Issue No 16 NEWSLETTER Friends of Perth & Kinross Council Archive Honorary Presidents: Bob Scott, Provost of Perth & Kinross Council and Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie Welcome to the summer edition of the Friends newsletter. You will notice the difference in style and content, which is down to our new associate edi- tors, David Wilson and Morag Sweet. I’m sure you will agree that their hard work and en- thusiasm has handsomely paid off. At this year’s AGM, members were treated to the Abernyte Heritage Group’s oral history presentation (reported inside). Thanks were expressed for the Friends’ volunteers’ hard work and that of the committee. Our particular thanks go to Christine Wood who is retiring as treasurer and who has done an excellent job during her term of office. We welcome Mr Pe- ter Stroyan who was appointed treasurer at the AGM and are pleased that Mr John Howat has been re-appointed as secretary. The minutes of the AGM and other committee and gen- eral meetings are available in the Archive searchroom. CONTENTS Page Historical Societies in Perth and Kinross 2 ‘Mind ye Betty, Ministers are just Men’. 4 Launching the Maritime Collection 6 Exploring Chosen Themes and Topics; — Poverty in Perthshire 9 Hard Times on the Farm; an Oral History Project dramatised 10 On First Meeting Secretary Hand 11 The Diddledan 13 Scottish Castles, Palaces and Mansions 15 Diary of Events Insert Perth & Kinross Council Archive, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP, Tel: 01738 444949 Email:
[email protected] Historical Societies in Perth & Kinross In the past twenty years, there has been an explosion of interest in local history, archaeology and genealogy in our area, to judge by the number of local groups that have been formed, and their sometimes impressive range of activities.