New Orkney Antiquarian Journal - Volume 5

Volume 5, 2011.

This volume is a festschrift to Alison Fraser, a tribute to her 35 years of service as Orkney’s County Archivist.  During Alison’s tenure, the Orkney Archive grew to be one of Scotland’s most extensive local archive collections. 

The Journal contains articles by Peter Anderson, recently retired from the National Archives of Scotland as Deputy Keeper of Records; Phil Astley, Assistant Archivist between 1994-2003 and now Archivist at Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives; Susan Corrigall from the National Archives of Scotland; Ray Fereday, former History teacher at Kirkwall Grammar School and widely recognised local historian; Sheila Garson, Curator of Social History at the Orkney Museum; Lucy Gibbon, Assistant Archivist at Orkney Archives; Sarah Jane Gibbon, former Assistant Archivist and now freelance historical and genealogical researcher; James Irvine, Journal editor and local historian; Bobby Leslie, former Chief Librarian and then Library & Archive Manager until his retiral; David Mackie, Orkney Photographic Archivist for over 20 years; Ann Marwick, Orkney’s first sound archivist and District Manager of Historic Scotland; Jocelyn Rendall, widely recognised local historian; Brian Smith, Principal Archivist at the Shetland Museum and Archives; and Willie Thomson, former Rector of Kirkwall Grammar School and widely recognised local historian.

Contents include;

- Alison Fraser: A Personal Tribute.

- Orkney in the Development of Scottish Archives, 1950-2009.

- Cataloguing in the Orkney Archives.

- The Summer School Post in Orkney Archive.

- The Orkney Photographic Archive.

- The New Year Song: A Biography.

- We flit fae Laing Street tae Junction Road.

- When did Orkney and Shetland become part of Scotland? A contribution to the debate.

- The Prebend of St.Lawrence, Sandwick.

- The Suspected Embezzlement of Orkney's Court Records in the 1670s.

- Mrs Balfour's Extraordinary Letter.

- The Squaring of Shapinsay.

- The Little General and the Orkney Archive.

A Teller of Tall Tales?