Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 1887
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW89
Scope and Contents
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael probably while he lived at 31, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, as this address is written in ink on the first folio. Written on the inside front cover but heavily scored is text which reads 'Mrs Malcolm MacLeod, [- Islay], widow of Mal[colm] MacLeod [Loch-]. The majority of the notebook contains material collected from Donald Currie, crofter, Ìle/ Islay relating folklore and natural history about the birds, fish, shellfish and animals found in and...
Dates:
1887
Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1874, 1877 and 1891
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW108
Scope and Contents
Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing songs, poems, tales, names, vocabulary and expressions collected in the Outer Hebrides [Na h-Eileanan an Iar]. The first part of the volume contains transcriptions taken as Carmichael listened to informants in 1877 while the second part appears to be copies of previous transcriptions of material collected by Carmichael and Rev Malcolm MacPhail in 1874 and written into the notebook in 1891. Amongst the material is a version of the lament...
Dates:
1874, 1877 and 1891
Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116
Scope and Contents
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, inscribed on the inside cover with 'Alexander A Carmichael Inland Revenue Lochmaddy N[orth] Uist 15/7 1870 Note Book No 8'. The majority of this notebook contains material collected on Tarasaigh/Taransay from the MacDonalds at Paible House, Mor or Marion MacQueen and Donald MacKinnon including notes on the island's archaeology, local history and geographical changes, with stories of how coastal erosion revealed burial sites and renditions of...
Dates:
15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871
Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1
Scope and Contents
Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael but also used by John Ewen MacRury. The front cover bears a sticker which reads 'Gaelic Notes 1894-5. (Collection of traditions, tales, etc. by Alexander Carmichael (?). Many pages cancelled, indicating publication.) [Carmichael Watson Collection]'. The flyleaf reads 'Gaelic Notes, 1894-5' and the rear flyleaf contains a jotting which reads 'Wishing Guidhe'. The beginning of the notebook contains field notes made by Carmichael in Uibhist a...
Dates:
12 September 1890 to 1895
Song entitled 'Iubhrach Nan Guala Geala', nd
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW152/8
Scope and Contents
Song entitled 'Iubhrach Nan Guala Geala' beginning 'Moch Diluain ghabh i n cuan, Te bhoidheach nan guala geala'. The song is composed of thirty three lines arranged into fifteen verses in couplets and a chorus.
Dates:
nd
Song entitled 'Oran Mhic ic Ailen' and accompanying story, 23 March 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/10
Scope and Contents
Song entitled 'Oran Mhic ic Ailen', collected from Catrina Pearson [Catherine Pearson or MacPherson], Keantangval [Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] beginning 'Sann a gha[bh] mi mo chead dhiot, A cheist nam fear oga'. The song is composed of fifty-eight lines. The accompanying story tells how the song was composed by the first James of Boisdale, who was the first person to get Boisdale after the MacNeils of Barra had it. His relationship to the MacDonald of Clanranald who...
Dates:
23 March 1871
Story about Mor mhor and Ailein mac ic Ailein, 20 January 1871
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/150
Scope and Contents
Story collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how Mor mhor [Mòr Mhòr MacDonald] was the mother of Ailein mac 'ic Ailein [Alan MacDonald of Clanranald] who was killed when someone whom he had banished from the country shot him with a sixpence. Mòr was a daughter of MacLeod of Harris and is described as 'bad' [underlined]. Hector also notes that Torcul [Torcuil MacLeod] was the father of Sìne [Jean...
Dates:
20 January 1871
Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1865-1886
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW7
Scope and Contents
Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing mainly Fenian songs and cattle charms. Most of the charms relate to cattle and working in the dairy and so are recited for the protection and healing of cattle, although there are some charms for protecting and healing people as well. A number of the charms include the use of medicinal plants, for which there is additional vocabulary. Carmichael also includes charms and customs for predicting marriage partners. Almost all of...
Dates:
1865-1886