Registered Charity No. SC 009009 Spring/Summer 2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Introducing our new New Found Land……….2-3 Introducing our new University Librarian University Librarian, continued………………….3 Roll of Honour…………..4-5 By Diane Bruxvoort Museum events ............. 6-7 “Hello everyone, my name is Diane Bruxvoort and I am excited Friends in the Cruickshank to say that I’m the incoming University Librarian at the University Botanic Garden………...8-9 of Aberdeen. I’ve been asked to introduce myself (briefly), so I’ll New home for NHS try to hit the highlights. I’ve been an Associate Dean at the Uni- Grampian Archives ....... ..10 versity of Florida (UF) since 2010 with responsibility for public Thomas Reid talk……11-13 services and collections at two large and two small libraries. I Collections Highlight: also oversee special collections, exhibits, digital services, acqui- Andreas Vesalius……14-15 sitions, and cataloging, and serve as the Dean’s deputy.” FAUL AGM and talk…….16 Continued on pg. 3... The Friends of Aberdeen University Library New Found Land: Scottish Emigration to Canada This exhibition in the Gallery of the Sir Duncan Rice Library Gallery uses items from the Special Collections Centre to review stories of emigration from Aberdeen and Scotland to Canada. Opening Hours Scotland’s population has been its most enduring and Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri & consistent export. Scotland’s diaspora is of global dimensions, Sat: 10am to 5pm but Canada is the destination that was for long periods closest Thu: 10am to 7pm to the hearts of many emigrants. Until 1847 and after 1909, Canada was the primary transatlantic destination for emigrating Sunday: Closed Scots. The story of emigration from Scotland is never a single journey. Some emigrants put down permanent roots in their adopted lands. Others crossed further oceans and continents, and 2 approximately a third returned to Scotland following the outcome of their venture. Scottish emigration to Canada began an enduring process of cultural exchange that continues to reveal a shared culture. The early development of this collective cultural identity is explored through the letters and archives of individual voices and independent migrants in this exhibition, revealing the reality of emigration and the movement of people around the globe. For more details contact [email protected] or 01224 274505 Introducing our new University Librarian (Continued from pg. 1) “Before UF I worked at the University of Houston (UH) for ten years moving up from Head of Access Services to Associate Dean. At UH I was deeply and happily involved with the addition and renovation of the main library. In my pre-academic library career I worked at the Harris County and Houston City Public Library systems for seventeen years combined. These years serving the community from the cradle to old age gave me an appreciation for lifelong learning that continues today. I have a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College in Iowa. I am currently working on a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and will reach the dissertation stage this year. ”I look forward to getting to know the Aberdeen library community and being able to say that I have friends around the world.” On a personal note, I have a son, a daughter-in-law, a daughter and a grandson (Mike, Kelly, Cassandra, and Xavier), no pets, an extended family in Iowa (farmers, of course) and friends across the country. I look forward to getting to know the Aberdeen library community and being able to say that I have friends around the world. See you soon! Diane. By Diane Bruxvoort, University Librarian, and Director of Library Special Collections and Museums. 3 Stories from the Roll of Honour Roll of Honour A new online resource James Mathewson developed by staff at the Stuart, was born in Special Collections Centre Macduff in 1884 and was a former pupil of Banff tells the stories of Academy. His records thousands of University of detail how he joined the Aberdeen staff and students 6th Battalion Gordon who served in the First Highlanders as a Private in World War. September 1914. He was wounded and invalided The Roll of Honour is a home in February 1915, publically available and but rejoined the Battalion in searchable database time to take part in an containing the war records of attack on 25th September some 2,852 members of the 1915 when he fell in action. University community from the World War One. Over the course of a year, staff have uploaded the records not only of those who died in the conflict but all those who enlisted to serve across all branches of the War memorial window, King’s College Armed Forces. A wealth of Chapel, by Douglas Strachan new additional resources have also been created, including action was just 18 years old an image gallery, a factsheet and the oldest was 66. guide, oral history recordings They also provide personal and a changing collection insights into the characters highlights section which tell behind the names with tributes the stories of staff, students, and photographs included in and alumni, and the impact of many records. At the time of his death the war on the University Stuart was acting as field Siobhán Convery, Head of community. messenger during the Special Collections at the advance, and the Roll of Many enlisted in the University of Aberdeen, said: Honour states: University’s U Company of the “The records in the Roll of “in this responsible and 4th Gordons. Others served Honour show that staff and dangerous post he showed with the Argyll & Sutherland, students who came from all himself not only fearless Seaforth, Cameron and daring but full of cool walks of life, all professions Highlanders - as well as other steadiness and and ages volunteered to serve determination. It was the army regiments and corps - their country. same in everything - in his the Royal Navy, Royal Army work, on the football field, Medical Service, and the In the early 1920s a Roll of on the battlefield, Stuart fledgling Royal Flying Corps. Service was compiled and was one to be relied on parts of this were made always.” The records reveal the available online around 10 youngest member of the years ago but in the University community to die in Centenary year of World War One we felt it was important 4 Roll of Honour Stories from the Roll of Honour Walter Inkster, son of a shipmaster from Aberdeen, returned to Scotland from Austria to answer the call in March 1915 and joined the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders before gaining his commission as 2nd Lieutenant. “...in the Centenary year of World War One we felt it was important to open up this important resource to the public.“ Siobhán Convery, Head of Special Collections He fell at Hooge, in the terrible days of fighting of to open up this important Pioneer in the Special Gas September 1915. At first resource to the public. Section of the Royal reported "wounded and Engineers. Before enlisting he missing," there was little It has now been uploaded was a Science Master and doubt that he had died of online so it can be easily wounds received in action following his death in 1917 in searched using criteria such on or about the 25th of the as surname or location. Many hospital in Arras an officer month. wrote: of the records include The record notes he was personal details about "Life under Army conditions “Full of spirit and gaiety, education, careers and he seemed to detest, but, cheerfully ready for any character traits which really being the man he was, he contingency and any adventure, with a humour help to give a sense of the rose superior to every as quick of expression in person behind the name.” difficulty and did his duty the art of caricature as in The Roll of Honour includes ungrudgingly and manfully." speech, courageous and entries for service personnel The Roll of Honour can be lovable, he was a friend whose place can never be drawn from across the north- viewed online at: filled to the many who east and beyond. cared for and counted One particularly detailed entry www.abdn.ac.uk/ upon him.” is for Alexander Thomson roll-of-honour Adam who was born in Alford in 1881 and served as a 5 Sports Medicine: Fiji, Scotland and the Making of Empire Desideratum images and poems Interact 1 by Louise Blamire James Mackay Hall upper gallery, King’s Conference Centre An exploration of the King’s Museum An exhibition of surprising connections Lunchtime Talks photographs and between Northern Scotland poems inspired by and the South Pacific, from sports medicine. the nineteenth century to the The display shows present day. seven Desideratum This exhibition in King’s images produced by Museum displays some of the Scottish photographer items in the University Louise Blamire, of Aberdeen’s internationally accompanied by important Pacific collections poems from the for the first time in decades, Australian-born poet and reveals new research Student volunteers are Kona MacPhee. conducted by the Fijian Arts offering free Lunchtime Talks The exhibition, which Project of the University of about the exhibition, 'Fiji, was a ‘Human Race’ East Anglia and University of Scotland and the Making of project commission, Cambridge. A reminder of the Empire'. runs until August 2014. complexities of the North-East of Scotland’s contribution to Talks will be held 3 times a the British Empire and week at 1pm at King's continuing international Museum, and will last approximately 15 minutes.