LAW AND ORDER ON FILM Documenting the fight against crime

The magazine of the National Library of www.nls.uk | Issue 24 Winter 2013

f t h Wha’s Like Us An A-Z of what Scotland has b given the world s

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Best-selling Scots of Launching the NLS Field Marshal the 19th century Gaelic catalogue Haig’s war diary welcome Celebrating Scotland’s global contribution

What has Scotland given to the world? The quick DISCOVER NLS answer to that question is ‘plenty’! Our nation’s Issue 24 WINTER 2013 contribution to the rest of mankind is substantial CONTACT US and diverse. We welcome all comments, For a small country we have more than pulled our questions, submissions and subscription enquiries. weight, contributing significantly to science, economics, Please write to us at the politics, the arts, design, food and philosophy. And there National Library of Scotland address below or email are countless other examples. Our latest exhibition, [email protected] Wha’s Like Us? A Nation of Dreams and Ideas, which is covered in detail in these pages, seeks to construct FOR NLS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF an alphabetical examination of Scotland’s role in Alexandra Miller shaping the world. It’s a sometimes surprising collection EDITORIAL ADVISER Willis Pickard of exhibits and ideas, ranging from cloning to canals, from gold to Grand Theft Auto. Diversity is also at the heart of Willis Pickard’s special CONTRIBUTORS Bryan Christie, Martin article in this issue. Willis is a valued member of the Conaghan, Jackie Cromarty, Library’s Board, but will soon be standing down from that Gavin Francis, Alec Mackenzie, Nicola Marr, Alison Metcalfe, position. As such, he’s taken some time to reflect on a Willis Pickard, Kenny Redpath, number of items from our collections that have particular Helen Vincent personal significance for him. Some are physical objects EDITOR and some are resources accessible via a screen (be that Jack Kibble-White on a computer, tablet or some other device). [email protected] And it is to the screen that we head for an examination DEPUTY EDITOR of how crime and punishment have been reflected in Andrew Cattanach andrew.cattanach@ the Library’s Scottish Screen Archive. It’s a

ne thinkpublishing.co.uk fascinating subject, which we cover here on the a r h occasion of the 50th anniversary of the last Design Matthew Ball in Scotland. m coc Sub-editorS Elsewhere we take a look at some of the Scottish literary

lcol Ellen Arnison, Sian Campbell, Andrew Littlefield, Sam Bartlett contemporaries of Sir and there is also the

GE: ma latest Library news, including details of our new Gaelic Martyn Wade A Publisher John Innes catalogue, which is an impressive initiative, and another National Librarian [email protected] HIS P contribution from Scotland to the world. and Chief Executive ON, T

I ADVERTISING Alison Fraser T I

B alison.fraser@thinkpublishing.

HI co.uk 0141 946 8708 as EX PUBLISHED by THREE NLS DIGITAL GALLERIES Think Scotland nd Ide Woodside House 20-23 Woodside Place 1 2 3 ams a G3 7QF re 0141 582 1280 THE DUNCAN FIRST WORLD BLIGHTY AND ISSN 1751-5998 (print) STREET WAR OFFICIAL SEA PIE

on of D ISSN 1751 6005 (online) EXPLORER PHOTOGRAPHS Editions of two i t Photos, audio Black and white magazines National Library of Scotland recordings, floor images mainly published for George IV Bridge plans and more of the Western Britain’s fighting e Us? A Na EH1 1EW help tell the story Front taken forces between Telephone 0131 623 3700 of the famous during the First 1917 and 1919, with Fax 0131 623 3701 Bartholomew World War pictures, stories, Email [email protected] mapmakers digital.nls.uk/ poems and digital.nls.uk/ first-world-war- humour digital.nls. The National Library of The first Times survey atlas Scotland is a registered bartholomew/ official- uk/blighty-and- Scottish charity. Scottish duncan-street- of the world is ready for delivery photographs sea-pie

FRONT COVER: Wha’s Lik Charity No. SC011086 explorer

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 3 contents

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14 The genius of James Nasmyth forms part of the NLS exhibition

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7 NEWS The latest news and comment, including the launch of the Library’s Gaelic catalogue, a swim across the Hellespont and events at the Library

14 AN ABC OF SCOTLAND How NLS curators compiled an alphabet of Scottish achievement for the Library’s new exhibition

20 FIVE OF THE BEST NLS Board member Willis Pickard reflects on his years at the Library through a selection of items from the collections

23 MEET THE RESIDENts We profile the Library’s Wikimedian in Residence and Reader in Residence

24 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT CAUGHT ON CAMERA BBC Journalist Martin Conaghan on how criminality and law enforcement are represented in Contributors to this issue include NLS’ Scottish Screen Archive

28 SCOTTISH SISTERS Helen Vincent on the writers who, in their day, were as popular as Sir Walter Scott k

o c and Jane Austen rst Andrew Martin Alison Metcalfe Gavin Francis Dr Maria Castrillo Willis Pickard 31 MAKE THE MOST OF The Library’s Curator, An author and GP A Manuscripts Willis has been e, sup e e, YOUR NATIONAL Modern Scottish Manuscript and Gavin’s first book, Curator, Maria – features and LIBRARY Collections Archive Collections, True North, was with Andrew literary editor of Curator, Andrew Alison writes in published in 2008. Martin – has The Scotsman and o chran

c is also part of this issue about His latest book is curated Wha’s editor of the Times lm 33 MY NLS the Council of Field Marshal the award- Like Us? A Nation Educational o the Scots Sir Douglas Haig’s winning Empire of Dreams and Supplement malc 34 LAST WORD Language Centre war diaries Antarctica Ideas exhibition Scotland

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 5 GAELIC PROJECT COMPLETED + EARL HAIG’S VIEW FROM THE FRONT NEWS + EMULATING LORD BYRON + MYSTERIOUS LITERARY ART + EVENTS +

cataloguing which NLS Alasdair Allan meets plans to share with other Senior Manuscripts libraries and organisations Curator Ulrike Hogg that want to develop Gaelic versions of their own catalogues. This will make translating their catalogue interface into Gaelic easier and further encourage the use of the language. The translation was completed by four members of the Library staff who are Gaelic scholars, but non-native speakers, and a volunteer, Katie Murray, who is a native speaker and former teacher of Gaelic. Once the translation was completed NLS launches it was checked internally at NLS and externally by Greg MacThomais, a native Gaelic catalogue Gaelic speaker who works in the library at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig — the Gaelic The Minister for use it more often and because of the technical College on Skye. there must be more and specialist terminology ‘It is great to see our Scotland’s Languages opportunities for them to used in libraries which catalogue available in unveils a major online do so on a day-to-day often required a creative Gaelic,’ says National resource in Gaelic basis,’ says Dr Allan. ‘The approach to the Librarian Martyn Wade. National Library’s Gaelic translation. ‘Shelfmark’, ‘The National Library of catalogue will give for example, became ‘Àite Scotland is committed to LANGUAGE speakers and learners air an sgeilp’, literally ‘the promoting and increasing a unique opportunity of place on the shelf’. There awareness of the Gaelic he world-class being able to access this are also more words in language and we hope collections at the incredible national Gaelic than the equivalent this translation will T National Library of collection of more than in English, but the prove popular with Scotland can now be 15 million printed items translators needed to be Gaelic speakers and searched in Gaelic. This is representing centuries of concise because of the those interested in a major milestone in the Scottish heritage, culture way the catalogue the language.’ Library’s continuing and achievement.’ interface is laid out. commitment to promote One positive spin-off Search the Library’s the use of the language. CHALLENGE from the project has been catalogue in Gaelic at The new Gaelic feature The work on the catalogue the development of a list main-cat.nls.uk/vwebv/ on the Library’s website proved to be challenging of Gaelic terms relevant to searchBasic?sk=nls_gae was officially launched in September by Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for ‘As a native Gaelic Scotland’s Languages. speaker, I was pleased to It covers the main be able to help staff at catalogue and includes the the Library translate the majority of the Library’s catalogue into Gaelic. printed collections. Translation from English NLS has also produced into Gaelic can be its own Gaelic Language challenging, in particular Plan which sets out how when dealing with the Library will support specialised terms.’ – the use of the language. Katie Murray (left), with ‘For Gaelic to flourish, Digital Access Manager people with the language Gill Hamilton and Dr Allan must be encouraged to

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 7 NEWS ‘Haig continues

to divide opinion Curator Alison Metcalfe with like no other’ Haig’s diary his extract comes from the diary of Field TMarshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on the Western Front during the First World War. Written on the eve of the Battle of the Somme, it demonstrates Haig’s conviction that the men under his command were well prepared for what lay ahead. The British Army was to suffer 57,000 casualties on the CURATOR’S CHOICE first day alone in a protracted battle that, some historians Alison Metcalfe, Curator, would say, has come to Manuscript and Archive symbolise the incompetence Collections on the First World of British Army command. War diary of Field Marshal Haig As Commander-in-Chief of the largest British Army ever 30 June 1916 assembled, Haig has become Preparations were never so one of history’s more thorough, nor troops better controversial generals, but at trained. Wire very well cut, the end of the war he was and ammunition adequate… considered something of a With God’s help, I feel hopeful national hero for the part he for tomorrow. The men are in played in delivering victory splendid spirits: several have for the Allies. Haig devoted said that they have never the remainder of his life to the before been so instructed and cause of ex-servicemen, and informed of the nature of the for his state funeral hundreds operation before them. of thousands of people across

As Commander-in-Chief of the largest British Army ever assembled, Haig has become one of history’s more controversial generals, but at the end of the war he was considered something of a national hero for the part he played in delivering victory for the Allies

REFURBISHMENT PLAN FOR NATIONAL LIBRARY BUILDINGS MAINTENANCE Work will also start next year on repairing the exterior Major renovation work of the Library’s seven-storey will be carried out at the building in Causewayside, Library’s building on which has suffered a number How the Library George IV Bridge this winter of defects. This project will building will look as part of an extensive last three years. under scaffolding 18-month external The maintenance and malcolm cochrane refurbishment programme. repairs are essential to

8 | discover nls | Winter 2013 the country paid their respects.

FIRST-HAND EVIDENCE Yet, in the years that followed Haig came to be vilified by some who felt he bore responsibility for the high casualty rate suffered by the British Army. While Great War historians in recent years have taken a different view of his abilities, and debate has shifted from the competence or otherwise of individual generals, Haig continues to divide opinion like no other. Regardless of your own viewpoint, his diary is a unique record that is undeniably at the heart of the documentary evidence that Justin Notley, Iain Pender has informed modern opinion and Callum Robertson of the Great War. The from Frame, with, historical significance of this (second from the right) momentous 3,800-page NLS’ Alex Miller document has now been recognised with its inscription to the UNESCO 2012 UK Memory of the World Seven wins for the Library Register. A total of 11 items AWARDS from across the UK were inscribed to the 2012 register NLS, working with creative agency this summer, including the Frame, has won a number of marketing Domesday Book and the personal archive of Sir awards. The Going to the Pictures: Winston Churchill. Haig’s Scotland at the Cinema campaign, diary is the sixth inscription designed to promote the Library’s from NLS’ varied collections summer 2012 exhibition was named gold since 2010, the UK register’s inaugural year. winner in the Public Sector category at the Marketing Society Star awards.

Find out more about Sir The memorable campaign called for Douglas Haig’s First World War contributors to ‘Scotify’ a famous phrase diary at www.nls.uk/ collections/manuscripts/ from the movies, resulting in such gems collections/military-naval/ as ‘Luke ah’m yer da’. haig-diary NLS was also honoured six times at the Scottish Creative Awards, including winning the much-coveted Grand Prix award. ensure the Library’s world- class collections are housed in the best conditions possible. It will also improve the energy efficiency of the buildings, producing long-term savings on the Library’s energy bills. 5 million All the Library By the numbers services will operate as normal during the The approximate number of translated records in NLS’ main renovation programme. catalogue in Gaelic

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 9 NEWS

Swimmers battle the currents to cross the Hellespont Abydos Eceabat oli p

lli Kilitbahir Çanakkale a G

In the wake of Byron NLS Patron Roy Leckie

ACHIEVEMENT Strong currents are created by It was in 1810 that Byron became the first known water flowing from the Black person to swim across the Hellespont, the NLS Patron, Roy Leckie, Sea to the Aegean Sea which completes an impressive can pull swimmers seriously narrow strait in Turkey that divides continental feat of endurance for charity off course. Europe from Asia, now called the Dardanelles ‘The conditions were tough,’ n a life of adventure, says Roy who works at He persuaded a number of a very respectable time of literary success and the Edinburgh-based Walter Scott friends to join him in the swim one hour 11 minutes, not long I odd scandal, it might and Partners. ‘Even when and they all raised money for behind the first finishers seem strange that poet Lord conditions are benign, the the Teapot Trust, a Scottish who got there in just under Byron would consider a swim currents are always going to charity that provides art an hour. across an open stretch of be strong but the wind made it therapy for children In a letter in the Library’s water as one of his greatest even more difficult.’ in hospital. collection, Lord Byron accomplishments. Roy is an experienced open- Waves meant that describes himself as the It was in 1810 that he water swimmer having taken swimmers had to stop ‘celebrated aquatic genius’ became the first known part in a relay across the regularly to get their bearings. who swam across the person to swim across the English Channel aged only 13 Roy ended up using local Hellespont. Roy Leckie is not Hellespont, the narrow strait and a similar relay across knowledge to get to the claiming the same for himself in Turkey that divides Lake Ontario in Canada four finishing line. ‘Locals wore but he has an unqualified continental Europe from Asia, years later. He trained orange caps and are easy respect for anyone who has now called the Dardanelles. throughout the summer to spot. I decided to tuck managed to reach Asia from Today, hundreds of in swimming pools and a in behind one of them to Europe across this wild swimmers follow in the wake reservoir in the Pentland hills. get home.’ He reached land in stretch of water. of Lord Byron and take part in an annual organised swim from west to east across the 4.5 kilometre channel. Patrick Leigh Fermor vs Hellespont This year that swim included The challenge of swimming the Hellespont was one that the celebrated one of the Library’s travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor (pictured) could not resist. He completed patrons, Investment Director it in 1984 at the age of 69. ‘It seemed quite easy at first, the landmarks — Roy Leckie. lighthouses, mountains, minarets, forts — exchanged places with Like Byron, he was heartening speed, and the dreaded current didn’t seem too strong,’ attracted to the physical he wrote of his experience. ‘Only when we were halfway did I start challenge of one of the to feel the dread current.’ Nonetheless Leigh Fermor eventually world’s most celebrated completed the swim to cries of ‘You’ve done it!’ from his wife as he wild swims. It is no came ashore ‘amid slippery boulders and green seaweed’. trivial undertaking. swimtrek, corbis

10 | discover nls | Winter 2013 NEWS

The sculpture of Treasure Island was found at the Seabird Centre

Above: Whisky Galore Below: Peter Pan

Pop-up fun and burns DISPLAY

Books with moving parts and Burns’ Glenriddell Literary sculptures for Book Week Manuscripts go on show The Christmas display at Exhibitions and for the duration of that week were NLS features a selection of exhibited alongside an associated pop-up books from the Works of art treasure from NLS’ collections. Library’s collections. Early discovered hidden printed books sometimes in public places last What is Book Week Scotland? incorporated moving year are together This seven-day initiative is about elements, but in the 18th on display celebrating books and reading in every century, paper engineering part of life in Scotland. Between began to be used for ive paper sculptures that appeared 25 November and 1 December, people of entertainment. In the 19th mysteriously last year have been all ages and walks of life are able to come century ‘movable’ books for displayed together for the first together in libraries, schools, community F children became increasingly time at NLS for Book Week Scotland 2013. venues and workplaces to share and enjoy sophisticated, and the term These five sculptures were created by books and reading. They are joined in this ‘pop-up’ began to be used an anonymous artist in celebration of celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, from the 1930s onwards. Book Week Scotland 2012 and were playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to In January, NLS celebrates commissioned by Scottish Book Trust. bring a packed programme of free projects a true ‘Homecoming’ story in The intricate sculptures arrived at the and events to life. the shape of Robert Burns’ Library in time for Book Week Scotland, Glenriddell Manuscripts which commenced on 25 November, www.scottishbooktrust.com (pictured). Burns compiled these volumes of his unpublished poems and letters for his friend and A Moving portrait neighbour at Ellisland, Robert of Scottish poet Riddell of Glenriddell. They will be complemented by SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE other printed and manuscript items in the Library’s More than 150 films have now become available collections and by loans from to view on NLS’ Scottish Screen Archive website. partner organisations, giving Digitised from the national moving images context to Burns’ time at collection at the Library, the films span the Ellisland and his latterly period from 1917 to the 1980s and are free to turbulent relationship with view. Among the highlights are Hugh the Riddells. MacDiarmid: A Portrait (1964), a portrait of the Scottish poet (pictured) made by the film maker and poet Margaret Tait. Also available are the self-explanatory Earl Haig Unveils Peebles War Memorial (1922), and Escape to Freedom (1981), a hard-hitting The pop-up books are on amateur documentary about Vietnamese refugees in . display until 19 January. The Glenriddell Manuscripts To view these films and many others, visit ssa.nls.uk. For more on The Scottish display runs from Screen Archive, turn to page 24 22 January to 30 March

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 11 NEWS FUNDING Winter events at NLS FOR KELVIN All the following events HALL take place at the National COLLECTIONS Library of Scotland, George The Heritage Lottery IV Bridge unless otherwise Fund has announced stated. At the time of writing, places are a grant of £4,575,000 available at all of the events for redevelopment of listed here. Glasgow’s famous TRICOLOUR POETRY NIGHT Kelvin Hall. 2 December, 6.30pm, The project is a The spoken word and partnership between performance poetry scene Glasgow City is currently thriving in Scotland. Tricolour is a Council, Glasgow new monthly event which Life, the University of showcases three different CALLUM MACDONALD PAMPHLET POETRY FAIR Glasgow and NLS. poetry and spoken word 11 December, 6pm to 8pm talents. The poets stepping Come along for a glass of wine, meet the publishers, hear the As part of the up to perform for you in poems and buy the pamphlets. No need to book, just drop in. development, the December are Maggie If interested in booking a stall please contact Graeme Hawley Library’s Scottish Rabatski, Sheila Templeton on [email protected]. A Callum Macdonald Memorial Award Screen Archive, and AC Clarke. event, supported by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust.

currently based at refreshments and festive will give an overview of Hillington Park, will entertainment. There’s no some of the pop-up books be relocated to the need to book, just drop in to that can be seen in the enjoy some festive cheer Library’s Treasures display new centre. anytime from 6pm to 8pm. (for more see page 11). ‘The move to the Kelvin Hall will ‘IF BOOKS GREW ON Book events online at TREES....’ www.nls.uk/events/booking provide greatly 10 December, 6pm or call 0131 623 3734 enhanced access to CHRISTMAS FAIR Lucy Roscoe is an illustrator Scotland’s moving 3 December, 6pm to 8pm who works with paper, image collection for Join us for our annual printmaking and traditional Christmas Fair. Enjoy a bookbinding skills to create use by researchers, 15 per cent discount on books that are sculptural learners and the everything in our shop, and interactive. Andrew public,’ says Martyn from exhibition prints, Martin is Senior Curator mugs and t-shirts to those of Modern Scottish Wade, National hard to find books and Collections at the Library. Librarian and Chief children’s favourites. In this talk Lucy discusses Executive. Once you’ve shopped, her own practices and you can relax with our tasty inspirations, while Andrew

WIN A COPY OF PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK COMPETITION talent with a number of How old was Marzaroli Italy-born Oscar Marzaroli specially commissioned when his family moved was an extraordinary essays and a selection of from Northern Italy to photographer of the fabric previously unpublished Glasgow? of Glasgow. His work caught photographs, as well as the life and times of a great many of the iconic, much- POST YOUR ENTRY, ALONG city in the middle and later loved works for which WITH YOUR ADDRESS, TO: years of the 20th century. he is renowned. We have Discover NLS Marzaroli Waiting for the Magic: The a copy to give away. Competition, Think Scotland, Photography of Oscar For your chance to win, 20-23 Woodside (with ‘Marzaroli Competition’ Marzaroli (published by all you need to do is Place, Glasgow G3 7QF, or in the subject line). Birlinn Ltd) celebrates answer the following email discovernls@ Closing date is Friday 24 Marzaroli’s extraordinary question correctly: thinkpublishing.co.uk January 2014.

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 13 exhibition

An ABC of Scotland A new NLS exhibition profiles some of Scotland’s many contributions to the world. From revolutionary scientific breakthroughs to the game of golf, NLS curators Dr Maria Castrillo and Andrew Martin explain to Bryan Christie how they constructed an alphabet of endeavour and achievement

Curators Maria Castrillo and Andrew Martin

ake hundreds of years, workers’ rights and much, much thousands of more. Where would we be today T individuals and without the telephone or incalculable quantities television? What was the impact of effort, invention and of the Scottish Enlightenment, of breakthroughs. Analyse, Scottish politicians, and categorise, rationalise and, finally, reformers? Why did the works of select the best that Scotland has Sir Walter Scott and Robert given to the world. Burns delight readers round the That was the task handed to globe? Why are tartan, porridge NLS curators Dr Maria Castrillo and whisky so widely known? and Andrew Martin who have These are just some of the spent the past few months issues explored in the exhibition immersed in Scottish that is being staged as part of achievement in the arts, science, the Scottish Government’s Year economics, politics, sport, design and food, plus many other fields, to produce the NLS exhibition, The exhibition celebrates Wha’s Like Us? A Nation of the impact Scotland has Dreams and Ideas. made on the world from It celebrates the impact Scotland has made on the world the bagpipe to the from the bagpipe to the encyclopedia and much, encyclopedia, anaesthetics to

malcolm cochrane urban planning, the best seller to much more

14 | discover nls | Winter 2013 exhibition

So much to choose from and many of the items in the exhibition will surprise and delight visitors

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 15 exhibition

of Homecoming, which seeks to attract tourism and investment by showcasing Scotland. The exhibition features some 80 different topics in an A to Z of Scotland’s global impact. Choosing these topics has been a far-from-easy process. It involved taking a broad approach to items of merit which is why the exhibition can encompass that staple of the breakfast table – marmalade – alongside the much more significant invention of the w steam engine. ‘It was incredibly difficult,’ says Andrew. ‘We had to be ruthless in cutting it down. We couldn’t aim to be comprehensive and what we have here is often a personal selection of material. It is by no means the definitive account of Scotland’s contribution to the world but it is wide-ranging and, we hope, entertaining. It is a mixture of familiar stories and items, along with some that may surprise a few people.’ The exhibition uses the homecoming theme to examine Scotland’s position as the home of t g ideas, creativity, innovation and industry. There were three basic criteria used to select game, Grand Theft Auto, also Clockwise from items to reflect the widespread topics for inclusion. The idea made in Scotland. top left: wool influence of the thoughts and had to originate in Scotland, or samples, Ryan ideas of the 18th-century from a Scot, it had to be unique Global influence Fletcher and economist and philosopher. She and it had to be of genuine Another key challenge has been Emun Elliott in the was delighted when she found a international significance. to find items from the Library’s hit play Black contemporary review of his best- ‘Initially we were just throwing vast collections that can Watch, computer known book The Wealth of things into the pot and drawing tell the story of the game Grand Theft Nations and a letter he wrote up lists but then the idea of doing Scottish successes. ‘There Auto and tartan. to William Pitt’s cotland, malcolm cochrane, shutterstock this as an A to Z emerged,’ says are topics here – such as Below: marmalade Government commenting Maria. ‘That allowed us to have tartan – that we could do on the budget. ‘This heatre of S a more structured approach a whole exhibition on,’ seemed to encapsulate to the selection.’ says Andrew. ‘Instead, the influence he had at ational T She says one of the challenges we have to pick one the time which has of an exhibition of this nature is or two things that tell carried on into modern that there is no central storyline that story.' society,’ she says. or narrative to follow. It is a Maria agrees that this All the time during wide-ranging compendium of has been one of the the selection process information, but there are hardest tasks of putting the curators had to ask arlan, courtesy of the N strengths in the appeal this together the exhibition – themselves if the topics should have to a wide variety of but also one of the most had a genuine anuel H tastes and interests. There are worthwhile. ‘It is very international impact. not many occasions that the rewarding when you find ‘One question kept going Library gets the opportunity to what seems to be just the through my head - are display material on Scotland’s right object to tell a story.’ we just being cocky as success in geosciences alongside She searched the Adam Scots?’ says Andrew. black photo watch by M the best-selling computer Smith archive at NLS for m ‘I had to check my own 16 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Ideas that Scotland has given to the world

Bank of It was a Scot, William Paterson, who conceived and proposed the idea of establishing the Bank of England. In 1691, he published a document called A Brief Account of the Intended Bank of England. The idea was adopted three years later by Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax.

Canals Although canals date back to Roman times, the Scottish engineer Thomas Telford revolutionised their design in the late 18th century. His projects included the Ellesmere and Shrewsbury canals, as well as the Caledonian Canal.

Cloning - Dolly the sheep The world’s first cloned mammal was created in 1996 by a team of experts at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh. It was a breakthrough and a major boost to Scotland’s scientific standing. Dolly survived for six years, before she died from lung disease.

Decimal point The 16th-century Scottish mathematician and inventor John Napier was responsible for advancing the notion of the decimal fraction by introducing the use of the decimal point. He also came up with the concept of b logarithms in mathematical calculation.

‘One question kept going Golf through my head – are we just The modern game of golf is generally considered to be a being cocky as Scots? I had to Scottish invention. The first written record dates back to 1457 when James II banned it as an unwelcome check my own long-cherished distraction from learning archery. NLS holds the first assumptions – and single written rules of golf, from 1744. out real achievements long-cherished assumptions – Penicillin and single out real achievements. The discovery of penicillin – the first antibiotic – by And there are certainly plenty of Ayrshire-born Alexander Fleming was one of the those worth remembering.’ greatest medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. Maria was born in Spain, which His discovery of a mould that killed the surrounding she found to be an advantage in bacteria in one of his culture dishes has saved millions. assessing her adopted country’s place in the world. ‘I have been living in Scotland for 15 years, but when you come from another Sherlock Holmes country, you have a different The fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan perspective. I found that has been Doyle first appeared in print in 1887. The fascination more of an advantage than an with his powers of deduction has remained constant obstacle. Not being Scottish gives since then. He is the world’s ‘most portrayed movie you a freedom to say – “this is character’ according to Guinness World Records. what I think about Scotland’s contribution to the world”.’

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 17 exhibition

The exhibition presents a fascinating insight into Scotland’s success on the world stage and has been designed to be both entertaining and accessible. It mixes serious topics such as architecture and philosophy with lighter elements including red hair and Scotland’s contribution to the world of biscuits.

From the floor up Andrew’s favourite item in the exhibition is the catalogue from a Kirkcaldy linoleum manufacturer that shows the different patterns of lino once Top left: A photo available to the discerning It mixes serious topics such as architecture and of the moon homemaker. Kirkcaldy was (really a plaster philosophy with lighter elements including red hair at one time the leading centre model) taken by in the world for the production and Scotland’s contribution to the world of biscuits James Nasmyth of linoleum. ‘This is a great Above: Andrew thing to have and I expect three years later, built it is a privilege to reflect on and Maria many people will be surprised the factory to the very Scotland as a successful nation Below: 'W' is for to know that we have things same design. ‘We have of dreams and ideas. whisky such as this held in the a whole collection of sketches 'I hope people who visit the Library’s collections.’ and drawings of Nasmyth exhibition will have their Maria chose the sketches in the Library and it is curiosity aroused, not just about and drawings of James great to be able to include what Scotland has given to the Nasmyth, a 19th-century them here.’ Maria adds: world but what we have in inventor of machines and ‘Many of the successes the Library. tools, as one of her favourite shown in the exhibition 'People may be surprised to items. James was the son of still have an impact on how see the wide range of things the painter Alexander we live today. The telephone we collect.’ Nasmyth and used sketches and television are obvious to develop his ideas into examples that are present Wha’s Like Us? A Nation of practical applications. One in most people’s lives but Dreams and Ideas runs from of these shows the outline of there are many others we 13 December to 18 May a prototype factory which could have covered. at the National Library of Nasmyth imagined. He put ‘Our lives have been shaped Scotland, George IV Bridge malcolm cochrane, shutterstock the plans down on paper and, w by these developments and building. 18 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Collections

Five of the best A Board member and Trustee of the National Library of Scotland for the last seven years, Willis Pickard’s term of office is drawing to a close. Here he reflects on items from NLS’ collections that mean the most to him

Chepman and Myllar’s 2 Aberdeen Breviary My next choice goes back a further 300 years and more. Copies of the first books printed in Scotland went on display at the Library on the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden. In 1507 James IV granted a merchant, Walter Chepman, and bookseller Andrew Myllar, a patent to begin printing. Their press was located in Edinburgh’s Cowgate. On the rare occasion that the Library’s copy of the Aberdeen Breviary was put on display for two hours, long queues formed. The curators who explained the significance of the book had difficulty in keeping the throng moving, such was the interest. There is an unexplained consequence to the story. Printing appears to have died out again for a period in Scotland, despite the fact that the printing machinery presumably remained available.

A North Korean atlas Before meetings of John Murray Gladstone to John Murray telling 3 the Library’s Board, Archive app of the death of Sir Robert Peel members are 1 By far the most just half an hour previously. sometimes shown a selection of important acquisition ‘A great man is gone from among recent acquisitions. One oddity by NLS during my time has been us, and a broad and deep void, not sticks in my mind. It is a two- the John Murray Archive of the easily to be filled, remains.’ Peel’s volume atlas of the mysterious publishing family’s contacts with death was unexpected. He was state of North Korea, available at some of the greatest writers of Gladstone’s mentor and hero. Peel the map library at Causewayside. Published in 1997, the last two centuries. I would like had broken the Tory Party over the atlas dates back to an earlier initiative by Soviet to highlight the recently created repeal of the Corn Laws, taking joint chiefs of staff who used a Japanese land app for smart phones and tablets Gladstone with him. The letter survey compiled between 1937 and 1942. The which gives an introduction to the opens the next period in which original work was in Russian orthography, then story of the archive and its the former Peelites would help transcribed into Korean, Japanese and English. acquisition by the Library. Here is to create the high Victorian There is evidence from the geographical features new technology opening the Liberal Party, to be led by the highlighted that the purpose of the doors on history, meaning you grief-stricken writer of enterprise was military. Looking at don’t even have to set foot in the the letter. the villages and minor roads George IV Bridge building to be through sparse valleys I could not able to explore the archive. For more on the help thinking that here was the Among the items on the app is app go to www. setting for a spy thriller. If only I had the

malcolm cochrane, the letter sent by William nls.uk/murray-app ability to create a Hollywood blockbuster...

20 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Here is new technology opening the doors on history, meaning you don’t even have to set foot in the George IV Bridge building to explore the archive COLLECTIONS

People often wonder what it was like to live in previous generations. For the period from about 1800 one way to find out is to immerse oneself in old newspapers

The Scotsman online Delving among the millions of items at 5 NLS brings eclecticism to the point of eccentricity. My final choice, however, can be called mainstream. I refer to the historic collections of newspapers now readily available online. As a former journalist on The Scotsman I will nominate the files of that newspaper but I could refer to dozens of other titles. When I was a young leader writer in The Scotsman’s former premises at North Bridge, now a hotel, I used to while away some hours in a dusty storeroom that amidst other clutter contained the bound volumes of the paper stretching back into the 19th century. The lack of conservation would appal those who protect NLS’ collections in terms of light, humidity and other threats to fragile paper. I am sure The Scotsman itself is more careful, The Renton Bible too, nowadays. There could hardly be Looking then into the precarious piles of Victorian 4 a greater contrast with volumes of the paper I was struck by the reporting a Victorian family of politics - detailed to a degree that would no longer Bible. NLS possesses the Renton be acceptable to readers. We assume that there was Bible, pulpit-size, richly tooled, a a straightforward duopoly of Liberalism and tribute to the bookbinder’s craft Conservatism, with Labour still trying to find a (which is still practised within the voice. But in fact readers were confronted with Library). The Bible was a golden infighting among many rival factions, especially wedding present in 1852 to within the then dominant Liberal Party in William and Agnes Renton, and Scotland. Only years later when I retired from 34 members of the extended journalism did I have time to explore and write about family are shown as contributing forgotten controversies. to the tribute. While not many People often wonder what it was like to live in people might welcome such a previous generations. For the period from about 1800 present nowadays, one way to find out is to immerse oneself in old manifestations of piety were newspapers. With ready accessibility it is possible to commonplace at the time. Bright’s sister. His is among the read an old paper, not just in order to pick out a The Rentons were a prominent 34 names that appear on a single report or reference, but as the original family of Dissenters whose home cartouche inside the Bible. purchaser would have - from the small ads on the in Edinburgh’s Buccleuch Place The Renton Bible is a symbol of front page, to the reports from Parliament and the saw regular social gatherings the religious spirit of the age. courts, to the sales at agricultural markets and of serious-minded visitors, People were not embarrassed to landings at fish ports. especially young people who talk about faith and religious As with NLS in general, all human life is there. admired the Rentons’ good works. duties. We are wrong to Among the frequenters of the remember only the factions, sober-sided salons was Duncan schisms and the great Disruption. McLaren, businessman and later There was also commitment and Lord Provost and MP, about dedication. True, we may also whose life I published a book - sympathise with Thomas The Member for Scotland - a Babington Macaulay who as MP couple of years ago. McLaren was for Edinburgh at the time a widower in his 30s, father to cynically observed that he could three children. He married the not be in his constituency on Rentons’ daughter Christina, only a Sunday because whichever of to lose her five years later in its churches he chose to worship childbirth. McLaren remained in he would offend all the others. close to the family even after his He solved the problem by almost

malcolm cochrane third marriage to Priscilla, John never coming to Edinburgh at all.

22 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Making themselves at home, Kate Collections Hendry (left) and Ally Crockford bring different perspectives to eat biscuits and meet new people and the Library bask in the light of open knowledge’. She also delivered an online event in October, during which people from around the world were able to log in to get some insights into the role of the Wikimedian in Residence at NLS.

You can keep up to date with Ally’s residency at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Wikipedia:GLAM/National_Library_of_ Scotland As the Wikimedia Foundation continues to focus on improving research and citation standards, and the overall quality of articles, the extent to which it becomes trusted as a reputable source by cultural and educational institutions seems to grow day by day

THE READER IN RESIDENCE Meet the Kate Hendry is a writer, teacher, editor and arts project co-ordinator with more than ten years’ experience of Residents working in prisons. She has run and evaluated reading groups, delivered creative writing workshops and edited NLS has launched two initiatives tasked with exploring and many learner publications, including highlighting treasures from the Library in quite different ways. STIR, the award-winning cross-prisons We profile Kate Hendry and Ally Crockford and learn how their creative arts magazine. Her recent project - to write a residencies will open up the collections to new readers collection of essays reflecting on her work running reading groups in HMP THE WIKIMEDIAN IN RESIDENCE ‘As the Wikimedia Foundation Barlinnie – has allowed her to consider In July 2013, Ally Crockford became the continues to focus on improving the question ‘what does reading do?’. Library’s first ever Wikimedian in research and citation standards, and This is something she is now exploring Residence. A post-doctoral researcher the overall quality of articles, the as NLS’ Reader in Residence. Her work and teaching assistant at the extent to which it becomes trusted as at the Library began in September, and , the aim of her a reputable source by cultural and Kate’s mission is to focus on NLS’ residency is to encourage staff and educational institutions seems to grow General Collections (which cover all UK volunteers at organisations, such as day by day. I’m working with NLS publications from 1901 onwards) and to galleries, libraries, archives and as part of this strategy: joining forces devise mini-projects to bring elements museums, to share their knowledge with Wikimedia projects means from the collection to new audiences. and resources with the world, via improving the quality of those projects, Kate is currently in the first phase Wikipedia (the internet encyclopedia). while at the same time raising the of her residency, which means she ‘In the past five years, the Library profile of the extensive and valuable is getting to know the Library and, in has made a concerted effort to provide digital resources already provided by particular, learning how people use more digital material online for free, the Library’. items in the collection. However, by and it has rapidly seen a huge increase Ally has conducted a number of the beginning of the new year, Kate in the number of users reached on a training sessions for NLS staff and will be launching a number of regular basis,’ says Ally. ‘However, arranged a Wiki & Biccy session in initiatives both within the Library these numbers are still small when early October. This event was designed walls and further afield, introducing compared to the billions of monthly to function ‘like a knitting circle: come interest groups to parts of the Library’s page views averaged on the English- to learn, come to ask for advice, come collection that have particular

malcolm cochrane language Wikipedia alone last year. to give advice, or just come to sit and relevance to them.

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 23 screen archIVE

Martin Conaghan views evidence of law and disorder including, right, the introduction of the breathalyser CRIME AND PUNISHMENT CAUGHT ON CAMERA 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the last judicial hanging in verdict exists as an option for the jurors of ‘not Scotland. Martin Conaghan takes a look at how criminality and law proven’, where guilt has all but been determined, but remains inconclusive. enforcement are represented in the Scottish Screen Archive Policing in Scotland was also the first of its kind to be created in the UK, established under the cotland has a curious relationship with Glasgow Police Act of 1800 - some 29 years law and order. Thanks to a right that can before the inception of the world-famous S be traced back to the 11th century, the Metropolitan Police. Scotland, of course, has its country’s politicians and public own brand of criminal underclass, with servants have enjoyed the luxury of creating accounts dating as far back as the legendary and retaining a unique hybrid of civil and 16th-century flesh-eater Alexander criminal laws quite separate and distinct from ‘Sawney’ Bean, through to Lanarkshire’s the rest of the . infamous serial-killer Peter Manuel Scots law criminal trials are required to (pictured left), in the 1950s. assemble juries comprising 15 people - not the As early as 1934, Scottish director Stanley L typical 12 often found in Hollywood films – and, in Russell created a short film for the second

malcolm cochrane, corbis addition to ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’, an anomalous third Scottish Amateur Film Festival entitled Glasgow’s

24 | discover nls | Winter 2013 In 1947 Glasgow’s police officers were delighted to demonstrate how they kept the people of the city safe and secure in a short black-and-white film Our Police

Police which showed fascinating images of the In the film the police tackle local problems including a city’s tram-filled streets as ordinary police officers lost child, an amusingly staged road traffic accident, the went about their training and work in crime prevention and detection. Russell, a lawyer by theft of a vehicle, and, what can really only be described profession, was one of a group of film enthusiasts as a very early ‘CSI-Glasgow’ branch of the police dusting who set up the Meteor Film Producing Society in for fingerprints at a crime scene and matching them to 1932, organising the first Scottish Amateur Film Festival in 1933. photographic records in the lab Through his work as a director of silent films, and later on ‘talkies’, Russell attracted a variety of an amusingly staged road traffic accident, the theft clients, from the Clyde Navigation Trust to the of a vehicle and what can really only be described Ministry of Information. In 1945, his company as a very early ‘CSI-Glasgow’ branch of the police became known as Thames and Clyde Films, dusting for fingerprints at a crime scene and specialising in industrial and educational matching them to photographic records in the lab. commissions, and he helped to establish the Scottish Produced by Thames and Clyde, it offers a Film Producers Association in 1948 as a vehicle for wonderful, silent insight into the culture of the era. promoting the film industry in Scotland. A GRIM WARNING EVERYDAY POLICING It is on the small screen where these short-form By 1947, the quality of such productions had public-information films excel, starting in 1965 with dramatically improved. The Glasgow Corporation- the impending introduction of the UK-wide on-the- sponsored Our Police is one such example and is spot alcohol breath test for road drivers and an a more extensive public information film covering omnipresent Ministry of Transport-sponsored a day in the life of the city’s uniformed officers. They campaign to warn motorists about the risks of variously tackle local problems including a lost child, getting behind the wheel after one too many pints.

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 25 screen archIVE

Filmed in black and white and lasting a mere 30 seconds each, these sternly voiced and conservatively shot films have a single, authoritative message for anyone who may have been considering a night on the tiles before driving home: ‘Now you really can’t ask a driver to have another drink.’ The point delivered by the films is quite clear – the test is coming. And that test eventually did arrive with The Breathalyser Act of 1967 and the introduction of portable hand-held devices that could be used to establish an individual’s blood alcohol concentration level at the roadside. It is truly remarkable to think that the UK only introduced a legal driving limit in the late 1960s of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood as the The infamous The Scottish Television presenter-led news maximum, which has not changed significantly Barlinnie prison report betrays a style and tone still prevalent in in the years since. The Scottish Government has where many of modern broadcast journalism, replete with run a public consultation on reducing the limit Scotland’s most panoramic shots of the location, to camera to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, the dangerous narratives, talking head interviews and general message of the day in these brief television criminals were shots of the life of women serving at Her Majesty’s announcements was simple, ‘it used to be a matter held including pleasure. Nowadays, such a report would be of opinion, now it’s a matter of fact’, and warned Jimmy Boyle, necessarily condensed into a snappy three-minute that a drink-driving conviction could lead to a fine below, who spent package to make room for other news items, but or a prison sentence. time in the the reporter’s final pay-off of ‘only time will tell’ Special Unit still manages to make its way into many a modern INSIDE THE CELLS news report. If the threat of a visit to prison failed to deter would-be criminals, then the 1969 film 1500 ALL FROM MURDER TO SCULPTURE CORRECT SIR: A Report On A Scottish Prison and The all-too brief GLASGOW BY THE WAY: Jimmy 1972’s television documentary, Friday Night – Boyle boasts an interview peppered with anecdotes Women’s Prison, would certainly give pause and recollections by Boyle, one of Glasgow’s most for thought. infamous gangland figures who, in 1967, was The former, 30 minutes of black and white sentenced to life in prison for the murder of another reportage produced by Jordanhill College Film Unit, gangland figure, William ‘Babs’ Rooney. presents a corporate view of Glasgow’s infamous Boyle’s time in prison was characterised by long Barlinnie Prison and is akin to a modern-day periods spent in solitary confinement due to marketing DVD, featuring footage of the excessive behavioural problems. Eventually, daily routine, from prisoners’ employment frustrated by his lack of progress, the in the laundry, to sewing postbags. prison authorities placed him under the In sharp contrast, the report on the care of the world-famous Barlinnie

X F EATURES X condition of the old facilities in Gateside Special Unit, where he was given Women’s Prison in Greenock depicts a access to extensive support and forbidding, run-down, Dickensian therapy, and developed a lucrative building, where certain members of career in sculpture. Boyle emerged society were once housed before the from his sentence as a fine example construction of the modern prison at of rehabilitation – although the

corbis, superstock, RE superstock, corbis, Cornton Vale in the early 1970s. interview tends only to cover his

26 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Ten judicial executions by hanging took Retired place at Barlinnie between 1946 and 1960, deathwatch prison officer before the abolition of Frank McCue for murder in 1969 relives the details of life and experiences from his childhood in the city carrying out the and not his criminal activities, as such. death sentence The Darkest Corner In a similar vein, but with a much brighter outlook on life inside HM prisons, Hugh’s Story includes unedited material related to a 1993 documentary about Hugh Collins – a former Saughton Prison ‘lifer’ working as a sculptor in Muirhouse. He had been imprisoned for life in 1977 for the fatal stabbing of gangland rival Willie Mooney in a Glasgow pub. Like Boyle, Collins spent a tortured period in Scotland’s prison system before being recommended for the Special Unit, famed for its relaxed rules and high success rate in the rehabilitation of troublesome prisoners. Once there, Collins was given tools and stone, then embarked on a career venting his frustrations through sculpting with the help of fellow prisoner Boyle and, following his release in 1993, carved out a successful career in the art world. However, without exception, one of the most fascinating items in the National Library’s archive of crime and punishment films recounts the darkest corner of life at the sharp end of the law — the death sentence. Made as recently as 1996 by director David G Scott, the stylistic black-and-white short Hanging With Frank follows former deathwatch officer CRIME PAYS Frank McCue as he discusses his experiences in The collections of the National Library of Scotland show us that when it Barlinnie on his return to the execution chamber comes to attracting an audience, in any medium, there is little as effective before its demolition. Ten judicial executions by as crime at drawing in the ever-fascinated public hanging took place at Barlinnie between 1946 and 1960, before the abolition of capital punishment for murder in 1969. McCue casually guides the viewer, in extensive detail, through his memories of the long-retired process of monitoring the condemned men following conviction, through to death at the hands of the UK’s infamous hangman-general – who Frank confidently describes as ‘a nicer man you couldn’t meet’.

The Hangman’s noose The second-to-last man to be hanged in Scotland, IN PRINT ON STAGE IN SONG and the last at Barlinnie Prison, was Anthony Miller, Broadsides were the Tom McGrath and The tale of Burke and a young man who was sent to his final resting tabloids of their time Jimmy Boyle’s 1977 Hare inspired a number place by Harry Allen, Pierrepoint’s assistant. Miller and would often play, The Hard Man, of crime ballads, had brutally murdered John Cremin during a feature tales of was a controversial including William casual robbery in 1960 and was just 19 years old wrongdoing or, in the production because of Burke — A New Song, when Allen placed the three-quarter inch Italian case of this example its violence, nudity and which probably dates hemp rope around his neck and a white hood over from 1830, justice its connection with from 1829 and opens his head, before pulling the lever to drop him to being served. The the notorious with the lines: ‘Come his death. woodcut graphics, plus convicted murderer all you resurrection As the short film draws to its bleak end, McCue bold headline, help to Jimmy Boyle. men, I pray you now takes a brief walk along the outside perimeter of tell the vivid tale of The beware, / You see the Barlinnie building and indicates the spot Gilmerton Murderers, what has happened marking Miller’s former grave, recalling without David Dobie and John William Burke, and pause the young man’s final, chilling words before Thomson. likewise William Hare.’ he was hanged – ‘please mister’.

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 27 Collections Mary Brunton, Susan Ferrier and Elizabeth Hamilton

Mothers of the NLS Curator Helen Vincent rediscovers three of Scotland’s best-selling women Scottish novel writers of the 19th century

n the history of the Scottish novel, Sir Walter Scott, Elizabeth Hamilton (c.1756-1816) Sir Walter Scott towers over his the father of the Scott himself recognised Elizabeth Hamilton’s I contemporaries as the father of the Scottish novel merits as a writer at the very end of Waverley, genre, just as his monument towers over mentioning her along with the non-fiction writer Princes Street today. When his first novel Waverley Anne Grant of Laggan as ‘female authors whose was published in 1814, it started a craze for Scott’s genius is highly creditable to their country’. In fiction that swept around the world and led to his particular he praised the ‘striking and impressive becoming the most celebrated Scottish author of fidelity’ of her portrayal of a small Scottish village the 19th century. in The Cottagers of Glenburnie. This was published But he was not the only Scottish writer of best- in 1808, a decade after Hamilton had established selling fiction in his own time. During the first herself as an author. decades of the 19th century, other authors Hamilton was raised on a farm near were producing novels that captured readers’ Stirling by her aunt and uncle, and her imaginations and sold thousands of copies – childhood experiences there must have and some of them were women whose names informed The Cottagers, which tells the are hardly known today. story of what happens when Mrs

28 | discover nls | Winter 2013 Mason, after a lifetime of domestic Scott himself service, retires to her cousin Mrs MacClarty’s village of Glenburnie. recognised Elizabeth Glenburnie turns out to be a Hamilton’s merits dirty, run-down and downright as a writer at the dangerous place, but its inhabitants’ stock response when very end of Waverley, faced with any suggestion for mentioning her along improvement is ‘I couldna be fashed’ (I can’t be bothered), which with the non-fiction became a popular catchphrase. writer Anne Grant of Mrs MacClarty’s house, for Laggan as ‘female instance, ‘was by no means inviting. The walls were… on authors whose genius one side of the door completely is highly creditable covered from view by the contents of a great dunghill.’ to their country’ In spite of her evident dislike of the mess and disorder she observed in Scottish rural life, shunned, as literary women Hamilton’s writing is shot through are, by the more unpretending with humour and lively energy. of my own sex; and abhorred, as Mrs MacClarty and her equally literary women are, by the more reprobate family might perhaps pretending of the other! – My be seen as the ancestors of Rab dear, I would sooner exhibit as a C Nesbitt in their resistance to the rope-dancer…’ attempts of the respectable Brunton was halfway through middle class to ‘improve’ them. writing Discipline when Scott’s Waverley appeared. Like many Mary Brunton (1778-1818) people in Edinburgh, she had Very different from the heard something of who might independent Elizabeth Hamilton be behind that novel, and the was Mary Brunton, the retiring experience of reading it seems to wife of an Edinburgh minister. The daughter of Colonel Two of the many have thrown her completely. She wrote in a letter to Thomas Balfour of Elwick and his wife Frances, Mary 19th-century a friend: ‘There seems little doubt that it comes from grew up on Burray in . The story of her editions of The the pen of Scott. What a competitor for poor little marriage could come from one of her own novels. Cottagers of me! The worst of all is, that I have ventured Her husband, Alexander Brunton, became Minister Glenburnie unconsciously on Waverley’s own ground, by of the New in Edinburgh and carrying my heroine to the Highlands!’ subsequently Professor of Oriental Languages Brunton’s husband and friends successfully at the University of Edinburgh, but when Mary persuaded her to complete Discipline, and it was first met him, he was the humble tutor hired to published with success in 1814. But after that teach her younger brothers by her parents, who Brunton’s crisis of authorship continued. She disapproved of the relationship. Family legend projected a series of ‘domestic tales’, which had it that the young couple eloped by boat at would draw on her Orkney background, and night, marrying on the mainland. began a new novel, Emmeline, but she was still Brunton began to write shortly after her conflicted about her ability to write. Her career husband’s move to Edinburgh in 1802. Her was cut sadly short in 1818, when she died after first novel, Self-Control (1811), became an instant giving birth to a stillborn son. best seller, going through four editions in the first year of publication. Unlike Elizabeth Susan Ferrier (1782-1854) Hamilton, Brunton published both this book Like Mary Brunton, Susan Ferrier refused to put her and her second novel, Discipline, anonymously. name on her novels when they were first published. She wrote to a friend: ‘I would rather, as you well As she wrote: ‘I never will avow myself, and nothing know, glide through the world unknown, than can hurt or offend me so much as any of my friends have (I will not call it enjoy) fame, however brilliant. doing it for me; this is not façon de parler, but my To be pointed at – to be noticed and commented real and unalterable feeling. I could not bear the upon – to be suspected of literary airs – to be fuss of authorism!’

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 29 Collections

An illustration of Lady MacLaughlan, one of the characters in Susan Ferrier’s novel Marriage

Instead Ferrier prioritised her domestic role as Like Mary Brunton, Susan Ferrier refused home daughter to her father, a prominent Edinburgh lawyer, after her mother’s death. Her father was to put her name on her novels when they legal agent to the 5th Duke of Argyll, and Susan were first published. As she wrote: ‘I never accompanied him on visits to the Duke’s estate in will avow myself, and nothing can hurt Inverary. Through these visits, she gained a first- hand knowledge of Highland life and landscape, or offend me so much as any of my friends and also formed a friendship with Charlotte doing it for me; this is not façon de parler, Clavering, the Duke’s granddaughter. The genesis of Ferrier’s first novel can be traced in a letter but my real and unalterable feeling. I could she wrote to Charlotte: ‘I do not recollect ever to not bear the fuss of authorism!’ have seen the sudden transition of a high-bred English beauty, who thinks she can sacrifice all for Susan Ferrier Scottish society. A fragment called Maplehurst love, to an uncomfortable solitary Highland dwelling completed Manor was published for the first time in the among tall, red-haired sisters and grim-faced aunts. the original catalogue of the 1982 exhibition held at the National Don’t you think this would make a good opening of manuscript for Library of Scotland to mark the bicentenary of her the piece?’ Marriage in 1810. birth. However, from the mid-1830s onwards she This became the premise for Marriage (1818), whose It was finally told those who asked that she was dissatisfied with brilliantly funny opening chapters show spoiled issued, in a what she was writing, and rejected the repeated heiress Lady Juliana as a fish out of water stranded in much-revised pleas of Richard Bentley, who was then publishing a remote Scottish castle with her new in-laws. version, in 1818. her novels, for further works, citing her poor Marriage was the talk of Edinburgh society – not Publisher eyesight as an excuse. least because its characters could be identified as William In their very different ways, all three of these recognisable members of that society. Scott was Blackwood novelists evoked the Scotland of their own age, one of those who appreciated it, praising it in paid £150 for it from the feisty farmers of Elizabeth Hamilton public in Tales of My Landlord and complimenting to the decaying Highland estates of Susan Ferrier. it privately to Ferrier’s publisher William Blackwood, Funny, wise and engaging, they deserve to be who quickly shared the praise with her in a letter. rediscovered today. Ferrier wrote two other novels, The Inheritance and Destiny which, like Marriage, were rich in Find out more about these authors and their novels in comic characters and cast a satirical eye over our Learning Zone. Go to tinyurl.com/womennovelists

30 | discover nls | Winter 2013 using the library COLLECTIONS

Make the most of your National Library With a collection of more available on the internet than 15 million printed The Visitor Centre has to customers resident in a café and internet access items, two million maps, Scotland, although additional conditions may 32,000 films, three miles apply in line with our of manuscripts, plus licence agreements. Your thousands of photographs, first port of call to access the Library’s licensed getting around NLS digital collections is requires a little navigation https://auth.nls.uk/ldc Additionally, recent NLS LOCATIONS legislation has given NLS Films and the other five legal Scottish Screen Archive deposit libraries in the UK 39-41 Montrose Avenue and order items from the advance of your visit to the the legal right to collect, Hillington Park collections, you need to Library. Requests can be store and preserve the Glasgow G52 4LA hold a library card. This made in person, by nation’s memory in the Tel 0845 366 4600 can be obtained by telephone on 0131 623 3820 digital age. There will be a Email: [email protected] completing the online form or 3821, or by email: mixture of electronic at https://auth.nls.uk/ [email protected] content available including Maps registration. Simply follow In addition, if you have websites in the UK domain Causewayside Building the steps on the website. a library card, books can web archive, and articles/ 159 Causewayside On your first visit to the be ordered in advance via chapters from e-books and Edinburgh EH9 1PH Library, you should go to the online catalogue on e-journals. This material Tel 0131 623 3970 Registration where staff our website. can be viewed on Library Email: [email protected] will take your photo and More information about computers within the Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm (Wed produce a library card for pre-ordering is available at reading rooms of NLS if 10am-5pm), Sat 9.30am-1pm you. For proof of identity www.nls.uk/using-the- you are a registered user. and confirmation of your library/reading-rooms/ Other collections address, bring one or more general/preorders VISITOR CENTRE George IV Bridge documents that include The Visitor Centre at the Edinburgh EH1 1EW your name and address, ONLINE George IV Bridge building Tel 0131 623 3700 supported by a signature NLS has a vast range of was opened in 2009. Email [email protected] or photograph. electronic resources, It features an exhibition Mon-Fri 9.30am-8.30pm including digital versions of space, a shop selling (Wed 10am-8.30pm), VIEWING MATERIAL reference works, massive books, stationery and Sat 9.30am-1pm If you know what you are full-text facsimiles and gift items, a café and PC looking for, we recommend business databases (see the terminals with access to HOW TO JOIN making your request for next page for a list). Many NLS catalogues and other To use NLS’ Reading Rooms the required material in of these resources are digital facilities.

FOCUS ON selective collection from the Dieterichs Collection earlier periods. of pamphlets and The German The Advocates Library, miscellaneous literary the Library’s forerunner, publications. This comes Collections collected some German from part of the huge The Library only began to material during the course library formed by Georg acquire German material of the 18th and 19th Septimus Dieterichs on a regular basis in the centuries. The majority of (1721-1805), Count Palatine 1960s. However, its this was in the decades and Senator of collections may now be immediately following the Regensburg in the second the largest of their kind in French Revolution. Several half of the 18th century, Scotland. The post- of the Library’s special and constitutes the largest Reformation period is collections also contain a single collection of represented particularly Propaganda poster, 1917 significant number of German materials in strongly, with a more German items, including the Library.

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 31 COBRA – The Complete House of Commons The Scotsman Digital Digital Business Reference Parliamentary Papers Archive 1817-1950; Adviser; - includes reports of Times Digital Archive; resources The Economist Historical committees and outside Waterloo Directory With more than 300 Archive 1843-2009; bodies on public affairs; of English Newspapers and million items, of which in Euromonitor Passport Public Information Online Periodicals 1800-1900 excess of 80 per cent is Markets; and The Making of Modern and Who’s Who (and Who Factiva; Law – Legal Treatises Was Who). available remotely, NLS’ FAME; Hoovers; 1800-1926. licensed digital collections Insider 500; REFERENCE WORKS AND are a superb research tool Key Note Market Research HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, CATALOGUES Reports; Kompass; GENEALOGY Credo Reference gives you Mint Global; You can access access to 400 high-quality ART AND LITERATURE Mintel Market Research 17th & 18th Century Burney reference books from a The Library’s digital Reports; Newspaper Collection; range of the world’s leading collections relating OneSource Global Business 19th Century British publishers. to art and literature include Browser; Library Newspapers; Early American Imprints, 19th Century UK Orbis and ReferenceUSA. 19th Century UK Series 1 – Evans, 1639-1800; Periodicals Part 1: Women’s, Periodicals Part 2: Early English Books Online Children’s, Humour and EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND Empire: Travel and 1475-1700 (EEBO); Leisure/Sport; British SOCIAL SCIENCE Anthropology, Economics, 18th Century Collections Literary Manuscripts Educational resources Missionary and Colonial; Online (ECCO) Parts 1 & 2; Online c.1660-1900; include ALPSP Learned British and Irish Women’s Oxford English Dictionary Naxos Music Library; Journals Science Collection; Letters and Diaries; Online and Oxford Oxford Music Online; GreenFILE; JSTOR; The British Newspaper Reference Online. Perdita Manuscripts – MLA Directory Archive; Women Writers, 1500-1700; of Periodicals; British Online Archives; ACCESSING MATERIAL Scottish Women MLA International InfoTrac Custom All collections can be Poets of the Romantic Bibliography; Newspapers; accessed on the Library Period; Oxford Journals Online; John Johnson Collection: an premises and more SCRAN Digital Materials; Science Full Text Select; archive of than 80% is available SUR Digital Archive and Standards Infobase printed ephemera; outwith the Library Times Literary Supplement and Web of Science. The Making of the Modern by customers resident Historical Archive. World; in Scotland. GOVERNMENT AND Oxford Dictionary of BUSINESS OFFICIAL National Biography (ODNB); To register to use the Online resources for A wealth of political India, Raj & Empire; licensed digital collections businesses, including information can be Sabin Americana, visit https://auth.nls.uk/ BCC Research Reports; viewed online, including 1500-1926; registration

London’s theatre community circa 1820 forms part of the John Johnson Collection mary evans mary

32 | discover nls | Winter 2013 MY NLS

Treasures for all Explorer, GP and writer Gavin Francis on why libraries are invaluable

ears ago I read a piece by its 130th birthday this year. It was the These days I spend part of the week Carlos Fuentes, the great first of some 2,500 libraries Andrew working as a GP on the south side of Y Mexican novelist, comparing Carnegie helped to build across the Edinburgh, and part of the week libraries in the Latin world British Isles, the USA and the writing in NLS. My first book, True with those that are culturally Anglo- Commonwealth (Fuentes would have North – Travels in Arctic Europe, was Saxon. According to Fuentes, librarians said ‘the Anglo-Saxon world’). written while I was the base doctor on in Mexico, Italy, Spain and Argentina are Growing up in Dunfermline I took a remote Antarctic station. I wrote it jealous guardians who prefer their it for granted that a town’s library without access to libraries or the books to remain buried in the vaults. should be one of its most magnificent internet, and so had to take a trunk of When he first visited a library in the buildings. When later I moved about 100 books with me to the ice. Fuentes was astonished: to Edinburgh, I accepted that Carnegie’s When I came to write my second not only could he handle the books, in Central Library on George IV Bridge book, Empire Antarctica – Ice, Silence & some cases he was even allowed to take has all the grandeur of a Renaissance Emperor Penguins, I didn’t have to be them home. The Anglo-Saxon literary so careful in my planning – I passed culture was one with a great passion for The Anglo-Saxon the National Library every day. Being books and for learning, but tempered able to call up first editions of Scott’s or with a pragmatism which recognises culture was one with a Shackleton’s writings, obscure that if books are to fulfil their potential scientific papers on the aurora they have to be accessible. great passion for books australis, or monographs on the In Scotland, that pragmatism has and for learning emperor penguin is a tremendous been allied not only with great privilege. Carlos Fuentes and the Latin reverence for learning, but also with palace. Over the lintel is carved librarians are right – our libraries hold a ‘school in every parish’ philosophy a flourishing scroll with ‘Let There the treasures of our learning and our that has made this country such Be Light’ inscribed on it, as if Carnegie culture. I’m delighted that in Scotland a powerhouse of intellectual and wanted to build not just a palace of we believe everyone should be able to artistic achievement over the last brick and slate, but a palace of the get their hands on those treasures. three or four centuries. One of the mind. If that wasn’t enough to confirm many aspects of Scottish public life I the Scots’ respect for libraries, just Gavin Francis’s Empire Antarctica – find admirable is the respect we have across the street I began to visit the Ice, Silence & Emperor Penguins (Chatto) for, and the importance we place on, National Library of Scotland, with its has been named Scotland’s Book of the

cochrane our libraries. façade of sculptures representing the Year in the 2013 Scottish Mortgage m As a child I made weekly visits to arts and sciences, medicine and Investment Trust Book Awards. Dunfermline library, which celebrated theology, music and law. www.gavinfrancis.com Malcol

Winter 2013 | discover nls | 33 last word

Born 100 years ago, Bill Shankly – one of many thousands of people represented in the Library’s collection - is one of the most influential football managers to have graced the game. Nicola Marr looks back at his life and work

orn in the small Scottish at Grimsby Town, Workington AFC a UEFA Cup. It was after holding aloft mining village of and Huddersfield Town followed. He the FA Cup in 1974 that Shankly B Glenbuck, for Bill Shankly was interviewed for the manager’s job announced his shock resignation a life in football was an at in 1951, but at that point from football. He retained a life-long escape from the harsh conditions of was passed over. It would be another enthusiasm for the game until his the pit. In 1932, he realised his dream eight years before the then struggling death in 1981, aged 68. of becoming a professional footballer second division club would be united His legacy lives on at Anfield, by signing for third division side with the man who would irrevocably where fans continue to honour him Carlisle United. Here he established change its fortunes. through memorials and tributes. the foundations for what would Known for his charismatic A statue erected in his honour at become a distinguished playing determination, Shankly transformed the ground commemorates the life career, including being capped seven Liverpool into one of the finest of a man held in the highest regard times for Scotland. football teams of its time. Through by the people of the red half of the Despite success on the pitch, his winning mentality, passion for city, who view Shankly’s managerial Shankly’s most influential mark on the game and good relationship with stint as a pivotal landmark in the football history undoubtedly came in supporters, the maverick manager football team’s history. the sphere of management. His first led his team to victories at both managerial post was, aptly, with league and European level. Liverpool DISCOVER MORE Carlisle United – the team that had won the first division three times Read the magazine online at www.nls. given him his break as a player. Spells under Shankly, the FA Cup twice and uk/about/discover-nls rex features rex

34 | discover nls | Winter 2013