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Treasure 21: Edward Raban work, 1624
192 As Book Week Scotland is celebrated in November it is appropriate to feature a volume from our historic and special collection, "Aberdeen Early Printers".
Of theological content Cum Bono Deo: Raine from the Clouds by Andrew Logie, printed in Aberdeen in 1624, is the earliest Edward Raban work held in Local Studies. Our image shows the title page the arrangement of which was described as "commendable with the judicious use of woodcuts and ornamental borders delighting the eye" (Edmond, J P: The Aberdeen Printers).
In addition to the item displayed we have at least 11 other items in our collection along with examples of other early Aberdeen printers such as Brown and Chalmers.
Raban's office was on the north side of Castle Street. He printed under the sign of "The Townes Armes" and this continued to be the sign board of the Aberdeen Printers for at least 100 years.
One of his earliest friends was the bookseller David Melville. Many books printed by Raban between 1622 and 1633 were printed for Melville and carry his name on the imprint.
Raban's press produced over 150 publications, ranging from graduation theses, sermons, theological works, editions of the psalms, almanacs to printed notices and schoolbooks for the Council.
Treasure 22: Aberdeen Public Library - Children's Book Week Programme, May 1945
193 Our featured treasure from the Library archive is a programme describing lectures and exhibitions held in the Central Library Juvenile Department during Children's Book Week 21-26 May 1945. It's really quite different compared to events held for Book Week Scotland, 23-29 November 2015 and the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2015-2016!
The first Children's Book Week organised by the National Book Council/League (now the Book Trust) started in November 1931. Aberdeen received a letter suggesting the "Public Library should be the pivot of local book week activities". However the Library Book subcommittee deferred consideration and instructed the City Librarian meantime to keep in touch with the movement in view of further developments. Surprising there was no uptake considering a reward scheme had been introduced in 1924. Young readers who had completed one year's membership and read at least 12 books during the year were presented with a Library badge with the name of the Library round the outside and the city arms in heraldic colours in the centre.
It was not until 1945 that the Education Department and public library together organised a programme of events, including book displays, lectures and films with a couple of well-known speakers - Nan Shepherd and Dr. W. Douglas Simpson. Over 2000 pupils from schools visited the Library in organised groups and perhaps as a result of the "How to Use Your Library" talk 400 young people applied for membership. Equally important were the beginnings of cooperation between the library and education authorities and the adoption of a scheme of Library visits as part of the school curriculum. Interestingly the Education Committee proposed payment of £117 towards the salary of Library staff for their time spent during the visits.
Treasure 23: Scribner's Statistical Atlas of the United States
194 With roots dating back to the religious observances of the founding fathers, the national holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated each November in America. The development of the holiday largely mirrors the development of the American nation itself, with tales of warring peoples, inter-state rivalry and the inevitable spread of development.
One popular oral tradition traces Thanksgiving to an event in 1621 which took place between the Pilgrim fathers and the native Wampanoag people. Relations between the settlers and indigenous people were inevitably tense at this time, but the shared feasting and frolics of the "Plymouth Thanksgiving" heralded a friendly truce which lasted for fifty years.
Many years later, and during the tensions of the American Civil War, the editor of a popular magazine, Sarah Josepha Hale, campaigned for a national holiday as a way of promoting unity between the states. Thanksgiving Day was announced by Abraham Lincoln and celebrated for the first time on 26 November 1863. Since then, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
In 1880, a volume was produced which sought to capture the "state of the union", using data gleaned from census and other records to produce visual representations of the nation. Scribner's Statistical Atlas of the United States uses a mass of information on topics as diverse as population, literacy, agriculture and religion to literally map out the whole of the developing country.
Using just one example from Scribner's Atlas charting the distribution of corn production across the entire United States, it is clear that the general pattern of development is east to west. The eastern areas are much smaller and more populous than the wide expanse of the "unsettled parts" - referred on the Silver Screen as "the Wild West".
Another key aspect of the map are the areas denoted as "Indian Reservations" - specific territories designed to allow some limited freedom of movement to the indigenous populations finding themselves under increasing threat from multiple generations of European settlers. Within the numerous reservations some recognisable Native American names are visible - Sioux, Cherokee and Navajo; however, many are less familiar and many more are either under threat or have entirely disappeared - such as the Wampanoags of the original "Plymouth Thanksgiving" of 1621.
Scribner's Statistical Atlas of the United States was a vast undertaking of data management completed in a simpler age of pen and ink. The detail provided in the snapshot offers readers an intriguing glimpse at the development of one of the most powerful nations on the planet today.
Treasure 24: Aberdeen Mechanics Institute
195 2015 marks 170 years since the founding stone of Aberdeen Mechanics' Institute was laid. The history of this well-known building in Aberdeen's landscape has however often been forgotten. We hold a small collection of posters and flyers relating to the Institute and its courses and lectures in our Local Studies collection.
The School of Arts of Edinburgh, established in 1821, was the world's first Mechanics' Institute. Two years later, the Aberdeen Mechanics' Institute was established "for the purpose of affording to Mechanics, and others employed during the day, the means of acquiring such knowledge as may be of practical utility to them in their several professions, or which may be useful for cultivating their minds by extending their acquaintance with the phenomena of nature and the arts of life" (A. Yeats, Secretary. Aberdeen Journal, 14 February 1844).
The Mechanics' Institute soon became a very important educational force in the city. It also provided educational advantages for those who otherwise would never have had the opportunity or the means of acquiring them.
Initially a place of entertainment, the Mechanics' Institute subsequently became a public library on the adoption of the Public Libraries Act (1884). The Library was the most valuable asset of the institution and was viewed as a necessity, providing significant educational opportunities to its members.
For a period of nearly 60 years, the Mechanics Institute played a major role in influencing the culture and education of the people of Aberdeen.
See the whole digital exhibition (the link will open in a new browser window). Treasure 25: Alexander Ogg, Land Surveyor: Inverurie, Aberdeen and New Zealand
196 November 27th 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of the land surveyor Alexander Ogg. Local historian, and Central Library user, Dr Douglas Lockhart made the excellent suggestion that we celebrate this anniversary by displaying Ogg's rare Map of New and Old Aberdeen (1855) as a treasure for November.
The tremendous level of detail; annotation of residential and business occupants and the inclusion of various proposed city developments, make the map a particularly interesting historical item.
This version of the map was corrected to 1855 and published by J. Gellatly, 26 George Street, Edinburgh.
There is a brief description of the map in the bottom right of the sheet that reads:
"This map, continued from the Original Survey made in 1809, by John Smith Architect; has been revised and corrected to 1848, by Alexr. Ogg Land Surveyor; the Railways and Approaches by Alexr. Gibb, C.E. and the Harbour Improvements by James Abernethy, Harbour Engineer."
The National Library of Scotland hold a version of the map corrected to 1847 and published by D. Wyllie & Son, 111 Union Street, Aberdeen. It features a similar description to the one above, the only difference being it states it is corrected by Ogg to 1847.
There are visible differences between the two versions, particularly around the railway areas. How much these amendments are due to Ogg in 1848 or a later cartographer is unclear. |