| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 2307 |
| Title | William Alexander MacNaughton, physician and historian: papers |
| Date | 17th century - 20th century |
| Extent | 3 boxes: 0.99 linear metres |
| Creator Name | William Alexander MacNaughton (d c1933), physician and historian |
| Administrative History | William Alexander MacNaughton was a medical graduate of Edinburgh University (1878) and sometime Medical Officer of Health for Kincardineshire. He was editor of Caledonian Medical Journal from 1897 - 1932 and author of The medical heroes of the 'Forty-five (Glasgow: MacDougall, 1897), Caledonian medical journal (1897-1900). Though he is not recorded as a graduate of Aberdeen University, he contributed antiquarian articles to the Aberdeen University Review, and gifted or bequeathed several manuscripts to the University. |
| Source | MS 2307: date and source not recorded. Probably gifted or bequeathed to the University by William A. MacNaughton. |
| Description | Comprising personal papers of William A. MacNaughton, and a collection of original records and transcriptions compiled by him relating to Scottish history, and to the local history of Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire, 1617 - 1932.
Personal papers include certificates (degree, public health diploma, etc.); material relating to his editorship of the Caledonian Medical Journal ; correspondence on antiquarian subjects; incomplete manuscripts on the history of Stonehaven; and genealogical notes or transcripts on the MacNaughton, Bruce and Burns families. Other transcripts include copy of rent book for Elfhill farm, [?parish], 1730 - 1783; account of money received by William Gibbon for building a meeting house in Stonehaven, 1737 - 1746; and ledger of the Laird of Skene, 1768.
Original records in the collection were loosely arranged into literary papers and miscellaneous papers prior to deposit, though this arrangement may change pending future cataloguing:
Literary papers include notebook containing autobiography of Dr Alexander James MacIntosh, Downham Market, Norfolk, copy register of baptisms administered by the Rev. John Robertson, Episcopal Minister Strathtay, 1812 - 1829, notes and register extracts from Episcopal church, Atholl, 1812 - 1822, notes from Augustus by E.S. Shuckburgh, 1903, and notes from Farington's diary; inventory of the moveables of Alexander Fotheringham, deceased, in Links of Arduthie, Sept 1790; notes of sermons on sacramental and other occasions by Adam Gib, minister in the Associate Congregation at Edinburgh, Jun 1770 - Jul 1782, and notes of sermons, Jun 1762 - Dec 1769; manuscript of poem, Mock Poem or Whig's Supplication , with introduction, unsigned, early 18th c; notebook containing Adagia et nonnulla latina anglica and other schoolboy notes of William Davidson, of Kelso, 1688, and James Davidson, of Kelso, c 1700; notebook of Dr Patrick Cumin, 1726; and account book of David Maxwell, Minister of Essie, 1739 - 1762.
Miscellaneous papers include letter from James VI to the Earl Marischal recommending Andrew Adie to be Principal of Marischal College, 1615 [18th century copy]; royal proclamation for dissolving the Glasgow General Assembly, 1638 [printed]; list of baronets created by Charles I; list of noblemen, gentlemen and others who have been attained and adjudged to have been guilty of High Treason, 1745 [printed]; list of debts affecting the estate of Kerse (Sir Alexander Hope), 1736 [printed]; bundle of miscellaneous petitions and answers, etc., in causes before the Court of Session, c 1730 - 1755; expense account of voyages to English and French parts, 1647; copy declaration of indemnity, 1662; letters to Hugh Fullerton, advocate, Aberdeen, 1812 - 1815; papers relating to the affairs of Thomas Smith, deceased, architect in Rothesay, 1827; assignations of James Walters, collector of customs at Wick, in favour of Robert Bruce in Staxigoe, Jul 1826, and George Sinclair, fish curer in Wick, Jul 1846.
Papers of the Menzies family, Perthshire, 1526-1808 (MS 2605/1-25) and papers relating to families and estates in Kincardineshire, particularly Stonehaven, 1530-1809 (MS 2606) were extracted from this collection in 1967 and accessioned separately. |
| Appraisal | This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures |
| Accruals | None expected |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the University Archivist and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Language | English |
| Physical Description | No physical conditions affecting use of collection |
| Related Material | MS 1083, MS 2093, MS 2192, MS 2307, MS 2605 & MS 2606: Papers of William Alexander MacNaughton (d c1933), physician and historian
MS 2190: Names and designations of persons in Aberdeenshire to be summoned on 26 or 27 June 1606 and 31 January 1636 (1 leaf). Presented by William A. MacNaughton, in 1933. |
| Publication Note | His work on runes was published in Southesk staves (Edinburgh, 1892); The Southesk and other rune prime-staves or Scandinavian wooden calendars (Edinburgh: Neill, 1892), Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Proceedings (1891); On two rune prime-staves from Sweden and three wooden almanacs from Norway (n.p., n.pub., 1892), Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Proceedings 1892; and On a Norwegian staff calendar belonging to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Andrew Reid, 1891), Archaeologia Alliana, 15 (1891). |
| Finding Aids | A paper catalogue is available in the Reading Room. |
| Related Record | MS 1083 |
| MS 2093 |
| MS 2192 |
| MS 2605 |
| MS 2606 |