• 1462-1955 (Creation)

Titles of lands in Inverness-shire and Argyllshire 1462-1920, including writs of the land and barony of Macdonald 1542-1920 and barony of Strathordell 1696-1881. Titles to other lands 1463-1881. Great Seal grant of Nova Scotia baronetcy to Sir Donald Macdonald 1625.

Estate Papers 1626-1949. Tacks and leases 1626-1935, chiefly concerning lands in barony of Macdonald. Rentals, 1656-1946 including rentals of North Uist 1656-1826 and Strath 1738-1886. Factors’ and other accounts, including factors’ accounts for Trotternish, Skye, Sleat and North Uist 1656-1927. Accounts, correspondence and other papers concerning kelp 1744-1850. Papers relating to tenants 1783-1906. Surveys, estimates and other papers concerning building of roads and bridges (chiefly on Skye) 1789-1905. Papers concerning timber and plantations 1796-1921. Papers concerning packet boats, ferries and posts 1796-1903. List of inhabitants of North Uist 1799.
Minutes and other papers concerning administration of Macdonald estates by commissioners 1800-1822. Papers concerning emigration 1802-1882. Papers concerning schools and Sleat School Board 1804-1888. Reports and valuations 1811-1830. Papers concerning steamboat, “Maid of Islay” 1826-1842, and steamer, “Lady of the Isles” 1879-1886. Papers concerning repair and maintenance of Portree and Armadale piers 1852-1944. Papers concerning railways 1864-1902. Papers concerning crofters’ agitation 1795, 1880-1889, Crofters’ Holdings (Scotland) Act of 1886, 1885-1888, and Crofters’ Commission 1888-1911. Papers concerning estate curatory 1900-1928. Reports and papers concerning Skye marble 1903-1913. Estate letterbooks 1888-1947; Macdonald rentals and rent ledgers (Skye, N Uist, etc) 1733-1949; game books 1894-1947.

Correspondence, accounts and other papers concerning architecture and building work 1735-1920, including: building of manse and Kirk at Snizort 1799-1817; papers on proposed new town of Kyleakin and other papers concerning James Gillespie’s work on Skye 1800-1818; papers concerning building work on Armadale Castle 1814-1820 and later work under David Bryce 1859-1862; papers concerning Portree Waterworks 1871-1875.

Correspondence 1657-1931 (chiefly on domestic and estate matters with occasional social or other letters), including: letters between Sir James Macdonald and John Ba[y]ne on financial matters 1657-1671; estate and personal correspondence of Sir Donald Macdonald 1688-1716 (including letters from Dr Pitcairne and Duke of Atholl); business and other letters to Edward Callender, writer in Edinburgh 1723-1727; estate correspondence of Sir Alexander Macdonald (father and son) 1725-1770; letters to Lord Macdonald 1776-1795 (correspondents include James Boswell and Sir John Sinclair); business letters to John Campbell WS, chiefly on estate matters 1796-1818; letters between Lady Macdonald and Queen Victoria 1855-1862. Letters concerning Macdonald curatory 1900-1929; letters concerning fisheries 1925-1928, and Clan papers 1931.

Family and personal papers 1587-1955, including: bonds, 1587-1911; marriage contracts, testaments and related papers 1625-1955; inventories of household furniture and other possessions 1709-20th cent. Personal and household accounts 1703-1892, including: Edinburgh and London household receipts and discharges 1703-1817; education of Sir Donald Macdonald’s children 1706-1710; purchase of “a sett of Hyland Pipes 1748”; accounts for purchase and (later) repairs of coach 1781-1783; purchase of pictures and frames 1783-1785. Freeholder’s papers 1667-1931, including: roll of Freeholders for Inverness-shire 1776; extract minutes of Commissioners of Supply and Freeholders of Inverness 1782-1793. Papers concerning militia and regiments 1749-1810; including papers concerning raising of Macdonald Highlanders and Regiment of the Isles 1777-1810.

Legal papers 1475-1930, including: copy of papers concerning forfeiture of John, Earl of Ross, Lord of the Isles 1475; contracts of wadset and heritable bonds 1657-1845; Clanranald papers 1657-1727; inventories of titles 1663-1909; legal accounts 1780-1915; printed papers in action Lord Macdonald v. Hon Archibald and Hon Dudley Macdonald 1840; curator bonis accounts 1900-1927.
Papers concerning Broadford Hotel, Skye, 1888-1930.
Papers in action Bosville v. Macdonald, 1909-1913.

Broadford Harbour Trust papers 1847-1941, including: minute books 1888-1935; accounting records 1888-1940; correspondence, reports and other papers 1847-1941.

Miscellaneous papers 1678-1955, including: commissions and burgess tickets 1689-1900; genealogical papers and biographical notes 1692-1955; papers concerning Presbytery of Skye and Synod of Inveraray 1725-1825, 1876; passports 1782-1896; photographs 1866-1937; papers concerning Skye Gathering 1903-1906; newscuttings and photographs concerning Flora Macdonald College, North Carolina 1937-1947.

Maps and plans 1764-1910, including: plans of Isle of Skye by Mathew Stobie 1764-1766; architectural plans of Snizort Church 1797 and later; papers concerning survey of Skye 1799; plans of Portree, 1830 onwards; plans of piers and harbours at Portree and Broadford 1863-1929; Portree and Broadford feuing plans 1889-1910; architectural plans of alterations and additions to Armadale Lodge 1884; architectural plans of RN Reserve Battery at Portree 1904.

• English

• Crofters
• Education
• Estate management
• Farming
• Landlords
• Land ownership
• Mail steamers
• Plantations
• Railway construction
• Railways
• Rentals
• Schools
• Timber
• Tenants

• North Uist, Scotland
• South Uist, Scotland
• Skye, Scotland

• Clan Donald Lands Trust, 1971- (Creator)
• Macdonald of Macdonald, 12th century- (Subject)
• Crofters Commission, 1886-1955 (Subject)