Original typescript of "Recollections of Kirkoswald: a first-hand history of life in Ayrshire in the mid 1800s" by David Murray, bulk: 1916, 1864, 1919, 1950
Scope and Contents
This is the original typescript of "Recollections of Kirkoswald", written by Glasgow-born lawyer David Murray. The text opens with an address to "My dear John" (probably John Guthrie Murray (1847–1924)), and is dated 13th September 1916. The last page of the main body of text, also dated "13/9/16", is signed off with: "Your affectionate brother, (Sgd.) David Murray". There is an index on pp. 104-108, and manuscript annotations throughout.
The volume also contains several enclosed letters: a letter to "Dear David" from Helen McCulloch, sent from Girvan on the 15th August 1864; a letter from John [J.] Carson to David Murray, dated 26 December 1919, in which Carson is returning the volume of "Recollections"; and a letter from "David" to his aunt "Sylvia" (Sylvia Winthrop Murray, daughter of David Murray) dated 4 August 1950 and thanking her for lending him the volume ("Grandfather's recollections of Ayrshire").
Dates
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1916
- Creation: 1864, 1919, 1950
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Biographical / Historical
David Murray was born in 1842 in Glasgow, to the solicitor David Murray and his wife Ann Hunter Guthrie. He was educated at Kirkoswald in Ayrshire, and then at Ayr Academy and at Merchiston Castle School. He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1863 with an MA, and went on to have a long and successful career as a lawyer. He held various governance post at the University of Glasgow, to which he donated the majority of his great private library. Murray also owned a highly important collection of Court of Session Papers, and the largest part of these is now in the ownership of the Signet Library in Edinburgh.
Full Extent
1 volume
Custodial History
Includes the bookplate of David Murray: "DM E. LIBRIS. DAVID MURRAY".
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in May 2025. Accession no. SC-Acc-2025-0086.
Processing Information
Catalogued in April 2026 by Aline Brodin.
Subject
- Murray, John Guthrie, 1847-1924 (Brother of David Murray) (Recipient, Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk