Carmichael Watson Collection

• Centred on the papers of folklorist Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912)

• Carmina Gadelica – anthology of Celtic culture • Environment history & culture of the Outer Hebrides• Tales, ballads, historical narratives, songs, hymns,

charms, anecdotes & observations• Not only relevant for Gaelic Scholars

– history, theology, place-names, botany,archaeology, environmental studies, geography

Carmichael Watson Project

• Limited accessibility & exploitation• Need to open up material for all by creation of on-line

resources. • Need to realise research potential• External funding essential• Planned a phased approach • Collaborative partners one of the keys to successful

project delivery.

Phased Approach

Phase

1 Bord na Gaidhlig £5k 2005 Scoping Study

2 Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

£30k 2006-7 Intermediate Pilot

2.1 Internal Funding £1k 2007 Condition Survey

3 AHRC £500k 2009-11 Research & Resource Development Project

3.1 NMCT £2.8k 2009-11 Conservation Work

4 The Leverhume Trust £200 2011-13 Carmichael in Context

Phase 1 - Scoping

• Preliminary Scoping Study (2005)• Seed corn funding -Bord na Gailagh (£5K)• Examination of Collection and Existing Finding Aids.• Revealed requirements for developing the collection• Enabled development of methodology and project plan.

Phase 2

• Intermediate Pilot Phase (2006-2007)• Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (£30k)• Testing of methodological principles and practices as

required to develop the collection.• Exploration of potential for collaborative research and

inclusion in teaching.– Programme of dissemination activities.

• Development of a set of pilot on-line research tools.– on-line catalogue, project website, image creation.

• Conservation assessment.• Evaluation of pilot search tools and website.• Feedback from users and peers.

Phase 3

• Full Research & Resource Development Phase (2009-11)• AHRC Research Grant (£500k)• ‘The authenticity of Carmina Gadelica’• Full dissemination programme including:

– Conference, exhibition, production of teaching material, journal articles

• Resource development– EAD catalogue records, TEI Full text transcriptions, Digital images,

EAC Biographical Records, Georeferencing significant sites and locations, full project website

• Collaboration between CRC & SSC crucial– Cataloguing required to facilitate analysis

– Research required to allow fully-informative resources.

Phase 4

• ‘Carmichael in Context’ – material cultures (2011-13)• The Leverhume Trust - Research Project Grant (£200k)• Collaboration with the West Highland Museum.• Enhance existing on-line resources and widen the

research angle.• Photograph, catalogue & research over 300 items

collected by Alexander Carmichael.• Brooches, sea bean charms, tartan clothing and

furnishings of Jacobite origin, domestic implements and carved stones

• New cross disciplinary challenges.

Phase 4

Images copyright of Carsten Flieger and used with permission of The Carmichael Watson Project.

Collaborative Partners

• Collaborative Partners– School of Scottish Studies– Museum of the West Highlands– EDINA

• Allows full treatment of the collections – Curatorial expertise, academic research, technical knowledge

• Project Advisory Group– External institutions, complementary projects, professional

peers, technical experts  

• Complementary On-going Research Projects

Future

• Continue to build upon and develop existing resources.• Continued collaboration locally and on an international

platform.• Continued promotion of collection and dissemination

activities.• Future funding bids.

http://www.carmichaelwatson.lib.ed.ac.uk/

http://carmichaelwatson.blogspot.com

http://tinyurl.com/carmichaelwatson-facebookpage