Printed: 2021-01-16
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Collection GD10 - Folklore notebooks of Donald Macdonald of Tolsta
Identity area
Reference code
GB3002 GD10
Title
Folklore notebooks of Donald Macdonald of Tolsta
Date(s)
- 1934, 1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
5 notebooks; 1 manuscript note
Context area
Name of creator
MacDonald, Donald, 1904-1990, historian, Tolsta, Lewis and Edinburgh
(1904-1990)
Biographical history
Donald MacDonald was born in Tolsta in the Isle of Lewis in 1904 and educated in the local primary school then the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway. He went on to Jordanhill College to train as a teacher and during his life wrote two prominent books regarding his home village and his native island. Lewis – A History of the Island in 1978 and The Tolsta Townships in 1984. He was a fellow of both the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geography Society.
The notebooks contain tales which Donald Macdonald collected in the Barra, Eriskay and South Uist area.
There is an accompanying note with the notebooks from Calum Macleod explaining the notebooks were held by Rev. Dr T.M Murchison of Glasgow and that they were handed back to An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Glasgow office in December 1980.
The notebooks were given to him to check on some parts of them and he believes that all the tales were published in An Gaidheal during the Rev Malcolm Macleod’s editorship.
The notebooks contain tales which Donald Macdonald collected in the Barra, Eriskay and South Uist area.
There is an accompanying note with the notebooks from Calum Macleod explaining the notebooks were held by Rev. Dr T.M Murchison of Glasgow and that they were handed back to An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Glasgow office in December 1980.
The notebooks were given to him to check on some parts of them and he believes that all the tales were published in An Gaidheal during the Rev Malcolm Macleod’s editorship.
Repository
Archival history
The notebooks were held by the very Reverend Dr T.M Murchison of Glasgow and they were handed to An Comunn Gàidhealach’s offices in Glasgow. In the attached note, Calum Macleod has written to explain that the notebooks came into the Reverend’s possession as he was doing checks on parts of them and he believes that the tales were published in An Gàidheal [The Gael] magazine at some time throughout Malcolm Macleod’s editorship.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Stornoway Library
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Folklore notebooks 1934; manuscript note 1980
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged within series. Within series, records are arranged chronologically.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- Scottish Gaelic
Script of material
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Paper volumes
Finding aids
A digital and manual item level catalogue is available within the searchroom of Tasglann nan Eilean Siar