| Administrative History | Peter John Anderson was born in Inverness on 16 Sep 1852. He attended Inverness Academy and graduated from Aberdeen University, MA 1872, and Edinburgh University LL B 1876. His working life was spent almost wholly in the University of Aberdeen, first as University assistant in Natural Philosophy, 1873 - 1879; and subsequently, Examiner, 1880 - 1883; Assistant Registrar, 1883 - 1889; Rector's Assessor on the University Court, 1890 - 1893; University Librarian, 1894 - 1926; Clerk of the General Council, 1907 - 1926; and Registrar, 1918 - 1926. From 1880 - 1893 he also lectured at the Church of Scotland Training College, Aberdeen.
Through his dual roles as University Librarian and Secretary of the New Spalding Club, he secured the deposit in the University Library of many significant local manuscript and printed papers. After his death, on 12 May 1926, a memorial subscription was raised in the University, and a P.J. Anderson Memorial Lecture was founded in 1932. For appreciations of his life and works see Aberdeen University Review , 13 (1925 - 1926), 88, 168, 193, 260; Aberdeen University Review , 14 (1926 - 1927), 56, 184. and Colin A. McLaren, P.J. Anderson and the History of the University, P.J. Anderson Memorial Lecture, 1983 Aberdeen University Review 51 (1985-86), 83-101. |
| Custodial History | These papers were collected with a view to preparing an article for the New Spalding Club, 1906, "Records of the Scots Colleges at Douai, Rome, Madrid, Valladolid and Ratisbon". |
| Description | Papers relating to the Scots College at Paris, 1796 - 1803; Papers relating to the Scots College at Douai, 1904 - 1909 and undated; Papers relating to the Scots College at Madrid and Valladolid, 1858, 1890s - 1906; Papers relating to the Scots College at Ratisbon, 1890s to 1900s; Papers relating to the Scots College at Rome, 1890s - 1900s and undated; Miscellaneous notes on Scots Colleges, 17th century, 1900s and undated.
The collection comprises correspondence and other papers relating to charters and documents of the Scots College, Paris, 1796 - 1803; correspondence with I. Maxwell Witham concerning the Douai Diary, 1904 - 1909; transcripts of manuscripts concerning Scots College at Douai, beginning Epitome annalium Collegii Scotorum Societatis Jesu Duaci stabiliti , n.d.; historical sketch by G.A. Griffin, The Colleges at Madrid and Valladolid , with transcript of Memoirs of the translation of the Scotch College from Madrid to Valladolid , 1858; correspondence with the rector and vice-rector of the Scots College, Valladolid, concerning student lists, 1904 - 1906; historical sketch of the Scots College, Valladolid, n.d. [c 1890s - 1900s]; lists of alumni from the Scots College, Madrid, n.d. [c 1890s - 1900s]; historical sketch of the Scots College, Ratisbon, n.d. [c 1890s - 1900s]; The Scots College, Rome: a historical sketch by the Right Rev. Mgr. Robert Fraser Rector of the College , n.d.; historical notes on the Scots College, Rome, with lists of alumni, n.d. [c 1890s - 1900s]; miscellaneous original fragments and notes concerning Scots Colleges, 17th c, 1900s and n.d. |