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- I am just in from the meeting of the school Literary Society. They had a Gaelic debate: “Has emigration been beneficial to the Highlands?” They went into it with great vim and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Several times it resolved itself into little duels in which there seemed to be excellent bits which brought down the house, and retort would follow retort to everybody’s delight… The affirmative won by 35 votes to 14; some did not vote… Stornoway, 28th Feb. 1917
- There have been some fine catches of herring this last week, one day 5000 crans. The Minch has been getting “swept” and the mail-boat is running regularly. Oatmeal scarce; we have had to fall back temporarily on Quaker oats… Stornoway 22nd Feb 1917
- This week’s letter highlights a difficult truth which is very pertinent, given that it is Black History Month. In the course of transcribing the letters we occasionally encounter racist language which is extremely offensive and considered abhorrent today. The fact that a highly educated woman like Mrs Gibson would use this particularly horrible word in such a context reflects the racist ideas prevalent in Britain at this time. We thought carefully about whether to publish this letter on the blog, but we feel it is important not to cover up the past and that we should bring it out into the open, as the attitudes of people in the past are an important part of the historical record. In another sentence of the letter there is a reference to insanity in a particular family. We have not revealed the family’s identity in case this causes distress to any descendants.
- I had letters this week from Wm. B. Macdonald, who is with a battery in France and has had one or two narrow escapes, from J. W. Matheson, in Salonika, and from Alick Thomson, in the training camp at Gailes. He is enjoying the change from the trench-mud. Did I mention that Simon Mackenzie, who has been on a minesweeper off the west coast of Ireland, is now home, discharged on account of his health?… Stornoway, 15th Feb. 1917
- He told us of a mule who had a spite against a man and waited patiently for an opportunity to pay him out [get revenge]. One day the man was grooming the third mule from his enemy. The watchful one saw his chance and laid the man out with a kick delivered below the bellies of the two intervening mules. What do you think of that? E. says they never forget anybody who has beaten them…Stornoway, 9th Feb. 1917
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Monthly Archives: August 2011
Friday Photo; Communication and Transport
To my joy David and Kathleen the Librarian (official title) about a few weeks ago came across a few folders of photographs that we knew nothing about. To my greater joy, they are of postcards and photographs of North Uist, South Uist, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Communication, Friday Photo, North Uist Historical Society, Transport
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Sushhhhhhh! A week in the searchroom
It’s been a quiet week in the Tasglann office. This isn’t to say we’ve not been busy but we’ve had to be quiet as we’ve had researchers in everyday! A visitor from Aberdeen has been looking through Lewis District Committee, … Continue reading
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Tagged bilingual, Pairc, policy, researchers
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Bac two skool
We all remember that mixture of excitement and dread that signalled the end of the long summer and the return to school. As you can see in th epage below from the Mingulay school log book, the school was closed for … Continue reading
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Friday Photos; Old Shops of Stornoway
Last night we had our Old Shops of Stornoway event co-hosted with Stornoway Historical Society in the library. I’m very happy to say that it was a great success with a fantastic turnout! Our three speakers, Sandy Matheson, Norrie Macgregor … Continue reading
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Tagged Friday Photo, Stornoway, Stornoway Historical Society, Stornoway Library
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Sgoil Shamhraidh Ghàidhlig
Ma tha sibh airson ur cuid Gàidhlig a leasachadh, tha ionad Ravenspoint ann a sgire a’ Phairc ann a Leòdhas a’ toirt an cothrom dhuibh. Aig an aon àm, gheibh sibh a-mach mu cultar, eachdraidh agus dualchas na sgire. Tha … Continue reading
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Tagged Gaelic, Pairc, Ravenspoint Centre
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Old Shops of Stornoway Event
Come along to our Old Shops of Stornoway event tomorrow night! Norrie and Malcolm from Stornoway Historical Society will be talking about some of the old businesses of Stornoway and anyone attending is welcome to share their reminiscences of old … Continue reading
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Tagged old shops, Stornoway, Stornoway Historical Society
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Friday photo; James Shaw Grant
The above postcard of school boys (and two cheeky girls) is from the collection of James Shaw Grant which Donna is currently cataloguing at the moment. The vast collection encompasses everything from the Crofting Commission to his research for his … Continue reading
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Tagged Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, Friday Photo, James Shaw Grant, Ness
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