Papers of David Toulmin

Manuscripts of and relating to several David Toulmin works have been deposited in the University. These have been drawn together for the purposes of this collection level description, and are described below under their respective accession numbers.

GB 231 MS2823 Manuscript of Rab o'the Barnyard, published as Hard Shining Corn (Aberdeen: Impulse, 1972) and of Straw into Gold; a Scots Miscellany (Aberdeen: Impulse, 1973)

GB 231 MS 2830 Manuscript of volumes 6 and 7 of A North-East Diary (1963 - 1970). Earlier volumes are deposited in the National Library of Scotland

GB 231 MS 2980 Manuscripts of Blown Seed (Edinburgh: Harris, 1978) and Harvest Home (Edinburgh: Harris, 1978)

GB 231 MS 3048 Manuscripts of Close the Door Softly [publication details not established], The Tillycorthie Story (Aberdeen: The Centre for Scottish Studies, University of Aberdeen, 1986) and The Clyack Sheaf: Sketches of Life and Characters in Northeast Scotland (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1986)

GB 231 MS 3065 Manuscript of Travels Without a Donkey: Windscreen Memoirs of Scotland and Northumbria (Aberdeen: Gourdas, 1980)

GB 231 MS3114 Manuscript of A Chiel among Them: a Scots Miscellany(Aberdeen: Gourdas House, 1982)

GB 231 MS3569 Folders containing miscellaneous manuscript and typescript articles by David Toulmin, c 1925 - 1970s, including an article on the history of Great Britain, written aged 12. Most, though not all, of the articles have been published; details of place and date of publication are given where known.

John Reid worked as a farm hand on farms in Buchan and Formartine, and taught himself to write in his spare time. Under the pseudonym, David Toulmin, he began writing articles for local newspapers and periodicals, and from the early 1970s, when his first book was published, achieved literary acclaim and commercial success with a series of novels set in the North East of Scotland, including Hard Shining Corn (Aberdeen: Impulse, 1972), A Chiel Among Them: a Scots Miscellany (Aberdeen: Gourdas House, 1982), and Blown Seed (Edinburgh: Harris, 1976). He developed a life-long friendship with John R. Allan, author of Farmer's Boy and other stories, who proof read and commented on his early writing.

Chronological

Open, subject to signature accepting conditions of use at reader registration sheet

GB 231 MS 2823 deposited in the University in Oct 1973, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 2823 deposited in the University in Oct 1973, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 2830 deposited in the University in Oct 1973, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 2830 deposited in the University in Oct 1973, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 2980 deposited in the University in Nov 1978 and Mar 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 2980 deposited in the University in Nov 1978 and Mar 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3048 deposited in the University in May 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3048 deposited in the University in May 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3065 deposited in the University in Aug 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3065 deposited in the University in Aug 1980, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3114 deposited in the University in Oct 1982, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3114 deposited in the University in Oct 1982, by John Reid. GB 231 MS 3569 transferred from the National Library of Scotland in Oct 1998

Summary lists available in the Reading Room, Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk)

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

No copies known

Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation.

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.

This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures

Accruals from Executors pending

Volumes 1 - 5 of A North-East Diary are deposited in the National Library of Scotland.

GB 231 MS2823 David Toulmin, Hard Shining Corn (Aberdeen: Impulse, 1972); Straw into Gold: a Scots Miscellany (Aberdeen: Impulse, 1973); Blown Seed (Edinburgh: Harris, 1978); Harvest Home (Edinburgh: Harris, 1978); The Tillycorthie Story (Aberdeen: The Centre for Scottish Studies, University of Aberdeen, 1986); The Clyack Sheaf: Sketches of Life and Characters in Northeast Scotland (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1986); Travels Without a Donkey: Windscreen Memoirs of Scotland and Northumbria (Aberdeen: Gourdas, 1980); A Chiel among Them: a Scots Miscellany (Aberdeen: Gourdas House, 1982);

This material is original