Spring / Summer 2010 Registered Charity No. SC 009009 Tribute to Roy H Thomson Chair of the Friends of University Library

He was a member of the Friends of University Court. He returned to Aberdeen University Library for more Aberdeen University as a mature than 36 years and Chairman of our student and was awarded the Post- Executive Committee for over 17, a Graduate degree of MLitt. (With truly magnificent record of service Distinction) only last summer. during which he led the Committee and the Friends with sound common sense Roy was an instinctive Liberal and his and always with good humour. contribution to his party was enormous, ------both locally and nationally. As local Roy Thomson was born at Cults in Councillor for Cults, and Aberdeen on 27th August 1933. He he served on Aberdeen was educated at Aberdeen Grammar District Council for fourteen years from School and then at Aberdeen 1974 and was Leader of the Council for University where he found two loves part of that time. He was a Past which were to last for the rest of his President of the Scottish Executive of life. The first was the University of the Liberal Democrats and also for Roy Thomson Aberdeen and the second, more many years a member of the Federal importantly, was one of his fellow Executive. He acted as a trusted agent students in Psychology, Nancy for Malcolm Bruce, MP, for four It is with great sadness and Craig. Roy and Nancy graduated with successful General Election campaigns. appreciation that we have to report the Honours in 1955 and were married in death of Roy Thomson, The following 1956. Roy’s commitment to Nancy, Roy was a Knight Commander of the tribute is contributed by Graham their three daughters, Judy, Sophie and Order of St. John, a Past President of Hunter, successor as Chair to Roy. Helen, and their families was total Aberdeen Mental Health Association throughout his life. and of Aberdeen Rotary Club. He acted At the first Friends’ Committee as Marketing Director and was a long- meeting held after the death of our After University, Roy completed his term supporter of Aberdeen Chairman, Roy Thomson, I paid tribute National Service (1955-57) with the 1st International Youth Festival, a past to Roy in the following terms: ‘ I am Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, Chairman of Kaleidoscope and of the sure that all of you, like me, still feel a seeing active service as an Intelligence Aberdeen International Children’s great sense of shock, loss and regret Officer in Cyprus. Festival. He was also a Director of when faced with the fact of Roy’s death Scottish Ballet (Chairman 1983-87) on 29 November last year. Somehow, In 1957 he joined Rowntree & Co. as and a Governor of BBC . part of me still expects Roy to come an Assistant Psychologist and stayed ------through that door and, quietly and with them until 1960 when he joined unassumingly, take the Chair and guide the family motor business of Thomsons Roy was a quiet self-effacing man, with us wisely and sensitively through our of Cults, first as a Director and then as a complete absence of self-seeking. He deliberations. We owe him a great debt Managing Director from 1963 until could be as tough and determined as and we will miss him.’ 1986. anyone when pursuing a point in which ------he believed strongly, but he preferred The passage of time has not diminished That brief summary does little justice to make progress by co-operation rather that sense of loss and indebtedness. to Roy’s life. The list of groups and than confrontation, and by discussion organisations in which he played a rather than division. By his death the Roy exemplified the well-known leading role is as wide and extensive as Friends of Aberdeen University Library saying, ‘If you want a job done well, the list of his own personal have lost a valued Chairman and the give it to a busy person’. It is clear interests. His lifelong interest in the has lost a from his CV that Roy was a busy mountains, hill-walking and skiing led valued friend. person all his life and yet somehow he to his being the founder of Aberdeen managed to find time to give support Mountain Rescue Association. I have and leadership to a multitude of already mentioned his service to the Graham C. Hunter causes. That support was invariably Friends of Aberdeen University Library Chairman, The Friends long-term and committed. and he also served for a time on the of Aberdeen University Library

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Editorial Changes

FRIENDS’ EVENTS

Date for your Diary As from the next issue of the FAUL News you’ll see a new

name for your Editor, Georgia THE FRIENDS OF Brooker. ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Georgia is a member of the the Summer Meeting and AGM Library Collections and Documentation teams and is Thursday 27 May currently involved in the production of HeadLines, the new Queen Mother Library Seminar Room electronic magazine covering items of interest to users of the Library and IT services. You may AGM at 7.00 pm have noticed that I have recently followed at 7.30 pm by included some of HeadLines articles in our own newsletter for Celebrating Scott’s Poetry: those of you who don’t have easy Walter Scott, ‘The Lady of the Lake’ and the Bernard C. access to the internet or who Lloyd Collection prefer the printed word. by Dr Ali Lumsden Having edited the Friends’ Senior Lecturer, Department of English newsletter for well over 20 years, beginning when it was a double- sided cyclostyled sheet of paper, I’ve tried to develop it with a

more modern look, plus colour

and images, and, I hope, full of items I felt were of interest to you. Since taking early retirement I no longer have the same contacts and access to material – or the time! – and with a new face at the helm in Georgia you will All Welcome be well served.

Light Refreshments will be served after the meeting Many thanks to all past contributors and, especially, to ------Mike and Caroline Craig of the Reprographics Unit, who, for Autumn / Winter 2010 Meeting almost all of my many years designed, put together and had full details to follow the newsletter printed.

November at 7.30 pm Georgia is used to providing informative articles on Library Old Aberdeen matters for HeadLines and will continue this in the newsletter. I ‘Fearsome Engines’ [printing] know I have left the magazine in by good hands and that you will see a fresh enthusiasm and new Howard Chandler angles and perspectives. Professor of Engineering Meantime I shall enjoy the

surprises of each issue and look All Welcome forward to a ‘good read’.

Light Refreshments will be served after the meeting Christine Miller

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REPORTS ON Castles owned a townhouse in Edinburgh, Cluny Estates had about seven No. 4 St Andrews Square. FRIENDS’ castles scattered about Scotland. Cluny Castle was acquired by John Other plans in the Cluny Estate ACTIVITIES Gordon, I of Cluny, after the 1745 Papers include:

Jacobite Rebellion but it did not Church Buildings Autumn / Winter 2009 Meeting start out as the family seat. The first In 1840 John Gordon was

of the family to take an interest in approached about Buckie Church From Castle to Croft to Cowshed: the castle was John Gordon, IV of by the heritors of Cluny. Plans to the architecture of the Cluny Cluny, the Colonel. He began to exist for Midmar, Slains and Estates, by Nicola Mills restore the castle as a family home, Auldearn manses, which were probably in the 1830s. , rebuilt in the 1850s. Midmar Kirk an Aberdeen was refurbished in 1912. architect whose other work Utility Buildings included These plans include dovecots and rebuilding ice houses, farmhouses and crofts; Balmoral, also schools for the Western Isles, refurbished Slains and Corrennie. Hotel plans Cluny Castle. remain for Slains Lodge and When Colonel Collieston Marine Hotel. John died in 1858 (reputedly There are two quarries on Cluny Cluny Castle the wealthiest commoner in land, including Corrennie from Scotland), his only surviving child where the pink granite is still Nicola Mills is a freelance archivist and heir, Captain John Gordon, supplied. funded by the Cluny Trust to oversaw completion of the produce a full listing and catalogue restoration work. The lodge and Estate Plans gateway at Cluny were used in the These include some drawn by of the Gordons of Cluny papers, film The Queen (2006) as the established architects. Buckie was a deposited with the University of gateway of Balmoral. planned new town and the papers Aberdeen. In November, using contain a map dated 1861. Captain materials from Special Libraries & The castle remained relatively John and later Lady Cathcart built Archives and some local unchanged until 1926 when a fire new Buckie with broad, spacious collections, she gave a well which destroyed two wings and a streets and three-bay houses attended meeting of the Friends a chapel necessitated repairs. described as having all the details fascinating account of the range of Aberdeen architect George Bennett money could buy. architecture that is found across the Mitchell was consulted, and vast estates of Cluny. Among the produced designs for all the fixtures The Cluny Estate papers papers are maps, plans and and fittings for the chapel as well as demonstrate the quiet impact of the architectural drawings relating to for the staff bedrooms damaged by Cluny Estates on the architecture of every type of building found on the the fire. Other castles which were Scotland both in and beyond the on the estate include Midmar North-East. estates. Nicola told us of the bought in 1796 and Kisimul Castle castles, church buildings, utility on bought in 1840 and later The full catalogue of the collection buildings, farmhouses and crofts bought back by the MacNeils. is available online at http:// that were planned and built on the calms.abdn.ac.uk/. Further estates from the 1700s to 1930s. Colquhoun was purchased in 1884 information about Gordon of Cluny as a shooting and fishing estate in and the working life of an Gordon of Cluny estates were far- Ayrshire and was sold in 1954. Castle is at http:// ranging, including a large part of There were several country houses, www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/ Aberdeenshire (including Midmar Auldearn near Nairn, Buckie Collection_highlight_autumn08.sht and Slains), Buckie, Kinsteary in House, Kebbity House at Midmar ml Nairn, Killochan in Ayrshire, the and Hermitage of Braid, now a southern half of the Western Isles, public park and nature reserve Sheona Farquhar three estates on Tobago and a south of Edinburgh. The estate also Technical Services Manager section of Manitoba. Library Services

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Spring Meeting 2010 and just after the War this led him One Million Records to an aircraft factory in Bedfordshire. He then returned to and Counting...! An Inspector Called: the field of education with London John Bisset Chapman The number of records in our and Literary Britain County Council and latterly was District Inspector of Schools for Library catalogue passed the one million mark on 18 December Lambeth until his retirement. He when we loaded over 136,000 died in 1949 in Fife and there is an records for Eighteen Century obituary in the Aberdeen University Review. Collections Online (ECCO). Now anyone wishing to view the The very strong literary full text of these rare and unique connections which Chapman made materials will find a special link in his London years stemmed from to each individual title in the his activities as a regular reviewer catalogue so that once you’ve for literary magazines. While his found the item you’re looking comments were sometimes pretty for there’s no need to search trenchant he could obviously spot again. Cover of copy of Brave New emerging talent and developed World from the Chapman close friendships with most of the Improving access to ECCO has Collection significant writers of the period, only been possible thanks to the attested by his large collection of generosity of the Friends who first editions and letters from their Our March meeting began with a made a substantial contribution authors. moving tribute by Graham Hunter towards the cost of the records. to our late Chairman, Roy There are over 70 volumes of Thomson, who died suddenly on And the millionth record – A 29th November. Aldous Huxley's works in the collection, and over 50 of each of Letter to Sir George Saville, Bart. Upon the alliegance of a There appeared to have been a Walter de la Mare, HE Bates and AE Coppard, plus correspondence British subject: occasioned by number of different events in his late bill in Parliament in King's College on that night and from Virginia Woolf. He had favour of the Roman Catholics the group of Friends who met in extensive correspondence with of this Kingdom. the Old Senate Room represented Professor Adolphus Jack at the quality rather than the quantity. Aberdeen and Professor Edmund They were however treated to a Blunden of Oxford. His circle of Robin Armstrong Viner fascinating exposition of the friends was wide, including the Cataloguing Manager literary life of Britain in the 1920s fervent Communist Margaret [email protected] and ‘30s by Keith O'Sullivan, Warner and others very firmly not

Senior Rare Book Librarian, holding those political views.

Special Libraries & Archives, Apologies …. which he based on the Perhaps his identification of talent was not always perfect, remarkable library amassed by … for the error in the Autumn / John Bisset Chapman, now however. His championing of the Winter News (p9) in which I included in Special Collections. works of TF Powys has not been referred to a book produced by widely shared and Coppard indeed John Chapman was born in 1875 made some devastating comments children at Aberdeen’s St Peter’s in Caithness, son of a about his writing, even though we RC School, on ‘the history of the stationmaster, educated at Portree have a work of his dedicated to Snow in Old Aberdeen, and Milne's Institution in Chapman. illustrating the Kirk’s Fochabers, from where he architecture past and present’. proceeded to study classics in The Chapman library is a splendid Much could be written on the Aberdeen, graduating in 1896. He illustration of the special literary snow in Old Aberdeen, taught classics in Dumfries and world of the interwar years, and particularly over this Winter, but Airdrie and published a book on Aberdeen is fortunate to have it in the school children were, of Horace which is still in print, as its collections. course, writing about the Snow well as writing Doric poetry. A Kirk! Professor Mike Meston change of career in the First World Friends of the Library committee War saw him in aircraft building

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University Changes Professor Sir , the previous Principal and Vice New Principal and Vice Chancellor, received a Knighthood at Buckingham international centre of excellence Palace in December, awarded in learning and research.” the honour for services to higher

education. Professor Diamond is a

distinguished social statistician, When he left us, Professor Sir whose work has crossed many Duncan Rice had led the disciplinary boundaries. Prior to University of Aberdeen for 14 joining the ESRC he had an years. Under his leadership the outstanding academic career at University has grown in the University of Southampton, standing both nationally and rising through the ranks from internationally, becoming an 1980 and becoming Deputy ambitious internationally- Vice-Chancellor in 2001. focused institution, attracting

leading professors from many of He was elected to the UK Professor the world’s greatest universities. Academy of Social Sciences in This, along with driving forward 1999 and as a Fellow of the The University has appointed organisational change, major British Academy in 2005. He has Professor Ian Diamond, FBA campus developments, one of received honorary degrees from FRSE, Chief Executive of the the UK's largest fundraising the Universities of Glasgow and Economic and Social Research campaigns and the recently Cardiff. Council (ESRC), as the new launched reformed curriculum,

Principal and Vice Chancellor. ensures the University enters its Professor Diamond said, “I am He succeeded Professor Sir next phase under Principal delighted to have the opportunity Duncan Rice on 1 April. Professor Diamond from a to steer this rising star in the position of strength. north through the next stage of Professor Diamond has also its mission to be rated among the chaired the Executive Group of Friends will remember that over world’s top universities. The Research Councils UK, the body several years Principal Rice achievements of recent years representing all seven UK honoured the Friends by hosting combined with the commitment Research Councils, from 2004 recruitment evenings for us in and ambition of my new until 2009. his home in Chanonry Lodge, colleagues give us the best with the chance to enjoy the possible advantage in firmly Announcing the appointment, Sir grounds on a lovely Summer positioning the University as a Moir Lockhead, Senior Governor evening. major international centre of of Court, said, “Court has learning and research. unanimously confirmed the appointment of Professor “I want this University to Diamond to lead the institution compete with the best in the through the next stage of its world and together with the ambitious strategy to become a outstanding staff of the truly world- leading university. Friends’ Membership Cards University I believe we can

achieve this.” “We are delighted that we have Please bring your Membership been able to attract someone of Card with you when you use the We know that Professor the standing and calibre of University Library if you have Diamond will give our new Professor Diamond. His no other Library membership Library campaign his strongest impeccable academic credentials identification. This will also backing but thank Principal and leadership experience will be mean quicker access when you Duncan Rice, also, for his vital in continuing the come to Friends events. enormous fundraising activities transformation of the University for us over the years. of Aberdeen into a leading

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New Deputy Librarian NEW LIBRARY and Head of New Library Building Library Services Chris Banks reports

There has been masses of activity both onsite and in planning over the last couple of months. Rising out of the ground, above the hoardings and now, just reaching above the height of QML can be seen two concrete towers. These will house the stairs, lifts, services and lots and lots of wiring and will form the north and south “cores” to the new library. Also visible for a few weeks, but now submerged under the ground floor “slab” were the reading room area and some of the plant room and storage areas. Indeed there was one point when we could very clearly identify the “Strongroom” space - that inner sanctum of sanctums that will store our most precious and vulnerable items.

Steel has now arrived on site and so not only is the ground floor visible, but also the framework for the first floor. Soon we will begin to get an idea of the scale of the inner architectural feature of the building - the atrium opening. Laurence Bebbington has been appointed as our new Deputy Less visible to the outside world but just as important and no less a Librarian. hive of activity, is the fact that a large number of planning sessions are underway. On the assumption that we should be ready to open the Laurence worked at Nottingham building to the public in early September 2011, that gives us just under University from 2001, where he 500 days to plan and execute some 60 plus mini-projects many of was most recently Faculty Team which are being plotted against a procurement timetable. Some of Leader for Social Sciences, Law these are not that “mini”, e.g.: how much shelving on each floor, and Education, as well as being where to place it, how to light it, how to select the books to go on it the University's Copyright Officer. He has gained wide and how to move them from their existing locations to the new ones. experience over a number of Locks, security, IT equipment, staff distribution, conservation fit-out, years at a variety of institutions furniture decisions and all manner of other things are being worked on north and south of the border, at present. including as a Research Meanwhile, as we are working towards a library in the making, a Assistant in the Archives couple of colleagues are working on a history of libraries in Scotland - Department at the University of there is something poetic in that! (See item on p 15) Glasgow; as Assistant Librarian at the Royal College of Chris Banks Physicians and Surgeons in University Librarian Glasgow, and when working at Cambridge University's Institute of Criminology, the Department of Information Science at Strathclyde and the Library at the University of Birmingham.

Laurence began work with us in December.

Construction work in April 2010

Regular updates on the new Library project are on the New Library web page: www.abdn.ac.uk/newlibrary

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New Library Funding understanding of its shared lead for the Library project, said, history by enabling these "This is wonderful news and I Update precious printed and manuscript am delighted that fundraising for

collections to be shared with the University’s new Library has the community. gained such momentum with the announcement of these The Trust’s donation will be significant grants. In addition, used towards the Family and construction work on the Library Schools’ Learning Room in has started in earnest on campus. the building’s Learning Suite. This custom-designed “Achieving the vision for our and welcoming community new Library will depend on the education facility will enable generosity of our benefactors the youngest learners to and we are extremely grateful An artist’s impression of the new building participate in a range of and very fortunate to be stimulating and enjoyable presented with this huge level of Harriet Armstrong Viner is learning activities. The Room funding, especially in today’s Development Executive for the will be primarily used by school economic climate. We are all University’s Development Trust groups - at both primary and experiencing challenging times, and all enquiries regarding secondary level - and by families however, the support from these contributing to the new Library who will participate in a range of organisations will enable the should be addressed to her: practical, engaging learning University in turn to make a gift, [email protected] experiences. by preserving and promoting (1) +44 (0)1224 272641 The ‘sister’ Learning Room was material to intrigue and inspire funded earlier in the year by researchers and our communities Here she explains the Aberdeenshire Council. today, and to enrich and educate significance of donations: generations to come. "These grants, along with the The Garfield Weston substantial support we have Foundation has confirmed its “Our magnificent new Library received from alumni, friends of own donation of £250,000. Their will give us a prominent and the University and corporate Administrator said, “The public venue for the display of donors, mean that we are now Trustees of the Foundation are our cultural heritage, and enable half way to reaching the delighted to support this project fundraising target of £30 our collections to be made and anticipate it will offer real million." available to the wider benefits both educationally and community as never before.” culturally to the University and Fundraising has gained the communities of North-East momentum thanks to three The new £60 million project will Scotland.” significant gifts totalling provide much more than a

£600,000 given towards the new conventional Library. It will The Wolfson Foundation, a Library and Special Collections provide an important resource long-standing supporter of the Centre. for the whole community, who University, has also given a for the first time will enjoy substantial donation of £150,000 The Robertson Trust has made access to priceless historical towards the project. The a £200,000 funding award collections of books and Foundation awards grants to towards the Special Collections manuscripts and regular events. support excellence in the fields Centre, on the Ground Floor and A dedicated Special Collections of science and medicine, health, Lower Ground Floor of the new Centre within the building will education, the arts and building. The Centre will protect offer a welcoming cultural venue humanities, and this donation is the University’s historically where a wide range of public the third significant capital grant significant special collections in audiences can engage with the it has made to the University in a state-of-the-art climatically collections through educational the last five years. controlled environment to ensure programming, exhibitions and they are preserved for the volunteer opportunities. Announcing the generous gifts, enjoyment of future generations, Professor Christopher Gane, and increase the public’s The building is scheduled to Vice-Principal and academic open in September 2011.

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Inspired by Royal Academy of Arts Fame

Our Design The Royal Academy of Arts is looking at library buildings in its current Architectural Programme. The programme is aimed at both professionals and the layman, ‘to further our ability to understand and enjoy our physical environment’.

Lectures are given by major international practitioners, including Benedetta Tagliabue, whose practice was responsible for the Scottish Parliament building. However, also on the agenda, for the April talk entitled Libraries as Cultural Hubs, was Morten Schmidt, partner in the Danish architectural practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen, discussing its thinking about libraries such as the Royal Danish Library, opened in 1999, and our own new Library building.

Contributing to Culture Photograph courtesy of Martin Sommer Site Services Manager, QML Many of you will remember that Chris Banks, the University Librarian, came to us from the British The role of architecture in inspiring learning was the Library, where for many years she was Head of theme for a meeting of the Cross Party Group for Music Collections. She has continued her musical Architecture and the Built Environment at the interests here, as some of you will have heard in Scottish Parliament in November. her addresses to the Friends, and is a member of King’s College Chapel Choir. The designs for our new Library were featured, together with plans for Glasgow School of Art She thus appears on a new CD put together by Dr buildings and the University of Edinburgh’s Paul Mealor, Senior Lecturer in Music. Stabat Informatics Forum. Mater is a collection of sacred vocal and choral music, recorded last year at King’s Chapel, and The meeting was convened and hosted by Robin it has enjoyed widespread success. Harper, MSP, a former rector of both Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities. Professor Pete Stollery, Head of Music, added that at a time when the arts might be facing cuts, Professor Chris Gane, Vice-Principal, and Head of money and effort is being invested at Aberdeen to the College of Arts and Social Science, and Morten ensure the importance of culture and art remains Schmidt, Architects, Schmidt Hammer Lassen, an integral part of both students’ education and presented our contribution, together with Angus the university’s public engagement programme. Donaldson, Director of Estates. E-mail Addresses, please Professor Gane said, “We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to parliamentarians and the Could Friends who have an e-mail address and who architectural and design community about our plans have not already done so please let us have your for the Library and the University. It was an details, if you’re happy with this. important and worthwhile exchange, and we were struck by the remarkable synergies on issues As well as increasing the efficiency of our own between all three institutions. records and communications we could also then let There is no doubt that architecture plays a huge role the Alumni Secretary know your address and you in the international competitiveness of universities can be sent details of their events. Although we try and their contribution to the public realm. The need to include future events in our own News the fact for continued public investment has never been that we only have 2 issues a year and alert you to greater.” the Spring meeting by post means that many of the Alumni events cannot be communicated to you.

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considerable noise when But anyway, they’ve begun to Spik o the construction starts, but there will plan for everything that’s going be quieter study accommodation inside the new library. Turns out Toon elsewhere on campus for exam they can put most of the material study. that’s heavily used on floors The University attracts lower down; that way it‘ll be thousands of students from the Bit ah thocht yi mith bi needen quieter at the top. Just like UK and overseas - 120 tae ken mair aboot at new libray Edinburgh Uni, they’re going to nationalities are represented and – er’s still a greit hole in i grun have well-designed places on many languages can be heard bit thir startin tae big stuff noo every floor for people to work across campus. The local North in a. I cran is massive – yi kin together, so there’ll be no shh- East Doric dialect can seem seet fae Split i Wins: ah dinna ing in those areas! But they’re quite impenetrable, although the funcy bein i mannie thit drives t expecting that it’ll be quieter locals are warm, inquisitive and tho – yi’d hae an afa clim in i over at the back of every floor as friendly! mornin, in is fir “comfort well: there’ll be rooms there that breaks… !! you can’t speak in at all. There But I thought you might need to will be somebody to give you a know more about this new hand when you’re stuck: you’ll library - there’s still a huge hole find them on every floor over in the ground but they’re starting beside the lifts, next to where the to build now as well! That crane printers and copiers will be. If is massive - you can see it from you have your own laptop you’ll Split the Winds (ed.s note: be able to use it with WiFi, and between Powis Place and Powis there will be ordinary computers Terrace, as you travel north-west too. They’re planning to have a from George Street) I don’t mixture of different kinds of fancy being the man that drives seating, so you can sit upright, or it though - you’d have an awful relax as you please. It’s going to climb in the morning, and as for be very grand! “comfort breaks”…! Source: Wikipedia It’ll bi rare fin its deen, er’ll be Bit onyway, thiv begun ti plan a café so wi kin gang in fir wir Hiv yi seen fit the’ve deen ti the far athing gaan inside I new tay, a funcy room for showin a libray: thiv caad doon a hael libray. Turns oot it thi kin pit the bonny aal books in athin. chunk o’t. Thir awa ti start maist o i stuff its hiviest ust on I It will be great when it is biggin a new een – it’s gan ti be fleers lower doon; at wy it’ll bi complete: there will be a café so afa graan: aa the aal books‘ll quaiter up I tap. Jist lik Embra we can have a cup of tea, an be doon i stair in er’s gaan ti be Uni, thir gin tae hae funcy exhibition space to show the funcier places ti sit n read up i placies on ivra fleer for fowk ti treasures, and lots of other stair. work igither: so er’ll bi nae things. Have you seen what’s happened shushin in at bits! Bit thir to the Library: a large part has expecin thit it’ll be quaiter ower Fan’ll’t bi deen? Aa canna been demolished. A new Library it I back o ivra fleer in a: er’s wight! is about to be built: it’s going to rooms ere thit yi canna spik in it When will it be ready? I can’t be wonderful. All the old aa. Er’ll bi sumbidy tae gie yi a wait! treasures will be in the basement haan fin yer stuck – ye’ll git and there will be high quality them on ivra fleer ower aside I …and in answer to this final study accommodation on the lifts, aside faar I printers n question, the new Library is set upper floors. copiers’ll be. If yiv yer ain to open for the start of session in laptop yi’ll be able ti use I wifi, September 2011. Mine you, ere’ll be a fair din fin in er’ll bi ordnray computers an the biggin starts, bit thiv thocht aa. Thir plannin ti hae a puckle Wendy Pirie o that in er’ll be quaiter placies o diffrent kines o seats, so yi kin Head of Administration and bookit ower it the ither side o i sit up richt, or flop aboot tae Planning high street afor i exams. suit yersel. It’s gin ti be afa [email protected] That said, there will be some graan!

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NEWS FROM SPECIAL LIBRARIES &

ARCHIVES example of the many different Dating from 1591, My Ladye 'Capturing the Energy' ways companies are successfully Nevells Booke is one of the few using their archives, and the sources of English keyboard benefits of maintaining high music to survive from the 16th quality records. The guide century. It contains 42 of Byrd’s describes the project as an asset pieces, copied by John Baldwin

for the UK's offshore oil and gas of Windsor; most exciting of all,

industry which will enhance there appear to be corrections in

research and education the hand of the composer.

programmes and capture the

history of the industry for The manuscript was put on The Library’s Archives staff have generations to come. display in the Art Gallery, and been collaborating with Total E&P UK and a number of other became the focal point for a Professor Christopher Gane, series of recitals and lectures oil industry and government Vice Principal, expressed the culminating in the annual agencies in a project entitled University's delight at this conference of the Royal Musical Capturing the Energy, to preserve recognition for 'Capturing the records which will enrich Energy', saying, Association. Some of you will understanding of this significant remember that Chris Banks energy sector. "We have very much enjoyed spoke to the Friends about it at working with Total and the one of our meetings that year. Their work has featured as a case other partners on this study in a new publication from fascinating venture. The project The work was also the subject of the National Archives, providing is especially significant in the an honours course offered to our a valuable guide to help way it brings together the skills music undergraduates, with businesses use their archives to of Siobhán and other members unique first-hand access to the explore new markets, provide of our dedicated team of manuscript itself. In the future, legal and regulatory protection, curators with a major offshore though, the manuscript will be and succeed in today's operator, and a commitment to freely available to all in digitized competitive markets. preserve, for future generations, form: it has just been added as a information about an industry ‘virtual book’ to the British Siobhán Convery, Head of which shaped not only our local Library’s online gallery. This Special Libraries & Archives, was and national economy but also will allow us to run the course a guest at a recent launch the cultural development of the again in the future, as well as reception for Corporate Memory - communities of the east coast of proving to be an invaluable a guide to managing business Scotland." research resource. archives, where speakers included Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Siobhan Convery Dr. David J Smith Spencer plc, Professor Mervyn Head Special Libraries & Archives Senior Lecturer King, Governor of the Bank of [email protected] Department of Music England and Dame Stella [email protected] Rimington, former head of MI5 and a professional archivist, who all promoted the value of archives Priceless Music to senior representatives of the Manuscript Digitized business sector. In 2008 the University’s Music The event took place last year at Department joined forces with the House of Lords, hosted by the and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Library to bring a Archives and the National priceless manuscript of keyboard Council on Archives. Capturing music by the English composer the Energy was highlighted as an William Byrd to Aberdeen. My Ladye Nevells Booke

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Celebrating Colleges and Castles: two newly catalogued collections Darwin Special Libraries & Archives continue to work on a number of On the day which marked the externally-funded cataloguing projects aimed at opening up collections 150th anniversary of the to researchers for the first time. publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Staff in the Department have been cataloguing two significant local Means of Natural Selection (24th collections, and these documents are now fully searchable via our ever November) the University expanding Library Catalogue. hosted an Evening of Evolution. Documents from the assorted Aberdeen Colleges of Education contain The packed event offered talks, extensive materials relating to teacher training in and around an interactive quiz, the chance to Aberdeen. They were deposited with Special Libraries and Archives take part in a human evolution when the Northern College of Education and the University of workshop, displays on Darwin’s Aberdeen merged in 2001, and the Hilton Campus vacated in 2005. interests, the story of evolution as shown in the University’s This archival material from local teaching colleges dates back to 1874, Natural History Centre and the and such a major institutional archive is a tremendous addition to the opportunity to see live pigeons, University’s historic collections, highlighting the important history of birds key to Darwin’s works. educational training in Scotland, and providing an invaluable record for the current School of Education at the University. But as well as all these a highlight was Special The papers of Cluny Castle in Aberdeenshire have also been recently Collections’ loan of a first catalogued, preserving local heritage from the 18th century relating to edition copy of On the Origin of this historic seat of the Gordons of Cluny. The family owned several Species… universally other estates in the North-East, including Slains, Midmar, Kebbaty, acknowledged as a landmark Buckie, and Kinsteary; as well as property in the Scottish Highlands, work of science, shaping our most notably the Long Island estate of Lady Emily Gordon-Cathcart, understanding of how our life spanning the islands of Barra, and . The castle evolved. was passed through marriage to the Linzee-Gordons, in whose hands it remains today.

These documents provide a fascinating insight into the running of a country estate in times of significant social change in Scotland and many of you took the opportunity to hear Nicola Mills, the freelance archivist who has been working on the papers, speak to us at our Autumn/Winter meeting in November.

Andrew MacGregor Deputy Archivist [email protected]

Charles Darwin

Artist painting of Hilton Campus by Jock Bevan - MSU 1421/6/7/5

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Aberdeen 1851. His papers include a our online catalogue. This rich collection of case books that resource on the development of Medico-Chirurgical document in great detail the algebra, arithmetic, geometry Society diseases and treatment of the and trigonometry and their men in his care, as well as a teaching at the University can be series of journals and letter consulted at Special Libraries & books recording his experiences Archives. during the Peninsular War and Meanwhile Hazel has begun his time spent as deputy cataloguing the collection of Dr inspector of hospitals for the James Melvin (1795-1853), a northern and south-west districts graduate of in England. and Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School, who donated As a result of this project, the his collection to Marischal Society’s contribution to the College in 1856. provision of medical training, the championing of radical Robin Armstrong Viner public health measures and the Cataloguing Manager establishment of hospitals and [email protected] their services within the community will be brought to the attention of the history of medicine community, to encourage further research into HeadLines this important and varied collection. Library and Historic Collections’ Sir James McGrigor (1771-1858) electronic magazine, HeadLines, Paul Logie aims to keep Library users Thanks to a Research Resources Wellcome Project Archivist informed of recent news and in Medical History Award from [email protected] developments. Obviously some the Wellcome Trust, a project to items cover more specialised catalogue the Aberdeen Medico- matters but Friends may well Chirurgical Society’s rich and SB Mathematics enjoy the articles of wider unique collection of papers is interest. now completed. Paul Logie was seconded as Project Archivist to HeadLines is available online at catalogue the records of the http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/ Society and make them ezine with the latest issue, 5, searchable online via the dated March 2010. University’s CALM collection management system. For those of you who don’t have access to e-mail and the internet The collection includes the we have included some of the records of Sir James McGrigor items from the latest issues in (1771-1858) who was instrumental in founding the Society and went on to have a Collection distinguished career as an army surgeon, eventually becoming Last year Hazel Newton, one of Chief of the Medical Staff of the our cataloguing team, completed Peninsular Army under the the cataloguing of our collection command of Wellington. In of over 500 historic mathematics 1814, he was appointed texts held in the SB collection. Director-General of the Army Medical Department, remaining Now for the first time full details in post until his retirement in of all these titles, including their bindings and history, appear in

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237-year old Revealing Hidden important by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the ‘P&J’ Collections Scottish Government.

A project has been launched to Project Officer Amy Miller, open up Scotland’s important based here, said, “The University museum collections to a of Aberdeen has some worldwide audience through the outstanding collections, as do the internet. other universities.

The universities here hold a “These are of exceptional disproportionately high importance to the nation but [With grateful thanks to the Press and percentage of Scotland’s currently less than 40 % are Journal] nationally important collections catalogued - on paper or – totalling more than 1.8 million electronically - and less than 8 % Keith O’Sullivan, Senior Rare items - but only 7.5% of this can of collections can be viewed on Books Librarian, was contacted be viewed on the web. the web. The internet is now an by the Press & Journal in important research tool, for January following the discovery Now nine universities, led by school children, academics and by a local pensioner of a 237- Aberdeen, will together open up those with an interest in a year old newspaper in her home. this scientific and cultural particular subject, but currently heritage to a wider audience. they have few ways of The 1773 copy of the Aberdeen discovering what we hold, or of Journal and North British Revealing the Hidden viewing it.” Magazine, a predecessor title to Collections will run until June the modern Press & Journal, and will see important Some of the first collections to was found by Mrs Dorothy collections and artefacts be catalogued in Aberdeen Robertson in her wardrobe as electronically recorded, include Marischal Museum’s she cleared out her house in photographed and the details collection of surgical items from uploaded to the Culture Grid, a Garthdee. Mrs Robertson has around the world and a hoard of national cultural database run by now donated the newspaper to ancient coins discovered on the the Collections Trust, the the Press & Journal offices on Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen, during Museums Libraries and Archives Lang Stracht. The four-page building work in 1886. Council, and the European weekly is dated May 10, 1773 Commission. and has no illustrative matter, Amy Miller added, “We have but is filled mostly with notices some really interesting and Our partners are the universities of sales of land. unusual surgical items including of Dundee, St Andrews, Stirling, bullet extractors and saws which Glasgow, Edinburgh, Heriot- Keith said the paper was a I’m sure would be of great Watt, Robert Gordon, and the interest to people not just here in valuable find. The Library has a Glasgow School of Art. We are copy of every issue of all Aberdeen but across the UK and all members of the University beyond. We also have one of the versions of the Press & Journal Museums in Scotland group, since the first edition of the largest collections of Egyptian which received £240,000 Papyrus held anywhere in the newspaper appeared in towards the £318,000 project December 1747, making ours country.” from the Scottish Funding probably the most Council. comprehensive run available in Project Director Dr Alan Knox, Head of Museum Collections at Scotland. However, copies from Collections in five of the the University, commented, “If the 18th century, especially ones universities, including the entire people are to get the most out of in good condition, are becoming holdings of the Universities of these outstanding collections, increasingly rare. ourselves and Glasgow and they first need to know what we

select collections from the have and the internet is the

Glasgow School of Art, perfect tool for making this University of St Andrews, and available to a worldwide University of Edinburgh have audience.” been recognised as nationally

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20th Century 1862 Library Rules way to intermeddle with them.

Radicalism - Part 1: Any person wishing to consult books in the library must Whilst the focus of this new be admitted to the Reading exhibition in Special Libraries & Room by the side door, and the Archives is the 20th century, the book or books acquired must be Department already has a web brought to him there by a presentation, The Voice of librarian. Radicalism, which traces the changes in democratic rights in - Part 2: The name of the North-East Scotland from 1800 consulter and of the books which to 1930. Materials available he uses for consultation shall be include political articles from entered in the reading room newspapers, prints, squibs, book. And he shall be ephemera and song sheets. responsible for the book until their return has been… [text Special Libraries & Archives obscured] in the reading room holds a wealth of 20th century by material relating to social and a librarian. political movements for democracy, equality and justice. -Part 3: Until better Papers, literature and accommodation for consulting correspondence survive to chart books shall have been provided the activities of local political In a file previously catalogued the librarian shall exercise parties, trades unions, pressure only as “Administration – Rules discretion as to the books of groups and activists. 1862”, a member of staff in plates and valuable books to be Special Collections & Archives allowed in each case for Aberdeen played its part in the Collections has rediscovered consultation. radical politics of the century. some of the more authoritarian

There were publishers like James Library regulations from Other rules included: Leatham, active Labour and yesteryear, giving us a

Communist party organisations fascinating flashback into a life - No consultation of the library and numerous trade unions, with of Victorian academia. catalogues without the consent a central Trades Council of the librarian. organising matters. Aberdeen These include: activists joined the 1926 General - The annual inspection “shall Strike and during the Spanish - Strangers visiting the library Civil War nineteen men fought must be admitted by the servants take place at the close of the against Franco’s fascists. through the side door only, and winter session, and shall in Aberdeen groups have also been cannot be allowed to ascend the ordinary circumstances, be finished within fifteen days.” involved in post-war national library staircase unless protests against the proliferation accompanied by a College - A fine of 1 shilling per volume of nuclear weapons and the servant, a Librarian or is imposed for late books introduction of the Poll Tax. Professor.

The rules in full are at Reference Andrew MacGregor - No person can be permitted to Deputy Archivist MSM 360 in Special Libraries & take the books out of their place Archives [email protected] on the shelves, or, in any other

Laura Castle Collections Assistant [email protected]

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Manuscript Mystery Libraries, and this confirmed to Marsden’s impressive knowledge him that the manuscript was not of early 19th-century technology Solved the work of Hornblower but a set and its related literature is to be of student lecture notes taken at admired and cherished by your the University. University. The manuscript needs to be shared or find a new home An image of a ‘Newtonian where it will benefit from more Reflector’ was helpfully signed than my curiosity.” and dated 'William Watt 1810' and further investigation in the Special Dr Ben Marsden and Libraries & Archives Reading Andrew MacGregor Room showed that a William Deputy Archivist Watt, of Banff, was a student at [email protected] King's College between 1806 and 1810. History of Libraries in The image attribution confirmed Scotland that the manuscript was a set of natural philosophy notes from And still on the literary theme, Watt's third year of study taught two members of staff are Richard O. Byrne, an by Robert Eden Scott, Professor potential contributors to a book architectural conservator from of Natural Philosophy. Our on the History of Libraries in Staunton, Virginia, recently archives actually have a near Scotland which should ensure approached Dr Ben Marsden, duplicate copy of notes from that the history of Aberdeen Senior Lecturer in History of another student who attended University Library is not Science, enquiring about an Scott's class, dated 1807-1808 forgotten in the wider picture. anonymous manuscript he had (Reference MSK 287). Iain Beavan, now retired, and purchased in 1981 when in Elaine Shallcross, Information Canada. Dr Marsden explains further: Consultant in QML are both

Dr Marsden is an expert on the “Special Libraries staff brought involved. renowned Scottish engineer and me some lecture notes from a inventor James Watt (1736-1819), similar time at Aberdeen The Committee of a new project and the gentleman contacted him University; I found they were has asked Elaine to submit an because he suspected that the almost identical. A quick check of abstract based on her research manuscript was a set of notes on the class lists for our colleges into the University’s Theological natural philosophy (physics) by indicated that there was a student Library for possible inclusion. one of Watt's arch rivals, Jabez in one of the Nat. Phil. classes by The one volume 'History' will Carter Hornblower. the same name - which clinched supplement the work achieved the issue. through the Cambridge History Part of the evidence was a sketch of Libraries in Britain and of a steam engine made in 1810 The owner is overjoyed and has Ireland and the Edinburgh and believed by the owner to be now very generously agreed to History of the Book. The an early work by Hornblower. A send over the manuscript so that it objectives of this project are a similar image later appeared in the can be digitised for our book on the history of libraries Pantologia (1813) of Olinthus collections, and perhaps put on in Scotland, to be published by Gregory, a friend of Hornblower. display. It was actually rather a Edinburgh University Press, But Dr Marsden was able to fun bit of detective work!” together with materials and an discover that the sketch was online portal of library history actually a copy from an earlier Richard O. Byrne was delighted to resources available in Scotland. printed work edited by David have the mystery resolved and Brewster. wrote: Elaine has also been encouraged to submit her Masters Dr Marsden was also able to “It took 25 years of poking to dissertation on the History and ascertain the sources of other text finally talk to the right person who Development of the Theological and images in the manuscript by could unlock the mystery of the Library, 1700 to 1900 for consulting rare works in Special 307 page manuscript. Dr. publication as a book.

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Ancient Papyri presented It comes from a collection of Catholic Synod of Bishops held to University papyri, probably discovered in its three-year General Assembly, Egypt, which appeared on which 250 bishops attended. the antiquities market in the Pope Benedict presented each 1950s. They were participant with a boxed purchased in 1955-56 by facsimile of two leaves of the two main collectors, Sir papyrus, along with a book Alfred Chester Beatty and explaining both the history of Martin Bodmer. The the papyrus itself and some Chester Beatty papyri went aspects of its significance for the to Dublin and the Bodmer study of the transmission of the papyri to a small museum texts of the Gospels. at Cologny, on the outskirts The of Geneva. Bishop Moran presented his presenting Principal Rice with copy to the University and it is the facsimile In 2006 Mr Frank J. Hamma III now housed in the University purchased from the Bodmer collections. The Bishop of Aberdeen has Museum, Bodmer papyruses 14 presented the University with a and 15. These date from the Professor Chris Gane, Head of facsimile of papyri dating from early years of the 3rd Century the College of Arts and Social the 3rd century and given to him and contain the Gospels of John Sciences, said, “We are by Pope Benedict XVI. and Luke, commonly referred to delighted to receive a facsimile as P75. He subsequently of this important document, The Right Reverend Peter A formally gifted them to Pope which further reinforces the Moran, presented Professor Sir Benedict XVI and they were University’s ancient links with Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice added to the manuscript holdings the Church. It is a significant Chancellor, with a facsimile of of the Vatican Library. piece of history to add to the the ancient document, gifted to University of Aberdeen’s him in Rome in 2008. In October 2008 the Roman extensive collections.”

Laurencekirk Station Attraction

This project involved supporting young people from Mearns Academy in Laurencekirk to develop heritage information panels for the waiting room at Laurencekirk Station, to mark its re-opening last year.

S3 pupils studying history at the school identified and researched initial themes for the panels. Their suggestions were passed to the English Department where the text was developed by a group of ten pupils, supported by Alison Parfitt, Education and Access Officer at Marischal Museum. Alison made three visits to the school, with e-mail correspondence and further editing as the text progressed.

The finished text was passed to the Academy’s Art Department, where another group of pupils used photography, portraiture and mixed media collage to explore local themes. The collated work went to a designer who composed the final panels.

A collaborative project initiated by Aberdeenshire Arts Development, it was supported by Network Rail and the University of Aberdeen. The project was a great opportunity to work with secondary school pupils, a traditionally hard to engage audience for museums, and resulted in some lively panels which celebrate the rich heritage of the Mearns.

Alison Parfitt Education and Access Officer [email protected]

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NEWS FROM MARISCHAL

Marischal Museum

Update

The displays at Marischal Museum are now closed while converts Once more the University the front of Marischal College celebrated the power of the into its corporate headquarters. A written word in its Word virtual exhibition of the Festival, now reaching its 10th ABDUA 31198: ‘Stracathro’ by James exhibitions can still be seen at: year. Morrison RSA, RSW, D. Univ. Oil on http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ canvas. Presented to the University of virtualmuseum/ Aberdeen by the University of Held on the weekend of 14-16 Edinburgh in 1995 May, the Festival again used the talents and resources of the Paintings made Public Marischal Museum’s annual Library and Special Collections Lecture series continues and the & Archives staff and material. The Public Catalogue brochure for the current academic Foundation, a registered charity, year was included for you with Jack Webster, our President, is cataloguing all oil, tempura the Autumn / Winter issue of appeared in the Festival and acrylic paintings in public News. The days and venues of Marquee on Elphinstone Lawn ownership in the United lectures vary so please check the to share his vast knowledge of Kingdom. The aim of the brochure. Any changes appear on Aberdeen’s history. Jack project is to make these works the website : www.abdn.ac.uk/ Webster’s Aberdeen was of art more accessible to the museum/lectures or contact the published in 2007 – a public. The PCF have been Museum: Tel: 01224 274301 fascinating read covering all publishing colour catalogues on aspects of local life. a county-by-county basis since Lectures still to come this season 2004, with each catalogue are: Our Bernard C Lloyd Walter containing item-level records Scott Collection featured in and digital images of the Tuesday 11th May various ways. A talk by David artworks. Artistic identity and the Hewitt and Alison Lumsden, sculpture of the Irish high Centre Directors of the The catalogue for Aberdeen is Crosses University’s Walter Scott currently being created and the Professor Roger Stalley Research Centre, had original curator is working alongside a Trinity College, Dublin items on display. [There was an professional photographer and Free - Regent Building Lecture article about the Collection in the Friends’ Newsletter when the PCF County Coordinator to Theatre we first acquired it in 2002.] Ali create and collate photographs (Society of Antiquaries – Lumsden is also our speaker at and data for our collection of oil Scotland) the talk on Sir Walter Scott and acrylic paintings. Aberdeen following the AGM on University currently owns over Tuesday 25th May Thursday 27 May. Walking culture and outdoor 400 such artworks. access And in the ‘Lady of the Lake’ All images and catalogue Professor Tim Ingold and Dr Jo exhibition in Old Aberdeen information will be put online in Vergunst Town House, marking the 200th the future. University of Aberdeen anniversary of the publication of £3 – MacRobert Building Room Scott’s poem, the bulk of the Shona Elliott 028 song sheets, illustrated editions, Assistant Curator (Collections) (Elphinstone Institute) paintings and engravings on Marischal Museum show were courtesy of the [email protected] Collection. (This exhibition is on until the end of May.)

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THANKS TO YOU … past. Yet Poland-Lithuania was Stuart (the ‘Young Pretender’ or one of the great European states ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’), dated th Professor Robert Frost, whose citizens developed a 26 September 1745. The printed Professor of Early Modern radical vision of decentralised slip is 6” by 3.5” . History at Aberdeen, was one of power that is still of relevance those who recommended the today, when Poland and The University Library does not purchase of the 1623 publication Lithuania have recently been hold a copy of this recruiting on the offices of the Polish state welcomed into the European slip. Like the 1749 Willdey map by Zawadzki, Speculum Union.” purchased last year with Senatorum ac officialum Regni The Chief Executive of the generous help from the Friends, Polonia’ to which the Friends British Academy said, “These the acquisition of this item will contributed £1500 in 2008 (see are major awards reflecting the enhance our MacBean Stuart and the Spring/Summer 2009 issue very best research in the Jacobite Collection. This is one p12). UK. They encompass a wide of the largest Jacobite collections range of intriguing topics. We in the UK, identified as one of Professor Frost has now been look forward to the outcomes of the University's distinctive awarded a prestigious British their work.” treasures, and specifically Academy Wolfson Professorship identified in the present as one of four academics, Thanks to the Friends, collection development policy as selected from a field of 176, to Zawacki’s tome will help a ‘priority’ for ‘continuing undertake a major research Professor Frost in his research. development’ and further study, co-ordinated by the ------accrual.

British Academy and funded by Jacobite Recruiting Slip £2,500 The recruiting slip is dramatic in the Wolfson Foundation, The Friends of Aberdeen content. It will be used alongside providing funding of £150,000 University Library £1,500 other holdings from the over three years. Aberdeen University Special MacBean Collection in well- Libraries and Archives £1,000 He will investigate the Polish- established programmes of Lithuanian Union, 1386-1815, undergraduate and the lessons which can be teaching on the period learned for current and future - for example courses European political unions. on 'Scotland's New Horizons, 1620-1800', Professor Frost said, “Historians and 'Culture and tend to study nation states and Identity in 18th unions are often overlooked, yet Century Scotland'. As modern Europeans can learn with all Library much from unions in the past. It holdings, it will be will not be until 2013 that the catalogued and Anglo-Scottish Union will have available for use by outlasted the Polish-Lithuanian students, staff and Union, which also included visiting researchers in much of what is now Belarus, our dedicated reading Ukraine, and, for a time, parts of room, under Latvia and Estonia. supervision. In addition it will be He added, “The funding will featured in enable me to make more widely exhibitions and public known this remarkable political lectures planned for creation. Few people outside the New Library. eastern Europe know anything about the Polish-Lithuanian Jacobite recruiting slip Union because of the dominance Keith O’Sullivan of Russian and German This is an exceptionally rare Senior Rare Books Librarian perspectives on the European item, a recruiting slip under the Special Libraries & Archives authority of Prince Charles

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Ruddiman Baroque Violin University of Aberdeen: from initial print run of 1,500 large Friends of Aberdeen University Library endowments £10,000 quarto volumes. Library £500 for performances from the New Library budget of music from Special Libraries’ £10,000 Each image will be accompanied collections on the instrument [new exhibition cases will be by a short essay from specialists transferred later to the Library’s from the University community, Professor Peter Davidson, exhibition gallery] including Iain Beavan, Siobhan Renaissance Professor here, Convery, Keith O’Sullivan and recommended the violin. It was This exhibition will draw on Peter Davidson. None of the made by Ruddiman in Aberdeen Aberdeen’s library, archive and contributors will be paid and all in 1772 and is, splendidly for a museum collections to examine proceeds from the sale will go to baroque violin, in almost the lasting influences of the New Library project. original condition, and was Jacobitism in Scottish identity offered for a very good price. and internationally. It will Thus the book will show the explore its overseas aspects and richness, variety and antiquity of It becomes a second playing its imaginative impact and our collections and be an instrument for the Music imagery, from the exiled effective way of promoting them Department, joining another Jacobite Courts in Paris and amongst scholarly communities Ruddiman violin and an 18th Rome to the Scottish Diaspora and potential donors. However, th century cello and harpsichord after the 18 century Risings. It it will also be a very accessible (both from Aberdeen) to produce will show how ideas of Scotland volume for everyone, to learn a unique ensemble of period are not bounded by physical about and appreciate the instruments from one city. boundaries and that world- Library’s collections. famous images of Scotland – the With the ensemble now Highlands, exile, loss and completed with the purchase of romance – owe much to the the Ruddiman, the University’s Risings and their aftermath. Links with the University of Music Department will now be Aberdeen Alumnus able to form an ensemble It is hoped that the launch event Association dedicated to exploring the 18th will include a discussion session century Scottish repertory in our by leading authorities on themes Many of you will know of the collections. The ensemble will explored in the exhibition. University of Aberdeen Alumnus Association, for Aberdeen take a central part in education Similarly the University hopes to graduates, and our closer ties with and public events in the new hold outreach and learning the Association. Library as well as (potentially to opportunities for schools in a great extent) expanding the conjunction with the display – a school education pack, poetry Their annual Summer outing in scope of Scottish studies at June is a guided tour of King’s workshop and one exploring the Aberdeen. Campus, led by Professor Peter Jacobites’ visual legacy. Davidson, Honorary Curator of The Friends’ contribution will Aberdeen University’s go towards performances of rare ------Manuscript, Rare Book and music from Special Libraries Collections Book Museum Collections from the played on the violin. The Friends of Aberdeen University Renaissance and Baroque periods. instrument itself was purchased Library £2,000 by the Music Department. University of Aberdeen c£20,000 If you are interested in joining please contact the Secretary: ------This book will draw on Alan Towns, c/o University of Aberdeen’s book and manuscript Aberdeen tel: 01224 594536 Jacobites Worldwide total cost treasures, showcasing approx. c £45.000 200 items. The Friends’ [email protected] Exhibition at the Scottish contribution will fund the digital Parliament October – capture of 200 high quality December 2010 images of treasures from the Friends of Aberdeen University collections for reproduction in Library £2,500 the Collection Book, to be Scottish Parliament £22,500 published Spring 2011, with an

19 In the news again … Friends of Derek Ogston Aberdeen University Friends will remember from the last issues of the newsletter that Professor Derek Ogston CBE LLD FRSE, a former Senior Vice- Library Principal of the University and longstanding member of the Friends’ Executive Committee, has been much in evidence. He created the University’s annual Ogston Music Prize and his newest publication, Executive Committee together with Margaret Carlaw, is King’s College Aberdeen - history, buildings and artistic portrayal, which draws together pictures of the building over the past four centuries, tracing how it has changed and President how the way in which it is portrayed has changed. Mr Jack Webster

Local Friends may also be aware that King’s College Chapel has been Chairman celebrating 500 years since its consecration in October 2009 with a Mr Graham Hunter series of church services, talks, recitals and a special inaugural day including tours of Old Aberdeen. Honorary Treasurer One of the contributors to the lectures on the Chapel was, again, Derek. Mr Robin Armstrong Viner He gave a stimulating and most enjoyable talk in December on the Honorary Secretary and Chapel as portrayed through the centuries, based on his new publication. Membership Secretary

Miss Sheona C Farquhar Derek followed earlier talks by Dr Jane Geddes, a frequent enthralling speaker at Friends’ lectures – on the furnishings at the time of the Consecration, its organ, ambo and stalls, and Professor Peter Davidson Members – on the Restoration to the 1800s, the Jacobite Chapel, museum and Mrs Chris Banks (University Librarian) library. Professor Chris Gane (Vice-Principal (Culture and Following the publication of King’s College, Aberdeen, the Old Town Communities) House held a display of paintings of Old Aberdeen, one of the best Dr Hazel Hutchison preserved townscapes in Europe, capturing distinguished landmarks Professor Michael C Meston such as King’s College and, in particular, the famous Crown Tower. Miss Christine Miller The exhibition formed another part of the celebrations to mark the th (editor Friends’ news) Chapel’s 500 anniversary. Professor Derek Ogston

Professor Ogston said, "It was timely, during the celebrations marking Miss Eilidh M Scobbie the quincentenary of the consecration of King's College Chapel, to Mrs Helen F Stevenson mount an exhibition of pictures of King's College executed by artists over the centuries. Additionally, it provided an opportunity for the public to view rarely seen pictures in the University's and private collections."

The exhibition Images of King’s: the artistic portrayal of King’s College, Aberdeen, from October to December, displayed a selection of the works featured in the book.

Reminder … Friends on the Web QML, Taylor and the Medical Library Monday – Saturday: 9.00 am - 10.00 pm (all close at 8.00pm on Fridays) Sunday: 11.00 am - 10.00 pm (QML) Friends 1.00-10.00 pm (Taylor and Medical)

Web site Special Libraries Monday - Friday 9.30 am - 4.30pm http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/friends

20 produced by Uniprint, Binding & Reprographics Services