Letters of James Nicol Dunn (1856-1919)

The material is composed of two letters from Dunn at the Strand offices of The Morning post to Mrs. Franklin. In one he fears an inability to visit Scotland (1900) and indicates having the share of a farm on Dartmoor. In the other he offers thanks for a portrait of 'Dutch Baby' and refers to the children generally.

The British journalist James Nicol Dunn was born in Kincardineshire on 12 October 1856. He was educated in Aberdeen. He intended to follow a career in law but writing for journals and magazines while still a student gave him a taste for journalism and so instead he joined the staff of The Dundee advertiser and later on The Scotsman. He was managing editor of the Scots observer and the National observer under W. E. Henley, 1888-1893, then news editor of The Pall Mall gazette, 1894. Dunn was then editor of Black and white and The Ludgate monthly, 1895-1897, before becoming editor of The Morning post in 1897 and the Manchester courier in 1905. In 1911 he was made editor of The star, Johannesburg, and in 1914 London editor of The Glasgow evening news. Dunn was President of the Institute of Journalists 1904. He died in Denmark Hill, London, on 30 June 1919.

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

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using material in the collection, and: (1) Who was who 1916-1928. 3rd edition. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1962.

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.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Dunn related material: correspondence, 1899-1902, Leeds University Library, Special Collections, Ref. MS dep. 1990/1: 5071-5110 NRA 35050 Glenesk, and letters (11) to Oliver Borthwick (Morning Post), 1898-1904, Ref. MS dep. 1990/1: 1874-1884 NRA 35050 Glenesk; correspondence with Lord Northcliffe, 1906-1914, British Library, Manuscript Collections, Ref. Add MS 62275; and, letters to J. L. Robertson, National Library of Scotland, Manuscript Collections, Ref. Dep 246 NRA 29082 Robertson