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The School of Scottish Studies ( gd, Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba, sco, Scuil o Scots Studies) was founded in 1951 at the
School of Scottish StudiesScottish Tradition Series of recordings from the archive on Greentrax Records.
Cultural history of Scotland Schools of the University of Edinburgh 1951 establishments in Scotland Educational institutions established in 1951 Scottish folk music Archives in Scotland Scottish folklore Folklore studies {{UK-university-stub
The School of Scottish Studies ( gd, Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba, sco, Scuil o Scots Studies) was founded in 1951 at the University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1 ...
. It holds an archive of approximately 33,000 field recordings of traditional music, song and other lore, housed in George Square
George Square ( gd, Ceàrnag Sheòrais) is the principal civic square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of six squares in the city centre, the others being Cathedral Square, St Andrew's Square, St Enoch Square, Royal Exchange ...
, Edinburgh. The collection was begun by Calum Maclean - brother of the poet, Sorley MacLean - and the poet, writer and folklorist, Hamish Henderson, both of whom collaborated with American folklorist Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax (; January 31, 1915 – July 19, 2002) was an American ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. He was also a musician himself, as well as a folklorist, archivist, writer, s ...
, who is credited as being a catalyst and inspiration for the work of the school.
From 1984 to 1995, the writer, singer and ethnologist, Margaret Bennett - mother of musician Martyn Bennett - worked for the school. In 2012, Mòrag MacLeod, a researcher at the school for forty years, was awarded a Sàr Ghaidheal Fellowship for her contribution to Gaelic language and culture.
Other staff who have worked in the School include Alan Bruford, Donald-Archie MacDonald, Emily Lyle, Ian Fraser, Peter Cooke, Margaret MacKay, John MacInnes, Gary West, John Shaw, Cathlin MacAulay, Neill Martin, Katherine Campbell and Will Lamb.
In 1986, the department launched a full undergraduate honours degree programme in Scottish Ethnology, comprising courses in topics such as custom and belief, oral narrative, ethnomusicology, material culture, cultural revivalism, emigrant traditions, traditional drama, heritage and the supernatural world. Following a major re-organisation of the structure of the University of Edinburgh, the teaching of these programmes transferred to the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies within the School of Literature, Languages and Cultures. The title, School of Scottish Studies, now applies to the archival holdings only, and since 2018, it has come under the management of the Centre for Research Collections.
In 2010, a significant proportion of the archival audio field recordings were made available via the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist of Riches website, in partnership with the BBC, the National Trust for Scotland and Sabhal Mor Ostaig.
The collection of Scottish Gaelic folklorist
Folklore studies, less often known as folkloristics, and occasionally tradition studies or folk life studies in the United Kingdom, is the branch of anthropology devoted to the study of folklore. This term, along with its synonyms, gained currenc ...
Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray
Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray (17 March 1868 – 30 July 1940) was a Scottish folklorist who collected Gaelic folk tales and songs. She was also a skilled needleworker and collector of embroidery and lace.
Life
Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray wa ...
is held at the School. The collection documents the now dead Perthshire Gaelic dialect.
See also
*The Singing Street
"The Singing Street", is a short film made in 1950 in Edinburgh, Scotland and first shown in 1951. It was created by a group of teachers from Norton Park School, who filmed some of their pupils playing street games, accompanied by traditional chi ...
* William Lindsay Renwick
William Lindsay Renwick (6 January 1889 – 25 November 1970) was Professor of English Literature at Durham University from 1921 to 1945 and Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh from 1945 to 1959 ...
* Emily Lyle - Scottish ballad scholar and researcher
Further reading
* Gilchrist, Jim (1983), ''The School of Scottish Studies'', in Hearn, Sheila G. (ed.), '' Cencrastus'' No. 12, Spring 1983, pp. 15 – 17,References
External links
School of Scottish Studies
Cultural history of Scotland Schools of the University of Edinburgh 1951 establishments in Scotland Educational institutions established in 1951 Scottish folk music Archives in Scotland Scottish folklore Folklore studies {{UK-university-stub