Earls of Fife (Duff House): papers Family and estate papers of the Earls of Fife (Duff House papers) - The earliest papers date from the fifteenth century. However in common with many estate collections there is a wealth of material from the eighteenth century onwards. Much of the material was accumulated from the time of William Duff, Lord Braco and first Lord Fife. There is subject material on the development of planned villages, the American War of Independence, Marlborough's campaigns, the Napoleonic wars, India, plantations in Jamaica, local and national politics and estate improvements. The volumes have been sorted into areas of the estate to which they refer. They include accounts, rentals, minutes of tack, farm, household, garden, estate work, lint mill, salmon fishing, insurance, inventory, family settlement, survey and MacDuff harbour books, cash books, letter books, almanacks, printed books, crop books, woods and sawmill books, factors' books, personal day books, library catalogues, baron court books and valuation rolls. Areas covered by the Duff House (Montcoffer) papers: Delgaty district: Barony of Delgaty, Barony of Alva, estates of Gask and Melrose, lands of Alva. Doune district (acquired 1699): Barony of Doune [Macduff], lands of Gorrachy, land in Banff. Duff House district: Fishery and Montcoffer in King Edward, Garnieston and Blackton, Fintry and Auchry in Turriff, Stonieley in Alva, Sandyhills and Duff House parks in Banff, Montbletton, Cullen and Tarlair in Gamrie. Auchintoul district (sold 1880s): in Marnoch, includes Kinairdy, Turtory, Suitroll Croft, Floors. Balvenie and Glass district (17th century acquisition). Lands in Mortlach, Aberlour (sold 1880s), Botriphnie and Boharm, including Asswanley. Strathisla district (acquired 17th century): Keith, Grange, Rothiemay (sold 1880s), Inverkeithny, Marnoch, Dufftown, Fife Keith, Newmill. Glenbucket (acquired 1737, sold 1880s). Echt (acquired 1736, sold 1801). Strathdon. Careston: lands in Brechin, Careston, Fearn, Tannadice, Menmuir, Lethnott and Navar [Forfarshire]. Skene estate (to Duffs by marriage 1827, sold 1880s). Mar estate (acquired 1735): in parishes of Braemar and Crathie including Balmoral, Inverey, Corriemulzie and Auchindryne. Moray estate: Innes House (acquired by 2nd Earl, sold 1880s) administered areas from parishes of Urquhart, Lhanbryde, Coxtown (acquired 1714), Leuchars, Spynie in Moray from Brodie (2nd Earl), Elgin (including Pluscarden Abbey and Elgin Cathedral work by 4th Earl). Aberdeen: including property on Castle Street and Foresterhill. Other areas include: Drummuir (17th century), Braco (17th century), Dipple (early 18th century), Eden (Grant Duffs). There are also papers relating to exchanges of land with the Duke of Gordon, buildings (including Duff House, 1735-1740s (to Banff and Macduff, 1906); Balvenie new house, 1724-1725; Fife House alterations, 1760s; Housedale, Echt) and planned villages: Macduff (Doune) development; Newmills (Keith); Dufftown (19th century) and Aberchirder (19th century). 13th century - 20th century