Scottish National Portrait Gallery - crest above Society of Antiquaries entrance

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic si ...

body of

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, with its headquarters in the

National Museum of Scotland The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture. It was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, ...

, Chambers Street,

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

. The Society's aim is to promote the cultural heritage of Scotland. The usual style of

post-nominal letters Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters, or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, an academic degree, accreditation ...

for fellows is FSAScot.

History

The Society is the oldest antiquarian society in Scotland, and the second-oldest in Britain after the

Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...

. Founded by

David Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan David Stuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan, (1 June 1742 – 19 April 1829), styled Lord Cardross between 1747 and 1767, was a Scottish antiquarian, founder of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and patron of the arts and sciences. Backg ...

on 18 December 1780,

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (; 25 May 1713 – 10 March 1792), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1713 and 1723, was a British Tory statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763 under George III. He became the ...

, the former

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

, was elected the first President. It was incorporated by

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...

in 1783, in the same year as the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was establis ...

, and in their early years both societies shared accommodation on George Street and in the

Royal Institution The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the Royal Institution, Ri or RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research, based in the City of Westminster. It was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, inc ...

building on

The Mound The Mound is an artificial slope and road in central Edinburgh, Scotland, which connects Edinburgh's New and Old Towns. It was formed by dumping around 1,501,000 cartloads of earth excavated from the foundations of the New Town into Nor Loc ...

. Members of the Society collected artefacts of interest to Scottish history and culture from its foundation, and soon the Society developed a sizeable collection. In November 1851 the signing of a Deed of Conveyance with the Board of Manufactures on behalf of Parliament made the Society collections National Property. In 1891 the antiquaries moved into the purpose-built

Scottish National Portrait Gallery National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. Portrait holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. It also holds the Scottish National Photography Collec ...

and

National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture. It was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, ...

, located on Queen Street. The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland Act 1954 transferred the powers and duties relating to the Museum, previously vested in the Society of Antiquaries and the National Galleries, to a new Board.

Alexander Rhind Alexander Colden Rhind (October 31, 1821 – November 8, 1897) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and American Civil War. Biography Early life Rhind was born in New York City, New Yor ...

left a bequest to the Society to fund a lecture series, the Rhind Lectures are still hosted by the Society; an online recording of these prestigious lectures has been made available to the public since 2009.

Objects

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is a charitable organisation whose purpose is set out in its Royal Charter from 1783: The first Law of the Society focuses this further: The Society today is concerned with every aspect of the human past in Scotland. It draws on a wide range of experience through the

Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

ship, and provides a voice for Scotland's heritage independent of the opinions of Government, University, or Agency. The Society is consulted by a wide range of organisations from central government to academic funding bodies such as the

Arts & Humanities Research Council The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), formerly Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB), is a British research council, established in 1998, supporting research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities. History The Arts an ...

. The Society makes written responses to numerous consultations, some jointly with

Archaeology Scotland Archaeology Scotland, formerly known as the Council for Scottish Archaeology (CSA), is a membership organisation which seeks to promote the understanding of archaeology in Scotland. This group works with lay people and academia to help care for t ...

(formerly CSA) and the Scottish Group of the

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Chartered may refer to: * Charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiorit ...

. The Society worked closely with the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS was abolished by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 as part of the Scottish Government's policy to simplify the landscape of public bodies), and gave evidence to their working groups on heritage protection legislation and properties in care. The Society has also been actively involved in the

Built Environment Forum Scotland Built may refer to: * ''Built'' (TV series), an American reality television series that aired on the Style Network *''Built: the hidden stories behind our structures'', 2018 book by Roma Agrawal * Building See also * * * Built environment, ma ...

, an umbrella body for NGOs in the built and historic environment sectors.

Fellowship

Members of the Society have, since 1823, been known as

s of the Society. There are now thousands of Fellows spread across the globe, including

Honorary Fellow Honorary titles (professor, president, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as ...

s elected for their outstanding scholarship. Fellowship recognises a person's support and contributions to the purpose and mission of the Society, and Fellows are permitted to use the

post-nominal Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters, or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, an academic degree, accreditation ...

s ''FSAScot'' (NB Not FSA (Scot) or similar). The Society has an international membership of around 2800 Fellows and a maximum of 25 Honorary Fellows. Admission to the Society is by

election An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative d ...

, and candidates must be supported by existing Fellows. The names of those seeking admission are then circulated to the whole Fellowship. Elections are held biannually at the Anniversary Meeting (AGM) on

St Andrew's Day Saint Andrew's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Andrew or Andermas, is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. It is celebrated on 30 November, during Scotland's Winter Festival. Saint Andrew is the disciple in the New Testament who introduc ...

, 30 November, and in Spring, usually in April. Fundamental to being a candidate for election to the Fellowship is an interest or involvement in Scotland's past. Candidates are advised of the outcome of the election shortly after the ballot.

Margaret E. C. Stewart Margaret Enid Crichton Stewart, ( Mitchell; 28 February 1907 – 4 June 1986) was a Scottish archaeologist and independent scholar, specialising in prehistory and community archaeology. Early life and education Margaret Mitchell was born on 28 Fe ...

(1907–1986) was the first female Honorary Fellow.

Other prizes and awards

The Society also encourages best practice and continued research into Scotland's past through various prizes and awards. *The RBK Stevenson Award - This award is offered annually in recognition of the article published in the ''Proceedings'' on a topic that best reflects the scholarship and high standards of this distinguished individual, who was for many years the Keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland and was President of the Society between 1975 and 1978. *The Dorothy Marshall Medal] - Awarded every three years by the Council of the Society for an outstanding contribution, in a voluntary capacity, to Scottish archaeological or related work. *The Murray Prize for History - Awarded biennially to recognise original research published by the Society into the history of Scotland in the medieval and/or early modern periods (c AD 500 to AD 1700). * Chalmers-Jervise Prize - Awarded biennially for the best paper published by the Society to cover any subject in the prehistory or archaeology of Scotland before AD 1100.

Publications

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has three main publishing outputs: *

Peer-review Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

ed Books, previously known as

monograph A monograph is generally a long-form work on one (usually scholarly) subject, or one aspect of a subject, typically created by a single author or artist (or, sometimes, by two or more authors). Traditionally it is in written form and published a ...

s, covering a wide variety of topics in the history and archaeology of Scotland. *The ''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland'' (), a yearly

peer-review Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

journal A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of personal secretive thoughts and as open book to personal therapy or used to feel connected to onesel ...

covering the latest archaeological and historical research in Scotland. The Society has made the entire run of the ''Proceedings'' since 1851, and its predecessor ''Archaeologica Scotica'' back to 1792, freely available on the internet. *''Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports'' (SAIR, ) is a

ed online publication that includes larger and more data-rich projects. It is freely accessible without subscription or payment. There is also a regular Society ''Newsletter'' (), and the Society publishes book reviews on their website.

List of presidents

The following have served as presidents of the Society: *

(1780–1792) *

James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose, Order of the Thistle, KT, Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC (16 July 1799 – 30 December 1874), styled Marquess of Graham until 1836, of Buchanan Castle, Stirlingshire and 45 Belgrave Square ...

(1792–1813) *

Lawrence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland Lawrence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland (10 April 1766 – 19 February 1839) was a British politician and peer who sat in the House of Commons from 1790 to 1820 when he was raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom. Early life Dundas was the ...

(1813–1819) *

Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray Sir Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray FRS FRSE PSAS (1 September 1765 – 20 August 1842) was a Scottish peer, politician and soldier. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 1 September 1765 the youngest of twelve children to John Gray, 11th Lord Gray a ...

(1819–1923) * Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine (1823–1841) *

James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, (20 July 181120 November 1863) was a British colonial administrator and diplomat. He served as Governor of Jamaica (1842–1846), Governor General of the Province of Canada (1847– ...

(1841–1844) *

Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry (25 November 1806 – 16 April 1884), styled Lord Eskdail between 1808 and 1812 and Earl of Dalkeith between 1812 and 1819, was a prominent Scottish nobleman ...

(1844–1862) * George Granville William Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (1872–1876) * Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian (1876–1900) *

Sir Herbert Maxwell, 7th Baronet Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, 7th Baronet, (8 January 1845 – 30 October 1937) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, artist, antiquarian, horticulturalist, prominent salmon angler and author of books on angling and Conservative politician who ...

(1900–1913) *

John Abercromby, 5th Baron Abercromby John Abercromby, 5th Baron Abercromby of Tullibody (15 January 1841 – 7 October 1924) was a Scottish soldier and archaeologist. Life Abercromby was born in Tullibody House as the son of George Abercromby, 3rd Baron Abercromby, and Louisa P ...

(1913–1918) *

Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael Thomas David Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael, (18 March 1859 – 16 January 1926), known as Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 11th Baronet, between 1891 and 1912, was a Scottish Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician and colonial administrat ...

(1918–1923) *

John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl John George Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl, (15 December 1871 – 16 March 1942), styled Marquess of Tullibardine until 1917, was a British soldier and Unionist politician. Early life Styled Marquess of Tullibardine from birth, he was bor ...

(1923–1933) *

George Macdonald (archaeologist) Sir George Macdonald (30 January 1862 – 9 August 1940) was a British Archaeology, archaeologist and Numismatist (specialist), numismatist who studied the Antonine Wall. Life Macdonald was born in Elgin, Moray, Elgin on 30 January 1862. His f ...

(1933–1940) *

Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet, KT, DL, FRSE (6 June 1866 – 30 May 1956) was a Scottish landowner, Tory politician and philanthropist. Life The eldest son of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet and Lady Anna Maria ...

(1940–1945) *

George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington (18 September 1894 – 17 April 1986), was a Scottish peer from 1917 to 1986. Life Haddington was the son of Brigadier-General George Baillie-Hamilton, Lord Binning and Katherine Salting (d.19 ...

(1945–1950) * William Moir Calder (1950–1955) *

James Latham Clyde, Lord Clyde James Latham McDiarmid Clyde, Lord Clyde, (30 October 1898 – 30 June 1975) was a Scottish Unionist politician and judge. Life Born on 30 October 1898 at Heriot Row, Edinburgh, Clyde was the eldest son of Anna Margaret McDiarmid (''d''. ...

(1955–1960) * James Frederick Gordon Thomson, the Hon Lord Migdale (1960–1965) *

James Scott-Elliot Major General James Scott-Elliot, (6 November 1902 – 12 September 1996) was a senior British Army officer. Military career Educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Scott-Elliot was commissioned i ...

(1965–1967) *

Stuart Piggott Stuart Ernest Piggott, (28 May 1910 – 23 September 1996) was a British archaeologist, best known for his work on prehistoric Wessex. Early life Piggott was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, the son of G. H. O. Piggott, and was educated ...

(1967–1972) * Kenneth Arthur Steer (1972–1975) * Robert Barron Kerr Stevenson (1975–1978) * Ronald Gordon Cant (1978–1981) * Stuart Maxwell (1981–1984) *

Leslie Alcock Leslie Alcock (24 April 1925 – 6 June 2006) was Professor of Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, and one of the leading archaeologists of Early Medieval Britain. His major excavations included Dinas Powys hill fort in Wales, Cadbury Ca ...

(1984–1987) *

David Breeze David John Breeze, OBE, FSA, FRSE, HonFSAScot, Hon MIFA (born 25 July 1944) is a British archaeologist, teacher and scholar of Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine Wall and the Roman army. He studied under Eric Birley and is a member of the so-call ...

(1987–1990) * Anna Ritchie (1990–1993) * Gordon Stirling Maxwell (1993–1996) * Michael Lynch (1996–1999) * James Neil Graham Ritchie (1999–2002) * Lisbeth Margaret Thoms (2002–2005) *

Roger Mercer Roger James Mercer HonFSAScot (12 September 1944 – 3 December 2018) was a British archaeologist whose work concentrated on the Neolithic and Bronze Age of the British Isles. Biography Between 1970 and 1973 he led the excavations at Carn B ...

(2005–2008) * Barbara E. Crawford (2008–2011) *

Alan Saville Alan Saville (31 December 1946 – 19 June 2016) was a British archaeologist and museum curator. Saville is best known for his "ground-breaking"' and "meticulous" excavations of the Neolithic Hazleton long barrows, Hazleton North long barrow near ...

(2011–2014) * David Hepburn Caldwell (2014–2020) * Ian Ralston (2020–2023)Professor Ian Ralston
/ref> *

Diana Murray Diana Mary Murray (née Collyer; born 14 September 1952) is an archaeologist who was secretary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS; 2004–2015) and latterly joint chief executive officer of Historic ...

(2023–Present)

Notable vice presidents

, founder of the Society in 1780 and first vice president (1780–1792) * Sir

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...

(1827–1829) * Sir

James Young Simpson Sir James Young Simpson, 1st Baronet (7 June 1811 – 6 May 1870) was a Scottish obstetrician and a significant figure in the history of medicine. He was the first physician to demonstrate the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in humans and ...

(1860–1870) *

John Alexander Smith John Alexander Smith (21 April 1863 – 19 December 1939) was a British idealist philosopher, who was the Jowett Lecturer of philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford from 1896 to 1910, and Waynflete Professor of Moral and Metaphysical Philosoph ...

(1870–1873)

References

External links

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland website

The ''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries Scotland''

The Society Of Antiquaries Of Scotland Scanning Project

''Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports''
*
Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
' project run by the Society {{Authority control 1780 establishments in Scotland Archaeological organizations Archaeological professional associations Archives in Scotland Archaeology of Scotland Learned societies of Scotland Antiquaries of Scotland Organizations established in 1780 Text publication societies History of literature in Scotland Historical societies of the United Kingdom History organisations based in Scotland