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Photograph of a Rectorial Battle at Old College Quad, Autumn 1883

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1848/23-0026

Scope and Contents

Black and white photograph of a Rectorial Battle in Autumn 1883, showing a great number of students in costume at the Old College Quad, University of Edinburgh. Given the style of the photograph, and the fact that one of the banners shows the name "Blackie" [rest is illegible], it is possible that this picture was taken when some students were protesting for John Stuart Blackie to be an independent candidate for Rector in 1883.

Another banner shows the words "Ake! Ake! Kea Kaha!", which could be the Maori motto "Ake! Ake! Kia Kaha!", meaning "Fight on, fight on, for ever and ever".

Dates

  • Creation: Autumn 1883

Language of Materials

No caption; the banners in the picture are in English and in Maori.

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Biographical / Historical

The University Rector is elected every three years by the students of the University to chair the University Court. On election day, student supporters of the principal candidates for Rector would "battle" for the steps at the end of Old College Quad, throwing flour and peas at each other. The Principal would then announce the winner and the new Rector would be "chaired" around the University before giving a series of addresses to Court and the student body.

Rectorial elections were often conducted on political party lines. In 1883, the chosen candidates were Sir Stafford Northcote (for the Conservatives) and Mr Trevelyan (for the Liberals). A few of the students desired to break the record of purely political elections, and requested Professor Blackie to stand as an independent candidate. He accepted, but lost to Northcote, who became the next Rector.

Full Extent

1 photograph : Black-and-white photograph mounted on cardboard. ; 22.5 cm x 20 cm with mount; 15 cm x 19.3 cm photo only.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Library in July 2022, at the occasion of the "Robert Blomfield - Student of Light" exhibition. Accession no. SC-Acc-2023-0026.

Bibliography

Stoddart, Anna M., John Stuart Blackie: A Biography, Cambridge Library Collection - Classics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), p. 395.

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin in March 2023.

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