| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 3244 |
| Title | Alexander Thomson of Banchory, antiquarian: manuscript volumes |
| Date | 1696 - 1866 |
| Extent | 18 volumes (0.6 linear metres) |
| Creator Name | Alexander Thomson (1792 - 1868)
Banchory Farmer Friendly Society (fl 1776 - 1866) |
| Administrative History | Alexander Thomson came from a family of lawyers with a long association with Marischal College, Aberdeen. He himself graduated AM from there in 1816, the son of Andrew Thomson, and he was enrolled as an advocate in Edinburgh in 1820. Author, antiquary and philanthropist, he made many donations to the College library. In 1826 he returned to Aberdeen to become more closely involved in the College: he was Dean of Faculty in 1826, from 1852 to 1855, and in 1858, and was Rector's Assessor in 1841, 1843, 1846 and 1848. He died in 1868. His very wide-ranging interests, particularly on Victorian social and educational issues, are well represented in his library of c. 1600 books, and 6,000 pamphlets, bequeathed to the Free Church College, Aberdeen, after his death, and now deposited as a named collection in the University Library. |
| Custodial History | Alexander Thomson's library was bequeathed to the Free Church College, Aberdeen, with directions that it be made over to the University should that College cease to be recognised by the Free Church for the training of its ministers. It descended to its successor, Christ's College, by which it was transferred to the custody of the University of Aberdeen around 1960. Manuscript volumes were deposited in the University Archives as MS 3244 in 1986. |
| Source | Deposited in the University in Oct 1986, by Dr Henry Sefton, Master of Christ's College, Aberdeen. |
| Description | This collection contains the manuscript volumes from Alexander Thomson's library. It includes tour journals from his travels in Britain and Europe (1818-1863) and a small selection of other personal papers, including commonplace books (1816, 1819 and 1827), notes of sermons (1818-1819), and a catalogue of Banchory House library (July 1864). The minute book of Banchory Farmer Friendly Society (1776-1866), and extracts from Kirk Sessions and other ecclesiastical records of Aberdeen (1562-1622), made in 1696 by Robert Davidson, are also present. |
| Appraisal | This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures. |
| Accruals | None expected. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | There is no restriction of access. Any question of publication must be referred to the Master of the College. |
| 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 2829 - Catalogue of the library of Alexander Thomson (1798-1868) of Banchory, author, as bequeathed to Free Church College, Aberdeen (189 pages).
Printed books and pamphlets from Alexander Thomson's library are maintained as separate named collections by the University: The Thomson of Banchory collection of books (TB) and Thomson of Banchory collection of pamphlets (Thomson). |
| Publication Note | George Smeaton, 'Memoir of Alexander Thomson of Banchory' (Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas, 1869)
Charles Hunt, 'Alexander Thomson: gentleman and collector', 'The Deeside Field', 18 (1984), 98-103 |