Collection book for subscriptions towards the upkeep of Soroby Cemetery 1908-1954
Small notebook containing handwritten record of names and amount given towards the upkeep of Sorobie Cemetery between 1908 and 1954. Names include: Donald Lamont (The Land, father of Mary lamont, Mod Gold Medalist), Donald Campbell (“the ban”, grandfather of Alasdair Sinclair Greenhill “Alasdair beag na Cachala”), Gilleasbuig Campbell (his borther), Donald MacLean, Balinoe (his nickname Donald a` Tommy was to do with his hat, great uncle of Willie MacLean, Balinoe), John MacDonald, Sandaig (“Beegee”). Also a small type-written note informing subscribers of Argyll County Council`s failure to keep the cemetery in an orderly state and the need to revive the subscriptions system. The notebook was evidently passed around between subscribers.
DVD compilation of six old films about Tiree created for the 2009 Feis Thiriodh film show from archive material from An Iodhlann – with accompanying programme. (1) Family holiday on Tiree 1957, (2) formation of the Crofters` Union 1985, (3) centenary of 1886 Crofters Act 1986, (4) Tiree Association sports day and first commercial flight 1929, (5) Tiree school trip to see concord at Heathrow 1984, (6) about Tiree with a ceilidh in the Lodge Hotel 1992.
Tobacco tin – Ogden`s St Bruno Flake. Manufactured by The Imperial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain and Ireland). Belonged to Mrs MacDugal (wife of the Head Master of Cornaig High School) who gave the tin containing a sewing kit, to Elsie MacKinnon, Kirkapol, 1925-1930.
Collection of hand-written school work by Elsie MacKinnon, Kirkapol, 1929/30
Photocopied sheets of hand-written school work by Elsie MacKinnon, Kirkapol, whilst at Ruaig School in 1929/30. Includes seven poems, three songs, hatching details of chicks at Lodge Farm, Kirkapol, proverbs, synonyms, algebra and geometry. Paper and pencils were given to children in Elsie`s last year of school (1930), replacing slates and chalk.
Manuscript (booklet) for a play ‘Beitidh’ by Mary A MacKinnon (1888-1980), Heylipol, ca 1916. Written in aid of the Tiree Memorial Fund.
Màiri Anna Theònaidh was the daughter of John MacKinnon, the ground officer. At thirteen, Mary Ann moved from the estate house in Heylipol to Glasgow, where she trained as a teacher. In 1924, she married Captain Alasdair Campbell, who had the misfortune to be torpedoed three times in his naval career. Mary Ann Campbell (or MacKinnon) was the first published female Gaelic playwright. The first of three published dramas was the 1916 Beitidh / Betty:
“[Campbell’s] eponymous Beitidh ends up winning a doctor in Glasgow who is also a Gaelic-speaker. This is a rather neat solution that serves also to teach Beitidh not to be ashamed of her Gaelic (a reprise of the ‘don’t forget your Gaelic’ trope). This is the main theme of the play which is bilingual: the action is in Gaelic when set in Tiree and in English when in a Kelvinside drawing room. The women in the play are strikingly independent and full of character. Beitidh’s mother is quite happy to state that the men would be nothing without their women. Her English-speaking friend Rosie is very quick-witted and likes to shock, principally by smoking.”
The Stornoway Gazette praised the play, concluding: “It is probably impossible to-day to show any series of events of Highland life significant enough to dramatise apart from English influence.” As if in response to this, her next play Clann nan Gàidheal ri Guailibh a Chèile ‘Children of the Gaels, Shoulder to Shoulder’, was set against the backdrop of the Great War. Mary Ann Campbell was an early member of the Tiree Association in Glasgow, and produced the First World War Roll of Honour for the island. She retired to ‘Caladh’ in Balevullin.
Manuscript (booklet) for a play “Posadh Seonaid” in gaelic and english by Mary A MacKinnon, ca 1927.
Manuscript (booklet) for a play “Posasdh Seonaid” in gaelic and english by Mary A MacKinnon (Mrs Alasdair Campbell) ca 1927. Written in aid of the Feill 1927 Fund.
