Large, ornately framed oil painting of Hugh MacDiarmid (1846-1928), known locally as Am Baillidh Dubh / the Black Factor, for his part in evoking Tiree’s ‘land war’ in 1886. The portrait was painted by the established artist Duncan MacGregor Whyte (1866-1953) in around 1922. MacGregor Whyte built The Studio at Balevullin. For more detailed information, see our exhibition material.
Beautiful colour print, original photograph possibly taken on 16mm film, of the tulip fields at Hynish. It is given an order number of ‘SA. 9767’ and dated May 1958.
Postcard sent from the Isle of Tiree to a Miss E. Nisbit, of Giffnock, Renfrewshire, ca 1950. The image is an ariel photograph of Scarinish and is in sepia. The handwriting is faded, so the name of the sender is unclear, but the surname appears to be McColl. The content is also difficult to read, but there is talk of the weather, typically, sunshine and gales. The photographic image was taken by Wm. Thomson of Fort William. Two 1D postage stamps feature King George VI, dating the postcard to his reign (1936-1952).
Four colour photographs (3 of them very similar) of the tulip fields at Hynish, Isle of Tiree. The photographs clearly show the location of the bulb fields, with the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottages appearing in one and Greenhill in the other three. The images also show groups of between 3 and 4 individuals, presumably, pickers, attending to the flowers.
Black and white photograph of unnamed seamen on a sailing boat in around the early 1900s, which formed the front page of a 1935 Gaelic school book (publication unknown). The item was found in Cnoc Ruadh, 10 Moss, Isle of Tiree.
Large colour print of footballer ‘The Firhill Flyer’ Johnny MacKenzie (1925-2017), Caoles.
Coloured enamel pin badge depicting world-class footballer Johnny MacKenzie (1925-2017), ‘The Firhill Flyer’, who lived at ‘Harbour’, Caoles. This limited edition commemorative pin was produced by ‘The Jags Foundation’ in 2021. See also 2023.6.2
Small, green-paper covered Gaelic booklet of religious questions and answers `Leabhar Aithghearr nan Ceist` edited by Iain Domhnullach, D.D., Ministeir ann an Dgire na Toisigheachd, in 1893. The booklet has been lovingly covered with stiff card from an old cigar/cigarette box, and signed by ‘H Ray’ and by ‘R Macdonald’. It is also annotated in pencil throughout. From the belongings of the MacDonald/MacCorquodale/MacLean family of Kenovay.
Blue and gold, metal Ontario Mod badge mounted on a wooden plaque with plate inscribed “1979, The Walter McFadyen Memorial Trophy, Solo Singing, Song Composed in Canada”. From the belongings of the MacDonald/MacCorquodale/MacLean family of Kenovay.
Detailed copy of the original hand-drawn weather chart created by the Meteorological Office of the Air Ministry in London for the morning of Monday 5th June 1944. It includes isobars, windspeeds and weather systems in the north Atlantic and notes on general inference and outlook. On the reverse are rows of data collected in various areas, including Tiree, from which the chart was drawn. These data were used to forecast the break in the weather that enabled the D-Day landings on the 6th June 1944.
