Notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1856-1880
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW109
Scope and Contents
Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael made up of three excise notebooks marked 'Journal', 'Account Current' and 'Bills Receivable'/'Bills Payable' and a single folio. The first book is marked on the front with 'Carbost June 13 1861 Alexander Carmichael' [Càrabost, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye].The second book is inscribed with the same text on the front cover and the inside front covers reads 'Alasdair A Mac 'Illemhicheil Cillendraisd, Liosmor' [Cill Anndrais/Killandrist, Lios Mòr/Lismore]. The third book has 'Alasdair A. Mac 'Illemhicheil' written under 'Bills Receivable' and 'Alexander Carmichael' written under 'Bills Payable'. The contents are mainly tales usually involving young men trying to make their way in the world, having an adventure involving giants or shapeshifting characters and marrying the daughter of a nobleman or king. Some stories are incomplete or fragments of fuller versions within the book. The tales were collected for John Francis Campbell's folklore project which resulted in the publication of Popular Tales of the West Highands (1860-62). There is also one song and some weather lore and an account of a mullet-trawling trip which Carmichael went on in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist.
The stories in the notebook are: An Tuathanach agus a Sheachnar Ghillean; A' Chromag a Ghabh Mun Cuairt; Fionladh Mac na Bantraich; Mac Shir Eoghan Lochial; Cigean, Cuaigean is Boc Geal na Reubainn; Mac a' Ghobhainn; Caora Bhirroch Glas; Luideag Beag O'n Challtuinn; Tomas Reibher [Thomas the Rhymer]; A Chaora Ghlas; An t-Each Uisge; An t-Sagart is Bean a' Chiobair; Nighean an Fhuilt Oir is Cir Airgiod (incomplete); and Iain Mac Albannaich.
The stories in the notebook are: An Tuathanach agus a Sheachnar Ghillean; A' Chromag a Ghabh Mun Cuairt; Fionladh Mac na Bantraich; Mac Shir Eoghan Lochial; Cigean, Cuaigean is Boc Geal na Reubainn; Mac a' Ghobhainn; Caora Bhirroch Glas; Luideag Beag O'n Challtuinn; Tomas Reibher [Thomas the Rhymer]; A Chaora Ghlas; An t-Each Uisge; An t-Sagart is Bean a' Chiobair; Nighean an Fhuilt Oir is Cir Airgiod (incomplete); and Iain Mac Albannaich.
Dates
- 1856-1880
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
3 notebooks of 80 folios ; 21 x 25 cm
Physical Location
CW107-121
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired by the University of Edinburgh in 1949.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm: Mic.Dup.1146/6
- Beaton, Angus, fl1861 (or Paton or Bethune | Bernisdale | Isle of Skye)
- Bernisdale Isle of Skye Inverness-shire Scotland
- Birds
- Cameron, Roderick, c1836-1919 (Ruairidh | fisherman | Carbost | Isle of Skye)
- Campbell, John Francis, 1821-1885 (folklorist and polymath)
- Carbost Isle of Skye Bracadale Inverness-shire Scotland
- Deception
- Family
- Food
- Giants
- Identification
- Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Skye Inverness-shire Scotland
- Love
- MacDiarmaid, Duncan, c1846-1881 (shepherd and cook on barge | Fernilea, Isle of Skye and Glasgow)
- MacKenzie, John, c1821- (Sailor | Isle of Coll)
- MacQueen, Donald, c1795-1885 ([Donull MacCuithein] | cottar | Fernilea | Isle of Skye)
- Magic
- Marriage
- Monsters
- Nicolson, Magnus, c1845-1909 ([Manus MacNeacail] | postman | Fernilea, Isle of Skye and Glasgow)
- North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Shapeshifting
- Sheep
- Songs
- Tales
- Talisker Isle of Skye Bracadale Inverness-shire Scotland
- Voyages and Travel
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
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
is-crc@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk