Papers of and relating to James Scott of Benholme, Hercules Scott, Samuel Trail, and James William Helenus Trail

Personal papers of Rev. James Scott, c 1787 - 1810 (GB 231 MS 0868/1 - 4) Personal papers of Rev. James Scott, c 1787 - 1810 (GB 231 MS 0868/1 - 4) A. M. diploma, King's College, Aberdeen, 1787; commonplace book, late 18th c; Aberdeen Almanac, 1800, with MS notes of family events; prayers and sermons delivered by James Scott, 1810 and n.d.

Scott family correspondence, 1822 - 1847 (GB 231 MS 0868/5/1 - 5/5; GB 231 MS 2595) Scott family correspondence, 1822 - 1847 (GB 231 MS 0868/5/1 - 5/5; GB 231 MS 2595) Letters from Hercules Scott to his mother, 1825 - 1837, to his sister, Helen, 1838 - 1839, and to his brother in law, Samuel Trail, 1841; letters from Dr John Scott and his wife to his mother and sister, 1826 - 1847; letters from Helen Scott to her mother, 1822 - 1831; letter from Donald Davidson, Strand, London, to Hercules Scott, King's College, re. the death of John Ogilvie, 1 Jul 1834.

Personal papers of Rev. Samuel Trail and his wife Helen, 1828 - 1875 (GB 231 MS 0868/6 - 10; GB 231 MS 0554) Personal papers of Rev. Samuel Trail and his wife Helen, 1828 - 1875 (GB 231 MS 0868/6 - 10; GB 231 MS 0554) Correspondence from Dr Mearns, Hercules Scott, Lord Arbuthnott, James W.H. Trail, and others, 1828 - 1845 (2 vols.); notebook of daily accounts by Samuel Trail, 1836; household book of Mrs Trail, 1856 - 1865; scrapbook containing newspaper cuttings about the Church of Scotland during the moderatorship of Samuel Trail, 1874 - 1875; printed extracts from the Confession of Faith (Aberdeen, 1844), with MS comments, c 1871.

Personal papers of Professor James W. H. Trail, 1866 - 1918 (GB 231 MS 0039 - 0040; GB 231 MS 0851 - 862; GB 231 MS 864 - 867; GB 231 MS 868/12 - 14; GB 231 MS 871; GB 231 MS 2986; GB 231 MS 2988; GB 231 MS 1035 Personal papers of Professor James W. H. Trail, 1866 - 1918 (GB 231 MS 0039 - 0040; GB 231 MS 0851 - 862; GB 231 MS 864 - 867; GB 231 MS 868/12 - 14; GB 231 MS 871; GB 231 MS 2986; GB 231 MS 2988; GB 231 MS 1035 Material relating to James W. H. Trail's expedition to the Amazon, 1873 - 1875; botanical notes and research papers, 1881 - 1918 and n.d.; extracts of botanical notes copied from various sources, 1866 - 1875; copies of professional publications by J.W.H. Trail, 1891 - 1907; autobiographical and genealogical papers, 1918 and n.d.; personalia and miscellaneous papers, 1885 - 1905.

The Amazonia material includes journals and diaries describing his voyage to Para and travels in Amazonia, with details of flora and fauna, of plant specimens taken, list of vascular plants sent to Kew, and details of skin diseases suffered during expedition; together with paper read at various meetings, entitled Notes by a naturalist in the valley of the Amazon, and J.W.H. Trail Amazon collection (containing a list of plant numbers at Aberdeen).

His botanical notes and research papers include printed copies of Kew Arboretum, containing taxonomy notes on Acer and Quercus, 1881 - 1882; printed maps, with annotations, showing flora in Kincardineshire, fungi in Scotland, and marine algae in Scotland, n.d.; notebooks containing descriptive notes on the flora of Northeast Scotland, c 1894 - 1918; fair and working copies of various papers and articles, including Native Flora of Aberdeen parish, subsequently published in James William Helenus Trail: a memorial volume (Aberdeen, 1923); and other misc. research notes, n.d..

The genealogical material includes a copy of James Trail's autobiographical notes subsequently published in James William Helenus Trail: a biographical volume(Aberdeen, 1923), as well as genealogies of various branches of the Trail family, and extensive genealogical notes concerning other families, viz. Arbuthnott, Blair, de Bohun, Borthwick, Campbell, Comyn, Cranstoun, Crichton, Douglas, Drummond, Dunbar, Erskine, Fleming, Forbes, Fraser, Barclay, de Burgh, Fraser of Philorth, Hamilton, Hepburn, Gifford, Gordon, Graham, Gray, Haliburton, Hay, Home, Keith, Kennedy, Lauder, Leslie, Lindsay, Lundy, McDonald, MacDougal, Mercer, Montgomery, Mortimer, Napier, Wylie, Wemys, Wood, Ogston, Ogilvy, Stewart, de Say, Seton, Scrimgeour, Scott, Oliphant, Ramsay, Randolph, Ruthven, Sinclair, Stirling, Wardlaw.

Personalia and miscellanea includes papers re. James W.H. Trail's military service and training, 1885 - 1888; various unidentified photographs, n.d., Linnean Society medal to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; transcript of Juvat O meminissa beati temporis, subsequently published in Meminisse juvat, ed. by A. Shewan (Aberdeen, 1905); and James Trail's transcripts of David Skene's (1731 - 1770) correspondence, 1751 - 1776 (original correspondence is deposited at GB 231 MS 0038, with an index compiled by Trail: Collection level description for papers of David Skene (1731 - 1770), physician, is available on the Archives Hub)

GB 231 MS 3083 20 boxes of Trail family papers, deposited in 1981, as yet unlisted. Items identified thus far include sermons, lectures, notebooks, commonplace books, and correspondence of Samuel Trail, including addresses to the General Assembly, 1874; Drum divinity bursaries, 1874; maps, notebooks and other papers of James W. H. Trail; photograph album, containing portraits of University staff, students and ?Trail family members; miscellaneous printed papers, including scrapbooks and newspaper cuttings; miscellaneous papers of other members of the Trail family; miscellaneous diplomas.

Reverend Samuel Trail was Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen from 1867 - 1887. His son, James William Helenus Trail (1851 - 1919) was Professor of Botany at the University from 1877 - 1919. Both had an interest in genealogy, and the papers of J.W.H. Trail include notes on the family's history, made by his father. Samuel Trail's wife, Helen, was daughter of James Scott, minister of Benholme, and sister to Hercules Scott, Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's College, Aberdeen, 1821 - 1859.

Interim arrangement as described above - listing in process

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

The papers have been acquired by the University at different times. James Trail bequeathed many of them in 1919, but some of his professional work remained in the Department of Botany until its transfer to Special Libraries and Archives early in 1979, and subsequently.

GB 231 MS 3083 gifted to the University in May 1981, by Mrs Murray-Smith, Aberdeen

Interim descriptive lists for most of the material described above available in the Reading Room, Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk). Basic box list of GB 231 MS 3083 available on request.

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

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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.

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Hercules Scott Notes on Moral Philosophy lectures delivered by Hercules Scott at King's College, Aberdeen, 1848. Taken by G D Bartlett 1848 (GB 231 MS K 0196-0197)

Rev, Samuel Trail Notebook containing information about candidates for BD and DD degrees at Aberdeen University; details of class attendance, lectures and prizes; lists of preachers at King's College Chapel and of students giving discourses; results of Divinity bursary competitions, and other misc. notes, 1867 - 1878 (GB 231 MS U 0152) Notebook containing information about candidates for BD and DD degrees at Aberdeen University; details of class attendance, lectures and prizes; lists of preachers at King's College Chapel and of students giving discourses; results of Divinity bursary competitions, and other misc. notes, 1867 - 1878 (GB 231 MS U 0152) Notebook containing accounts of the Professor of Systematic Theology in Aberdeen University; details of his income and financial commitments, 1867 - 1887; and list of students paying class fees, 1886 - 1887 (GB O231 MS U 0348)

Professor James W.H. Trail Notebook of botanical classes at Aberdeen University, containing class lists, addresses and attendances; examination papers and results, 1877 - 1882 (GB 231 MS U 0145) Notebook of botanical classes at Aberdeen University, containing class lists, addresses and attendances; examination papers and results, 1877 - 1882 (GB 231 MS U 0145) Account of botany and flora of Aberdeenshire, associated with James Trail, n.d. [late 19th c] (GB 231 MS 0668)

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