Photograph of a painting by Duncan MacGregor-Whyte ca 1910
Colour photograph of an oil painting of two women by Duncan MacGregor-Whyte who had a studio at Balephuil in the early 1900s and painted many Tiree people. The woman holding the toy rabbit is probably his wife, Mary Barnard, also an accomplished artist who opened `The Bunny Shop` in Oban.
Research sent in by the current owner of Duncan MacGregor-Whyte and Mary Barnard’s Tiree home, The Studio, Balephuil:
I have been conducting some on line search regarding the Bunny Shop which Mary Barnard operated in Oban. Although she died in 1946 I vaguely remember that it was open during a holiday the family spent in Oban/Benderloch in 1952/1953. My google led me to the website “Mary Wheelhouse (1867-1947)- Women Who Meant Business” who was a renowned entrepreneur who founded Panoma Toys . During the 1920’s, Panoma acted as agents for another artist turned toy maker, Mary Bayliss Barnard. Based in Oban, MBB was by the mid 1920’s employing four more women to keep the stock flowing into her Bunny Shop”. I noticed that Mary Wheelhouse studied for 3 years at Acedemie Delecleuse as had Mary Barnard (and Duncan MacGregor Whyte)…..networking 100+ years ago!
Short steel rod or `jumper` with star-shaped end for drilling rock given to Dr Holliday by Iain Sinclair (Alasdair Sinclair, Brock`s brother) in response to An Iodhlann article in An Tirisdeach 2012. Shaft stamped with `Rawlplug star drill G – 15/16″ England`, and thought to be made after 1913 (see 2012.135.3).
Handwritten letter dated 24/9/12 from Iain Sinclair (Alasdair Sinclair`s brother) to Dr John Holliday, with information about a steel rod for drilling rock or `jumper` (2012.135.2).
Tall, round-bottomed glass bottle found in the dump behind Baugh Surgey in 2012. Pale clear glass with large raised lettering all around bottle reading “J.Schweppe & Co., 51 Berners Street, Oxford Street, genuine superior, aerated waters”. Probably used for administering medicines.
Book “Handbook to the Islands of Coll and Tiree”, ca 1930
Softback book describing the topography of Tiree and Coll, with some history, stories and photographs. By Hector MacDougall and Rev. Hector Cameron, Cornaigmore, ca 1930.
Transcript of telephone message about the `Oceana`
Handwritten notes and typed transcript from a telephone conversation with John Campbell, owner of the schooner `Oceana` that ran aground on Crossapol beach in 1949.
British Legion membership card, 1929, belonging to Archie MacLean, Scarinish.
Original membership card of the British Legion (Scotland) – Tiree branch, and subscription receipts (1930-1946), signed by Branch Secretaries Robert MacLeod (1930-1936) and Hector MacPhail (1937-1946).
