| Administrative History | The Spalding Club (1839 - 1869) was established in Aberdeen by Joseph Robertson (1810 - 1866) and John Stuart (1813-77), LL D, for the publication of the historical, genealogical, topographical and literary remains of the North-eastern counties of Scotland (printed notice of intention to establish the Club, published in Aberdeen newspapers, 5 Dec 1839). Together they were responsible for many of the Club's early, and most enduring, publications, including Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff , ed. by Joseph Robertson (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1843); Fasti Aberdonensis , ed. by Joseph Robertson (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1854); Sculptured Stones of Scotland , ed. by John Stuart, 2 vols (Aberdeen, Spalding Club, 1856-67); The Book of Deer , ed. by John Stuart (Edinburgh: Spalding Club, 1869); and The Miscellany of the Spalding Club, ed. by John Stuart, 5 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1841-52). Robertson later became Curator of the Historical Department, Register House, Edinburgh, c 1858, and Stuart was appointed Principal Keeper of the Register of Deeds, Edinburgh, in 1773.
The work of two other individuals also contributed to the early success of the Club. Cosmo Innes (1798 - 1874), a member of, and already experienced editor with, the Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, edited Fasti Aberdonenses. Selections from the Records of the University and King's College of Aberdeen, 1494-1854 (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1854) and sponsored Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis. Ecclesie Cathedralis Aberdonensis Regesta que extant in unum collecta , 2 vols (Edinburgh: Spalding Club, 1845) and A Genealogical Deduction of the Family of Rose of Kilravock; with illustrative documents from the family papers, and notes (Edinburgh: Spalding Club, 1848). George Grub (1812 - 1892), Professor of Law at Marischal College and Aberdeen University, 1843 - 1891, and author of An Ecclesiastical History of Scotland from the Introduction of Christianity to the Present Time , 4 vols (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1861), edited History of Scots Affairs from MDCXXXVII to MDCXLI, by James Gordon, Parson of Rothiemay 3 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1841) and Thomas Innes' The Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, AD LXXX - DCCCXVIII (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1853).
At the height of its popularity, in March 1850, the Club had attracted a membership of 500, but by December 1869, numbers had fallen to 227, and the decision, first mooted in December 1866, was formally made to dissolve the Club at this time. During its 30-year history, it published 38 volumes. For bibliographical details see David Stevenson and Wendy B. Stevenson, Scottish Texts and Calendars. an Analytical Guide to Serial Publications (London: Royal Historical Society; Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1987).
For further details see W. Douglas Simpson, The Three Spalding Clubs: a Century in Retrospect, in Third Spalding Club Miscellany , vol. 2 (Aberdeen: Third Spalding Club, 1940), pp. xiii-xxxii; and Donald J. Witherington, Aberdeen Antiquaries: the Founding of the Spalding Club in 1839 , Aberdeen University Review , 44 (1971 - 1972), 42 - 55. |
| Related Material | Papers of the New Spalding Club (1886 - 1928), Aberdeen.
Papers of the Third Spalding Club (1928 - 1956), Aberdeen.
Personal papers of members of the Spalding Club, relating to the work of the Club Papers of Joseph Robertson (1810 - 1866) (GB 231 MS 0525 - 0530; MS 0973; and MS 2397). These papers include Robertson's (unpublished) pre-Spalding Club research on a Biographia Aberdonensis , 1833 - 1837 (GB 231 MA 0525 - 0530) (6 volumes).
Original papers published by the Spalding Club James Gordon's History of Scots affairs from the year 1637 to the year 1641 transcribed by Professor Thomas Gordon, Robert Gordon and others, 1788 (GB 231 MS 0018) (1 volume: 510 p). Published as History of Scots Affairs from MDCXXXVII to MDCXLI, by James Gordon, Parson of Rothiemay , ed. by George Grub, 3 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1841)
John Spalding's Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland especially of Aberdeenshire from 1624 to 1644 , transcribed by James Dalgarno, 1778 - 1779 (GB 231 MS 0019) (1 volume:1036 p). Published as Memorials of the Trubles in Scotland and England. AD 1624 - ad 1645, by John Spalding , ed. by John Stuart, 2 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1850 - 1851)
John Spalding's History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland, from 1624 to 1645 , transcribed by James Dalgarno, 1778 - 1779 (GB 231 MS 0020) (1 volume:1036 p). Published as Memorials of the Trubles in Scotland and England. AD 1624 - ad 1645, by John Spalding , ed. by John Stuart, 2 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1850 - 1851)
Original manuscript of John Spalding's History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland, 1624-25 , n.d., c 1650. Known as Skene Manuscript (GB 231 MS 2466) (1 volume: 690 leaves). Published as Memorials of the Trubles in Scotland and England. AD 1624 - ad 1645, by John Spalding , ed. by John Stuart, 2 vols (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1850 - 1851)
William Mitchell, Diary of Visit to London, William Mitchell (1670-1727), Minister of St Giles Church, Edinburgh, 1717 (GB 231 MS 0146) (1 volume: 16 leaves) Published in Miscellany of the Spalding Club , vol.1 (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1841), pp. 225-253.
19th c transcript of Breviarium Aberdonense: Pars Aestivalis (GB 231 MS 0515-0516) (2 volumes) and Breviarium Aberdonense: Pars Hyemalis (GB 231 MS 0517) (1 volume) [copied for the Spalding Club]. Original work prepared under the personal superintendence of William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, edited by William Blew (1510). Published by the Spalding Club, the Bannatyne Club and the Maitland Club (London and Aberdeen, 1854) |