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Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, c1868 to 16 June 1876

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW150

Scope and Contents

Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing primarily songs and stories collected in Miùghlaigh/Mingulay, Barraigh/Barra, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist and Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. The main informants are Roderick MacNeil or Ruairidh an Rùma from Mingulay and Penelope MacLellan of Ormacleit/Ormaclete. The bulk of the material from MacNeil relates to the southernmost islands of the Hebrides and covers topics such as bird-fowling, the island way of life, place-names, archaeological sites and saints connected to the islands. MacLellan recounts a considerable amount of family history relating to her own and Flora MacDonald's family to whom she is related. Several versions of 'Seathan Mac Rìgh Èireann' and Taladh Dòmhnall Ghorm Shlèibhte' are collected in this notebook along with other waulking songs and love songs. There are also fairy stories and fairy songs. The notes include some taken on a trip to the Isle of Lewis, in which Angus MacAulay of An Cnoc/Knock tells stories about the settlement and settlers of the island in the seventeenth century. Of the 62 folios in this volume, the first is a loose leaf and the final five are blank. Many of the items have been scored through in ink and recorded as having been transcribed into Book 3 or Book 2 in June 1869.

Dates

  • Creation: c1868 to 16 June 1876

Language of Materials

Gaelic,English

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

64 folios ; 17 x 20.3 cm

Physical Location

5.07

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilm: Mic.Dup.1148/2

Subject

Creator

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