FROM THE ARCHIVES: Diaries are dear to future generations
The Highland Archive Service provides a look at some of the historic diaries it holds in its collection
At the beginning of the lockdown, in March, the Highland Archive Service put out an appeal to members of the public to consider keeping a diary or scrapbook throughout the coronavirus pandemic with a view to later donating them to the service to ensure that we have records of individuals’ feelings and thoughts throughout the crisis. We already hold a wide variety of diaries, memoirs and scrapbooks in our collections and they give us insights into the feelings and experiences of people living in both ordinary and extraordinary times.
For this month’s feature (and to encourage people to consider doing this) we’re going to have a look at some of the diaries already held at the Highland Archive Centre.
Among the collections we hold is the fascinating archive of the Sage/Sutherland family – an important Highland family of ministers and missionaries.
Among this collection are diaries and scrapbooks written by different members of the family through the generations. One scrapbook, the owner of which is not recorded, is full of watercolour paintings, poems, sketches and songs – its cheerful and colourful pages representing the hobbies of many middle- and upper-class women in the 1800s. One of the diaries, written in 1861 by Camilla Sage, gives an insight into her daily life, with observations about the weather and social life (Saturday 16th November – deep snow falling heavily all day…went to a concert…we had charades…we had such fun) and into events of national significance (Sunday 15th December – Heard bad news – Prince Albert dead).
Another diary from this collection which contains some humorous entries (some intentional and some not!) is that of schoolboy William Scott which dates from c.1927. This diary perfectly showcases the thoughts, trials and tribulations of a young boy. One entry reads “Tues – had a cold so stayed in bed. I rose in the afternoon and determined to teach my goldfish to eat from my hand. Ian came across and said he had seen a bicycle which I might get. Determined to call my goldfish Hesperus & Aurora.”
Another collection of children’s diaries are those of Malcolm Blane, which regular readers of this feature will already be familiar with. Malcolm’s diaries (dating from the early 1900s) reveal the mind of an intelligent enquiring boy who was keen to record all aspects of the world around him, from the lessons he learnt at school to his holiday experiences in Nairn and the surrounding area.
Also among the collections are diaries which record unusual and difficult times, such as that of Neil Fraser Tytler whose diaries of life on the front during World War One give a view of the fighting from first hand – capturing both the fear and the excitement, and giving predictions about the outcome of the war.
Diaries can provide the historians of the future with facts and opinions they are unable to gain from elsewhere. If you are keeping a diary, please consider donating it for future generations to learn from. For more information about some of the diaries in our collections please view the “Learn with Lorna – diaries” film on our Facebook page.
