Records of Donald Brothers Ltd, linen, canvas and furnishing fabric manufacturers, Dundee, Scotland

This collection consists of educational certificates, weavers note books, an index to sample books, Old Glamis Fabrics stitch books and sample books of Jacquard textiles. These were generated for Donald Brothers Ltd by N & N Lockhart & Sons, flax, hemp and tow spinners, net and twine manufacturers of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, under a friendship agreement.

There are 68 sample books of Jacquard textiles. There are also 5 notebooks giving the patent and colour numbers for each design. There is a final notebook that gives a list of the patent numbers for the designs of the fabrics.

Flax, hemp and tow spinners, net and twine manufacturers of Kirkcaldy, Scotland.

Donald Brothers emerged out of the coarse jute and linen industry of Dundee, manufacturing rugged textured Art canvasses and linens for use as wallcoverings and furnishings by 1896. Their Art fabrics were extensively used within art galleries and the Arts & Crafts interior in Britain and America between 1896-1914. Building on their early success with craft manufacture between the 1930s and 1960s the firm made a significant contribution to the design of furnishing textiles, gaining international recognition for their fabrics marketed under the trade name Old Glamis Fabrics. Best known for their high quality woven linen furnishings, their range included textured weaves, jacquard woven tapestries and prints. In 1983 the company was taken over by William Halley & Son, and has since re-emerged as active makers of quality furnishings.

The material is arranged in the order in which it was deposited.

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The material was held by N & N Lockhart & Sons, Kirkcaldy until the firm closed in the early 1980s. The material was then split between Heriot-Watt University and the Glasgow School of Art. Deposited at Glasgow School of Art : early 1980s.

Flax, hemp and tow spinners, net and twine manufacturers of Kirkcaldy, Scotland.

Donald Brothers emerged out of the coarse jute and linen industry of Dundee, manufacturing rugged textured Art canvasses and linens for use as wallcoverings and furnishings by 1896. Their Art fabrics were extensively used within art galleries and the Arts & Crafts interior in Britain and America between 1896-1914. Building on their early success with craft manufacture between the 1930s and 1960s the firm made a significant contribution to the design of furnishing textiles, gaining international recognition for their fabrics marketed under the trade name Old Glamis Fabrics. Best known for their high quality woven linen furnishings, their range included textured weaves, jacquard woven tapestries and prints. In 1983 the company was taken over by William Halley & Son, and has since re-emerged as active makers of quality furnishings.

No known copies.

There are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.

* Fonds level description compiled by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 12 November 2001
* Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 14 May 2002
* Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 2 July 2002
* Fonds level description imported from the Archives Hub 25 August 2006
* Archives Hub description updated by Carrie Skinner, Logjam Project Officer, September 2011
* Catalogue imported into Archon software and edited by Michelle Kaye, Archon Project Officer, May 2014.
* Catalogue exported from Archon and imported into AtoM during system migration, 2018-2019.

Finding Aid Authors: The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections.

© Copyright 2014 GSA Archives. All rights reserved.

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This material has been appraised in line with Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections standard procedures.

GB 0582 HWUA DB: Records of Donald Brothers Ltd, 1869-1980 (Heriot-Watt University Archive, Records Management and Museum Service).

GB 80001 NRA 22370 Lockhart: Records of N & N Lockhart & Sons Ltd, flax, hemp and tow spinners, net and twine manufacturers Kirkcaldy, Fife. Held in private hands, enquiries to be sent via the National Register of Archives.

Published

GB 1694 DC 037

GB 1694