1 GB3219/SL/D1062 Macdonald of Viewfield papers 1736-2003 Reference Code: GB3219/SL/D1062 Title: Macdonald of Viewfield Papers Dates of creation: 1736-2003 Extent of the unit of description: 7 linear metres Creators: Macdonald family of Viewfield, Skye, and their Mackinnon relations Administrative/Biographical History: Harry Macdonald (d. 1873, aged 74) Writer to the Signet, son of a cobbler in Dingwall, married Joanna Macleod (d. 1885, aged 65) daughter of Dr Alexander Macleod, factor on estates of Lord Macdonald and succeeded his father in law in that position. Harry Macdonald took lease on Viewfield from Lord Macdonald in 1846; and founded the legal firm of Macdonald and Fraser in Portree Harry and Joanna Macdonald had five sons: Alexander Macdonald, (1840-1899), was born in Portree 3 April 1840, educated at the parish school at Portree, at Inverness Royal Academy where he was dux of the year, and at Edinburgh University, which he left without taking a degree due to eye problems. He qualified as law agent in 1863 and went into partnership with his father, who was agent for the National Bank. After his father’s death, he continued the firm of Macdonald and Fraser (see D123 and D293), and was sole agent for the bank in Portree. In 1879, he became factor to Lord Macdonald after his father, having already been appointed to similar positions for the Macleod, Kilmuir and Strathaird Estates. He was also Secretary to the Skye Diatomite Company, formed in partnership with his brothers John and Harry in July 1886, for the mining and sale of diatomite. In 1886, he resigned the factorship of all the estates that he served in this capacity, except Strathaird, but continued as law agent for all the proprietors on Skye, and was also Clerk and Treasurer of the School Boards of 5 parishes, member of 7 Parochial Boards and Chairman of 3, as well as a Colonel of the Inverness-shire Volunteers. In addition, he acted as agent for GB3219/ 07/08/2006; 11/05/2011; 24/01/2012 2 Conservative candidates in elections from 1880 onwards. He retired from all business except the bank agency in 1898, and died in Hastings in 1899, aged 59 George Rainey Macdonald Thomas Macdonald, Surgeon General, Indian Army. John Macdonald, indigo planter in India, retuned to Skye and took lease of Portree House on his return from India Harry Macdonald, (d.1905), indigo planter in India, returned to Skye, took lease to Viewfield assigned to him by his father’s trustees, 1885; he made extensive alterations and additions to house with the help of architect Alexander Ross. He married in 1881 Flora Mackinnon (b. 1858), daughter of John Mackinnon (1811-1895), son of Dr Farquhar Mackinnon of Kyle (d. 1847), and Isabella Macleod. Flora Mackinnon had several brothers and sisters: Donald William Mackinnon (d.1912) Farquhar Mackinnon (1852-1931)—married Mary Reid (Molly) in India John Mackinnon (d. 1936) Margaret Campbell Mackinnon, married name Maclean (1848-1917) Mary Anne MacLachlan Mackinnon (1853-1929) Jane Christina Mackinnon (1861-1932) Harry and Flora Macdonald had four daughters and two sons: Isabella Macleod Macdonald (b. 1882) Mary Henderson Macdonald (b. 1883) Johanna Campbell Macdonald (1885-1964) Flora Macdonald Alexander Macdonald (died young) Col. John (Jock) Macdonald (1890-1980) went to India after 1911 and married Evelyn Maud Logan (1901-1993) in Calcutta in 1924. He was a Scottish rugby cap and served in the army in both World Wars. In the Second, he served in the Burma campaign with the Indian Army, commanding a construction unit on the Burma Road, and was in Rangoon for the Japanese surrender. After the war, he stayed in India as a tea planter in Assam until 1948, when he returned to Skye. In 1954, he and his wife Evelyn began to run Viewfield House as a bed & Breakfast establishment, and he became a well-known figure for his involvement with and promotion of piping, shinty, Highland games and the Gaelic language. He bought Viewfield outright in 1976 and died in 1980, aged 90. Col John and Evelyn Macdonald had one son: Major John Harry Logan Macdonald, b. Madras (1930-1970), who married Ann Dudley Fitzpatrick (b. 1930) in London in 1955, and had three children, among them John Hugh Macdonald (b. 1956, in Nairn), who married Linda Susan Ellis (b. 1957). Scope and Content: Skye and British Diatomite Companies: correspondence and associated papers 1885- 1904, accounts 1886-1900, receipts and receipted wage bills 1893-1899, loose papers GB3219/ 07/08/2006; 11/05/2011; 24/01/2012 3 and plans c1886-1901, contractors’ stock books 1897-1899, printed promotional material c1900, sundry printed items c1887-1902, modern notes on Skye diatomite, 1992-2005, diatomite samples; Mackinnons of Kyle: historical and genealogical papers 1736-2003, Kyle house papers 1884-1929, papers of Mary Anne MacLachlan Mackinnon c1924, papers of Margaret Campbell MacLean, nee Mackinnon 1912-1917, papers of Farquhar Mackinnon 1894-1930, papers of Mary Mackinnon, nee Reid 1894-1934, papers of Jane Christina Mackinnon 1911-1932, papers of A. D, and L. K. S. Mackinnon c1910-1936, papers relating to Australian Mackinnons c1925-1930, sundry Mackinnon papers c1912- 1936; Harry Macdonald: papers relating to indigo and sugar interests 1873-1904, legal and official papers 1881-1905, notices of the death of his brother Alexander Macdonald 1899, architectural drawings regarding Viewfield House c1896, papers relating to whisky 1896-1898, correspondence 1881-1905, bills and receipts 1875-1905, account books 1897-1904, cheque books 1879-1903, game books 1889-1892, papers regarding his son Alexander Macdonald 1903, printed material 1842-1905; Flora Macdonald nee Mackinnon: correspondence 1888-1942, accounts bills and receipts 1876-1944, diaries 1882, printed material 1907-1930; Johanna Campbell Macdonald: British Red Cross papers 1920-1945, papers relating to executries of her aunts Mary Anne MacLachlan Mackinnon and Jane Christina Mackinnon 1931-1935, papers relating to musical and dramatic interests 1927-1935, general financial papers 1924-1945, printed material 1922-1962; Colonel John Mackinnon (Jock) Macdonald: papers relating to piping and Skye Highland games, including sheet music1808-1980, personal and official papers 1916-1976, general business papers 1953-1979, plans and maps 1972-1976, correspondence 1943-1979, newspaper cuttings 1950-1980, printed material 1898-1979; Evelyn Macdonald, nee Logan: personal official papers 1902-1966, certificates and testimonials 1915-1984, legal papers 1980-1989, financial and banking papers 1846- 1989, Skye hospital papers 1952-1989, correspondence 1928-1990, accounts 1943- 1990, notebooks c1911-1989, historical and genealogical papers concerning the Logans of Restalrig c1954-1991, newspaper cuttings 1942-1986, prints and drawings c1934, printed material 1916-1987; Other Macdonald papers: copies of documents concerning Treaslane estate from 1781 to 1981 in the Scottish Record Office, 1986-1987, Skye Camanachd Club papers 1895-2003, printed material 1985, sundry items; Photographs, 19th-20th centuries Appraisal: Several printed books, mainly fiction, were returned to the depositor, as was some of the depositor’s personal correspondence, and correspondence of members of the Macdonald family still living. A copy of Rev. Donald Mackinnon’s The Macleods of Arnisdale (1929) from this collection has been placed with the Highland Council Genealogy service. Accruals: Accruals possible System of Arrangement: The papers are arranged in 9 series, as follows: SL/D1062/1: Skye Diatomite and British Diatomite Companies, 1886-1904 GB3219/ 07/08/2006; 11/05/2011; 24/01/2012 4 SL/D1062/2: Mackinnon Papers, Kyle, 1736-2003 SL/D1062/3: Harry Macdonald, 1842-1910 SL/D1062/4: Flora Macdonald, nee Mackinnon, 1876-1944 SL/D1062/5: Johanna Campbell Macdonald, 1920-1962 SL/D1062/6: Colonel John Mackinnon (Jock) Macdonald, 1808-1980 SL/D1062/7: Evelyn Maud Macdonald, nee Logan, 1902-1990 SL/D1062/8: Other Macdonald papers, 1895-2003 SL/D1062/9: Photographs, 19th-20th centuries Language: Mostly English, but a small amount of material is in Gaelic and Norwegian Related Units of Description: Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre GB3219/SL/D123—papers relating to legal practice of Alexander Macdonald and the British Diatomite Company; GB3219/SL/D293—further Macdonald family papers, especially relating to Alexander and Harry Macdonald Archivist’s Note: Description by Alex du Toit; revised by Anne MacLeod Rules and Conventions: ISAD(G) General International Standard Archival Description, 2nd Edition, 2000 Date of Description: List written 2008; revisions made 25 May 2011 and 24 January 2012 GB3219/ 07/08/2006; 11/05/2011; 24/01/2012 5 SL/D1062/1 SKYE DIATOMITE AND BRITISH DIATOMITE 1885-1904 COMPANIES SL/D1062/1/1 Skye Diatomite and British Diatomite 1885-1904 Companies— general business correspondence and associated papers SL/D1062/1/1/1 General business correspondence and 1888-1897 associated papers: file arranged in alphabetical order by creator SL/D1062/1/1/1/1 Albright and Wilson to Alexander Macdonald: 12/12/1892 enquiry about use of diatomite for lining furnace SL/D1062/1/1/1/2 Askham Bros & Wilson Ltd, Yorkshire Steel & 07/12/1892 Engineering Works to Alexander Macdonald: ordering half a hundredweight of fossil meal SL/D1062/1/1/1/3 Begg, Dunlop & Co. to Skye Diatomite Co.: 03/08/1894 forwarding extract from report on unsuitability of Diatomaceous Earth for use in sugar refinery SL/D1062/1/1/1/4 Begg, Dunlop & Co. to Alexander Macdonald: 31/07/1894 forwarding extract from letter from Cawnpore