The papers include: typescript article on the death of R. E. Muirhead, Sir Compton Mackenzie salutes the memory of a great patriot; an Appreciation of R. E. Muirhead; letter to R. E. Muirhead, 1928; letter to Tom Spence, 1964; letter to L. S. Benjamin, 1925; miscellaneous letters, 1929-1945; letter of Mackenzie to Mr. Maclellan, mentioning C. M. Grieve, 1952; and letters to Macdonald, 1934.
Collection of Papers relating to Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972)
This material is held atEdinburgh University Library Heritage Collections
- Reference
- GB 237 Coll-421
- Dates of Creation
- 20th century
- Language of Material
- English.
- Physical Description
- circa 12 letters or notes.
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Edward Montagu Compton Mackenzie was born on 17 January 1883 in West Hartlepool, Durham. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and graduated with a degree in Modern History. He then turned towards legal training for a short while before starting to write. His first works were Poems and the play The gentleman in grey (1907), followed by The passionate elopement (1911) and Carnival (1912). His Sinister street (1913-1914) is said to have influenced the early work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. During the First World War, Mackenzie was a Lieutenant then a Captain in the Royal Marines, 1915-1916, and served with the Royal Navy in the Dardanelles Expedition, 1915. he also worked for military intelligence in Greece. These wartime experiences were retold in Gallipoli memories (1929), Athenian memories (1931) and Greek memories (1932). A period on Capri after the war was inspiration for Vestal fire (1927) and Extraordinary women (1928). Mackenzie was also an enthusiastic Scottish nationalist and lived in Scotland from 1928, settling on Barra in the Hebrides. He helped found the Scottish National Party and was Rector of Glasgow University, 1931-1934. Mackenzie was literary critic with the Daily Mail, 1931-1935, and he helped found, and was editor of, Gramophone magazine, 1923-1962. His most well-known works were The monarch of the glen (1941), Whisky galore (1947), and Rockets galore (1957). He received an OBE in 1919 and was knighted in 1952. Sir Compton Mackenzie died in Edinburgh on 30 November 1972.
Arrangement
Some material in body of material relating to C. M. Grieve and H. B. Cruickshank, particularly at Gen. 1966/63-66 (letters to Cruickshank towards the end of his life), and Gen. 889/53-61 (Grieve).
Access Information
Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.
Acquisition Information
Great Patriot article, Muirhead and Grieve letters, acquired 1967 or 1969, Accession no. E67.9. Bramly, Adams, Martin letters, purchased December 1968, Accession no. E68.43. Letter to Maclellan, purchased May 1972, Accession no. E72.18. Letter to Cruickshank, purchased December 1974, Accession no. E74.40. Letter to Benjamin, purchased January 1977, Accession no. E77.1. Letters to Macdonald, purchased October 1989, Accession no. E89.70.
Note
The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Who's who 1968-1969. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1968. (2) Keay, John. and Keay, Julia (eds.). Collins encyclopaedia of Scotland. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1994.
Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.
Other Finding Aids
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.
Accruals
Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.