Records of Inverness Presbyterial Library

Inverness Presbyterial Library catalogue and borrowers' register, 1706 - 1743, containing catalogue of the library's foundation books, and valuation thereof, made by Mr Henderson, stationer, Edinburgh, Jan 1706; details of books gifted to the library, Jan 1706 - 1714; catalogue of books, Dec 1709, arranged alphabetically by author's name; list of library benefactors and their donations, Jan 1706 - Jan 1717, arranged alphabetically by name of benefactor; account of books gifted to the library by Dr James Fraser, Secretary and Register of the Royal Hospital of invalids at Chelsea, 1708 - 1720; and record of loans, c 1712 - 1743 (mostly c 1712 - 1726).

Inverness Presbyterial Library was founded in Jan 1706, by the gift of books valued at £775 0s 8 d Scots, sent from piously disposed persons in London to the town of Inverness as the beginning of a presbyterial library in that bounds (Inverness Presbyterial Library, catalogue and borrower's register, GB 231 MS 1066). It was augmented and maintained throughout the eighteenth century by a series of further gifts and bequests received from benefactors living both locally and distant. Notable amongst these are Reverend Robert Baillie (c 1672 - 1726), minister of the second charge there from c 1698 - c 1726, and Dr James Fraser, Secretary and Register of the Royal Hospital of invalids at Chelsea, whose generous benefactions to King's College, Aberdeen enabled refurbishment of the college's library, c 1724 - 25.

For further details on the history of the library see Alexander Mitchell, The Library of Inverness; its origin, constitution, and present condition. Compiled for the information of the Kirk-Session of Inverness by Alexander Mitchell (Inverness, 1901); Inverness kirk-session records 1661-1800, edited by Alexander Mitchell (Inverness: Carruthers, 1902), pp 189 - 206; and Colin A. McLaren and Margaret A. Stephen, Reports and Surveys of Archives in Northern Scotland, Northern Scotland, 2 (1976 - 1977) 187 - 188

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Date and source of acquisition not recorded

Very brief collection level description available on Aberdeen University Library Catalogue, accessible online http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/

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Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

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An inscription in the flyleaf of the register states that it was gifted to the librarie of Inverness by Mr Robert Baillie minister there. A further inscription reads Forbes McBean /Presby Library of Inverness, Sept 2nd 1732.

Robert Baillie was succeeded in his charge at Inverness in 1727, by Alexander Fraser (d 1750), MA King's College, Aberdeen, 4th July 1695, who married Baillie's step-daughter, Isobel McBean, in 1706. Her father, Angus McBean (MA, King's College, 13th July 1675), was minister of the first charge at Inverness, from 1683 - 1687. This connection may explain why the volume was deposited in, or acquired by, the University.

No accruals expected

Collection of notes and extracts relating to Inverness Kirk Session Library, compiled by James MacKintosh, 1954 (GB 231 MS 2369) (1 folder). These papers relate to a series of 4 articles on the history of the library written by MacKintosh, in 1954, when its future was under discussion, and published in the Glasgow Herald.

Papers of Reverend Robert Baillie (c 1672 - 1726), 1698 - 1711 (GB 231 MS 0629)

Colin A. McLaren and Margaret A. Stephen, Reports and Surveys of Archives in Northern Scotland, Northern Scotland, 2 (1976 - 1977) 187 - 188.

Alexander Mitchell, The Library of Inverness; its origin, constitution, and present condition. Compiled for the information of the Kirk-Session of Inverness by Alexander Mitchell (Inverness, 1901).

Inverness kirk-session records 1661-1800, edited by Alexander Mitchell (Inverness: Carruthers, 1902), pp 189 - 206

This material is original