Office. During the second World War he served in the defence of Hong Kong and later drew on this experience for his novel ‘The brave white flag’ (London, 1961).

Includes manuscripts and corrected typescripts of poems, articles, reviews and essays, and includes critical work on Hugh MacDiamrid.

The papers consist chiefly of manuscripts and typescripts of Edward Albert's educational works, manuscripts and typescripts of his works of fiction, and his correspondence.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

While most of the articles and essays are on literary topics, they also include such diverse subjects as the Faroe Islands, hill-farming, politics, and the Edinburgh Festival. Many were published in a wide range of newspapers and periodicals. Some are incomplete and some survive only as drafts.

The papers include fragments of the introduction to Hugh MacDiarmid's proposed biography of John Maclean, 1936 (folio 1), the introduction to his unpublished long poem 'Impavidi Progrediamur', 1956 (folio 58), and a partial typescript of the introductory essay to an anthology of work by contemporary Scottish poets, undated (folio 212).

The contents are as follows. (i) Plays, including dramatised versions of 'Castle dark' and ‘The daft days’, undated (folio 1); (ii) Articles and introductions, 1909, ?1928, undated (folio 71). They include pieces on Joseph Conrad, Kipling and other literary figures (folio 73), and two fragments of ‘John Splendid’ (folio 152); (iii) Poems in English and Gaelic, undated (folio 154).

Hugh MacDiarmid originally submitted the text to a publisher in 1939 but was obliged to reduce its length very considerably. For his accounts of this, see his manuscript introduction (MS.27036, folio l, and what follows) and his prefaces to the editions of 1943 and 1972.

The papers include reviews and articles, material on the fishing industry, some of which was used in ‘Living silver’ (London, 1957) (folio 7); autobiographical notes, 1958 (folio 63), and the text of a radio programme, 'Water alive', undated (folio 147).

Born in Inveraray, Neil Munro became a journalist in Glasgow, rising to the post of editor of the ‘Glasgow Evening News’. His papers consist largely of manuscripts of his novels and short stories, though some of his newspaper articles are represented by presscuttings.

Alexander Scott was educated in Aberdeen, and after service in the army during the Second World War, became a lecturer in Scottish Literature at Glasgow University. He was the editor of the ‘Saltire Review’, 1954-1957, served on a number of literary committees, and edited work by William Soutar and Sydney Goodsir Smith, among others. His own literary work consisted of poetry, drama, and criticism.

Includes manuscripts, typescripts and proofs of poems, essays, short stories, autobiography and travel works.