| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 3390 |
| Alt Ref No | MSU 1083 |
| Title | Records of Dr Robert Wilson's Trust |
| Date | 1796 - 1986 |
| Extent | 11 archive boxes: 3.6 linear metres |
| Creator Name | Robert Wilson's Trust (1871 - 1986) |
| Administrative History | Robert Wilson's Trust was created in 1871 under the terms of his will, to establish an anthropological museum in the buildings at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and to administer funds for a scholarship in archaeology at the University of Aberdeen (later, the Wilson Travelling Fellowship). Wilson (1787 - 1871), originally of Banff and latterly of Glenairnie, Morayshire, spent his early career as ship's surgeon with the Honourable East India Company, c. 1805 - 1809, travelled extensively in Europe and Asia, 1816 - 1822, and later, 1824 -1826, became private secretary to Lord Hastings, Governor General of Malta. He assembled a large library and extensive museum at Glenairnie House, which were bequeathed to the University after his death, the contents of his museum forming the basis of the new Wilson Archaeological Studio (later becoming the Anthropological Museum, and presently Marischal Museum)
A motion to wind up the trust and transfer its whole assets to the University of Aberdeen Development Trust, to be devoted to the Phase II refurbishment of the Anthropological Museum in Marischal College, was passed on 12 March 1986.
See H. Hargreaves, Dr Robert Wilson, Aberdeen University Review, 43 (1970), pp374 - 384. |
| Custodial History | The records remained in the custody of Edmonds & Ledingham (later Ledingham Chalmers), the firm of solicitors which was responsible for the administration of Robert Wilson's affairs in his last years, and the establishment and management of the Robert Wilson Trust, from creation until their deposit in the University. |
| Source | MSU 1083 deposited in the University in 1984, via Ledingham Chalmers, Solicitors and Estate Agents, Aberdeen.
MS 3390 deposited in the University in 1992, via Ledingham Chalmers, Solicitors and Estate Agents, Aberdeen.
Accession 76 was deposited in the University in 2004, via a former director of Ledingham Chalmers, Solicitors and Estate Agents, Aberdeen. |
| Description | Personal papers of and relating to Robert Wilson and the establishment of Robert Wilson's Trust, 1862 - 1874; trustees' minutes, containing details of contents of and additions to the coin collections and the anthropological museum, 1871 - 1986; trustees' accounts and investments, 1871 - 1920; receipts, 1871 - 1922; insurance policies, 1883 - 1922; correspondence, 1871 - 1922; reports to trustees, 1881 - 1934; papers re. Wilson memorial monument and museum, 1862 - 1973, miscellaneous financial papers of Robert Wilson, 1805 - 1844, papers on the establishment of Robert Wilson's Trust, including executry papers and copies of testamentary documents, 1860 - 1872; vouchers subsidiary to the Robert Wilson Trust Account, 1875 - 1881, 1893 - 1895; reports presented to the trustees, 1881, 1883, 1895; papers of Principal Geddes regarding the Trust, the museum and Wilson coin collection, 1878 - 1882; miscellaneous printed papers relating to the Trust 1872 - 1900, including advertisements and responses for the Wilson Travelling Scholarship, 1872 - 1892, and re-prints of articles by J.G.C. Anderson, Wilson Travelling Fellow, regarding excavations in Asia Minor, 1898 - 1900, preliminary and interim reports to the trustees by the Wilson Travelling Fellows on archaeological work in Asia Minor between 1900 and 1934. |
| Arrangement | MSU 1083 was merged into MS 3390 in July 2011 prior to a catalogue being produced. The organisation of the catalogue reflects the arrangement of the records as received from the solicitors. |
| 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 | Papers of Robert Wilson (1787 - 1871), 1803 - 1855 (MS 413 - 443). This collection contains detailed, illustrated travel journals, recording Wilson's antiquarian and archaeological expeditions throughout Europe and Asia, 1816 - 1855, and his voyages as ship's surgeon with the Honourable East India Company, 1805 - 1807. There are also miscellaneous personal papers relating to his home and family in Morayshire, Scotland, and to his varied leisure interests. Also see MS 3849: Dr Robert Wilson's portfolio of original paintings, drawings and prints.
The Wilson Collection (printed books: ref. WN). Comprising the contents of Robert Wilson's library, this collection is particularly rich in travel material along with smaller collections in history, archaeology, literature and medicine, dating principally from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Marischal Museum continues to care for the anthropological collections bequeathed by Wilson.
The following printed reports to the trustees are held in the printed collections:-
Report presented to the Trustees of Dr. Robert Wilson's Trust. 1-5, 1881-95. (L pAa P107 W r)
Report by the Wilson Trustees to the Court of the University of Aberdeen on the position of the Trust.1900 (p Lambda Abd Univ Lib A r)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trustees on two journeys in Asia Minor, 1901 and 1902 (L pAa P78 Wil p 1902)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trust for 1904. (L pAa P78 Wil p 1904)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trustees on exploration in Phrygia and Lycaonia, 1905. (L pAa P78 Wil p 1905)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trustees, by Wilson Fellow 1906 and 1907. (L pAa P78 Wil p 1906-7)
Report to the Wilson Trustees by the curator. 19th November, 1908. (p Lambda Abd Univ Lib A re)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trustees for the year 1909. (L pAa P78 Wil p 1909)
Preliminary report to the Wilson Trustees for the year 1911. (L pAa P78 Wil p 1911)
Papers of William Moir Calder, Travelling Fellow 1911 - 1915, in the collection of papers of American Society for Archaeological Research in Asia Minor (MS 3286) relate mainly to Calder's work in the 1920s and 1930s but include his field diaries covering the period of his Travelling Fellowship. Inscriptions recorded in those diaries were published in the major work Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua (MAMA). Calder remained in contact with the Trust throughout his career and the Travelling Fellow for 1933 - 1935, Alexander Birnie, was part of his expedition to Dinar and Aphrodisias. |