Papers of Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone and his trustees

The collection consists of correspondence and other papers generated by Alexander Macdonald, including letters from the artists that Macdonald patronised. The trustees' papers include minutes, accounts, vouchers and correspondence detailing their administration of Macdonald's estate from 1884 until the division of the estate among the residuary legatees in 1902.

Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone (1837 - 1884) was a granite merchant and proprietor of Aberdeen Granite Works in Constitution Street, Aberdeen. The firm had been founded by his father, and Alexander Macdonald took over at his father's death in 1863. From 1873 to 1883, Macdonald was in co-partnership with Sidney Field and Robert Fergusson, trading as Macdonald, Field and Company. From 1883, following Field's departure from the partnership, the business was known as Alexander Macdonald & Company. In 1861 Macdonald married Hope Gordon (died 1900), eldest daughter of George Gordon, merchant of Riga and Montrose. They had one son, who died in infancy. Macdonald was crippled by a seizure and confined to a wheelchair some time after his marriage, but though he was restricted in his travelling he kept in contact with the art world in which so much of his interest lay by dint of his many correspondents, and with the help of them and of agents in London and Paris, he built up a fine collection of contemporary art.

Alexander Macdonald died on 27 December 1884. By a trust disposition and deed of settlement dated 1882, he appointed trustees to defray his funeral charges and debts, distribute legacies and, after the death of his wife, to offer to Aberdeen Town Council his collection of paintings, etchings and drawings together with a third of the residue of his estate to purchase further works of art. The trustees sold their interest in the granite business, which was floated as a joint stock concern under the name Alexander Macdonald & Company Limited. The proceeds were invested in British and colonial stocks, and in feu superiorities over properties at Sandilands and on the lands of Rubislaw and Forbesfield. Following the death of Mrs Macdonald on 3 June 1900, the trustees realised the estate and it was divided among the residuary legatees. Macdonald's collection of paintings was formally transferred to Aberdeen Art Gallery on 30 March 1901, together with items bequeathed to the Town Council by Mrs Macdonald. The trust was wound up in September 1902.

The records were held by the solicitors for the trustees until being deposited in the City Archives. The majority of Alexander Macdonald's personal papers were bundle listed by the National Register of Archives (Scotland) in the 1970s. An interim list of the remaining personal papers and the trustees papers is under compilation by City Archives staff.

The bundles listed by the National Register of Archives (Scotland) have not been altered since their deposit in the City Archives. During listing of the remaining papers, any other original bundles have been preserved intact. Bundles aggregated by the archivist during listing are indicated in the list with an asterisk.

Open

Records available for bona fide research only. Open for consultation at Old Aberdeen House, open Mon-Wed 9:30-12:30 and 13:30-16:30. It is advisable to make an appointment.

Please see the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives catalogue at https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/

Reproduction only with written permission of City Archivist.

Deposited with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives in 2000.

None expected