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Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 2 September 1870 to 7 October 1875

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106

Scope and Contents

Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael. Written on the inside front cover is '2/9 1870. Oban' and on the flyleaf is '[deleted: Twas] Friday 2 Sep[tember]. 1870. 12 noon from Ob[an]'. Folios 1-3r and 75r to 117v are blank. The text on folio 3v and 4r and 4v is written updside down and is later text (29 January 1875). The contents are in two distinct sections, the first being material collected on Lios Mòr/Lismore and the second being material collected in South Uist. Much of the material on Lismore was used in Carmichael's article on the Barons of Bachuil and deals with the history of the island and its settlement, local stories, archaeological sites, place-names and customs. There is also a good deal of family history relating to the Carmichaels and Livingstones. The principal informants appear to have been a Duncan Carmichael and John Black, Killean, both Lios Mòr/Lismore.

In the South Uist material, there are stories and songs about or by the MacMhuirich family who were the bards to MacDonald of Clanranald, lore relating to Uibhist/Uist and noted local figures, fairies stories and some religious material. The stories include 'Cù Dubh Mhic a' Phìi', 'Muc Dhearg', 'A Bhuileaistach' and Ceudach an Collachain Òir'. There is a list of songs which were known by John MacInnes, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist. For the South Uist material, the other principal informants are Archibald Currie, Àird na Monadh, Angus Currie, Ìochdar, Catherine Macintosh, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry and Baile Gharbhaidh/Balgarva, all Uibhist a Deas/South Uist

Dates

  • Creation: 2 September 1870 to 7 October 1875

Language of Materials

Gaelic English

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

117 folios ; 20 x 16.5 cm

Physical Location

5.07

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379