Papers of Professor Robert K. Hannay (1867-1940)

The papers of Professor Robert K. Hannay consist of miscellaneous historical papers at Gen. 2013/1-2, including: notes, maps and printed matter on Bannockburn; 16th century history; notes and jottings from historical manuscripts; notes and excerpts from the register of priors of St. Andrews; lectures on Scottish history given 1931-1932; notes on Scottish genealogies; notes on Polybius; and, notes on Roman history. There is a bibliography of Hannay's, 1907-1938, at Dc.2.76/20.

Robert Kerr Hannay was born in Glasgow in 1867. He was educated at Albany Academy, Glasgow, and then studied at Glasgow University where he was awarded the degree of MA. He also obtained an MA at University College, Oxford. Hannay's academic teaching began with Greek and Roman History, and he first taught at St. Andrews University as a Lecturer in Ancient History, 1901-1911. Between 1911 and 1919 however, he held the Curatorship of the Historical Department of the Register House in Edinburgh. Hannay became the Fraser Professor of Scottish History and Palaeography at Edinburgh University in 1919, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1922. His many publications include: The College of St Leonard: being documents with translations, notes and historical introductions (1905), and St. Andrew of Scotland (1934). He collaborated on: The archbishops of St. Andrews (1907-1915), Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh. A.D. 1589 to 1603 (1927), and Charters, Statutes, and the Acts of the Town Council and the Senatus, 1583-1858 (1937). He was appointed Historiographer Royal in Scotland in 1930. He died on 19 March 1940.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Accession no. E77.10.

The biographical history was compiled using the following material: (1) The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol.60. 1939-1940. pp. 394-395. Edinburgh: Neill and Co. Ltd., 1941. (2) University of Edinburgh Journal. Vol.10. 1939-1940. pp.193-195. (3) Who was who 1929-1940. Vol.3. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1941.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

The local Indexes show various references to R .K. Hannay related material (check the Indexes for more details): letter at Gen. 145/1/67; letter at Dk.7.36; and, letter at Dk.6.19/4. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: papers including collected manuscripts at the National Archives of Scotland, Reference GD214, NRA 34723 Hannay; and letters at Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department, Reference NRA(S)0257, NRA 10791 Neilson.