NMCT Grant Funded Project the Macdonalds of Waternish

NMCT Grant Funded Project The Macdonalds of Waternish

Alison Mason, Highland Archivist, High Life Highland

▪ Dedicated Conservation Service Skye and Lochalsh Highland employing 2 full-time conservators Archive Centre Archive Centre ▪ Am Baile digital image archive relating to the Highlands and Islands Lochaber Archive Centre Visits in Person: 5,928 Attendances at Events: 8,244 Electronic Engagements: 726,558

Visits in Person: 495 Attendances at Events: 2229 Electronic Engagements: 115,927

Adult Learning | Archives | Arts | Leisure Facilities | Libraries | Museums| Music |Sport & Outdoor | Youth Work Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre • Area covered is Skye and Raasay, plus Lochalsh, Kintail and Glenshiel • Skye and Lochalsh NMCT application required review Archive Centre of environmental conditions, light exposure and security arrangements • Archive repository built to BS/PD5454 standard in 2009 • Benefitted from refurbishment of Elgin Hostel building in 2016 • 12 months of environmental monitoring readings supplied

Adult Learning | Archives | Arts | Leisure Facilities | Libraries | Museums| Music |Sport & Outdoor | Youth Work • Waternish peninsula situated in the north west of Skye • Subject of inter-clan fighting between Macleods and Macdonalds • Lands passed to Macdonalds in the 19th century through sale and inheritance • Collection rescued by family solicitor from Waternish House which had fallen into disrepair in the 1970s • First batch of papers deposited in 2009 NLS OS 1st edition 6” map sheet IX

• Resource for family history as crofters and estate staff, and their families appear throughout • Plans provide details of building refurbishments • Maps offer insight into farming methods and identify who occupies the crofts • Photographic archive compliments the collection • Life in the WW1 trenches vividly revealed in Allan Macdonald’s letters home

• Originally sewn all along on four velum tapes • Sewing had deteriorated; the original leather and front board were missing. • Volume was re-sewn on linen tapes • The Library style binding is very close to original

• The plan was in six pieces with lots of tears • Following an ink the conservator carried out the repair with minimal moisture • The plan will be stored in a polyester roll

• Exhibition in Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre planned for summer 2020 • Am Baile online exhibition showing highlights from the collection to coincide • Mobile exhibition with boards, and some community curation to be run in Waternish Community Hall / tie in with workshops for school pupils • Proposed Portree High School Art department project looking at the “landscape” changes in the area

• Requirement to detail archive storage conditions is an opportunity to review current practices • Digitisation needs careful consideration and should not be under-estimated • Changes to staffing and establishment may impact on your ability to deliver the project within the timescale • Conservation requirements may impact on ability to catalogue but an uncatalogued collection leads to unnecessary complications

Tel: 01463 663824 [email protected] www.highlifehighland.com