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Joseph Anderson LLD HRSA (1832–1916) was a Scottish
The Anderson 150 project: About Joseph Anderson
The Anderson 150 project: Resources
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Portrait of Anderson
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Antiquarian work and early syntheses, Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
Joseph Anderson LLD HRSA (1832–1916) was a Scottish antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...
who served as keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture of Scotland, culture and History of Scotland, history, and the ...
from 1869 to 1913.
Life
Anderson was born in Angus, the son of an agricultural labourer, grew up inSt Vigeans
St Vigeans is a small village and parish in Angus, Scotland, immediately to the north of Arbroath. Originally rural, it is now more or less a suburb of the town of Arbroath.
History
The name St Vigeans is derived from ''Vigeanus'', a Latinised ...
and attended Arbroath Education Institution. He taught at the English School in Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis (" ...
from 1856-59.
In 1860, after moving back to Scotland, he became editor of the ''John O'Groat'' journal. At this time he started to excavate in Caithness
Caithness ( gd, Gallaibh ; sco, Caitnes; non, Katanes) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland.
Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of Sutherland to the west and is otherwise bounded by ...
, in partnership with Robert Shearer.
From 1869 to 1913, 44 years, he was the keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. He was also editor of the ''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body of Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. The Society's aim is to promote the cultural heritage of Scotland.
The usua ...
'' from 1869 to his death in 1916.
V. Gordon Childe
Vere Gordon Childe (14 April 189219 October 1957) was an Australian archaeologist who specialised in the study of European prehistory. He spent most of his life in the United Kingdom, working as an academic for the University of Edinburgh and th ...
wrote that by 1886 Anderson "had sketched the essential outlines of Scottish prehistory in a comprehensive and scientific survey such as then existed in no other country".
As keeper of the National Museum, he oversaw an "enormous growth in the Museum’s collections", and emphasised the importance of record-keeping. DV Clarke states that:
"Anderson’s scholarship was, at its best, challenging and provocative, rivalling that of the finest European scholars of his day", but that "for many years a vibrant and influential figure in Scottish archaeology, in the end he became a poor reflection of once-innovative attitudes".
He retired from the Museum in 1913 following the death of his wife and was succeeded by Alexander Ormiston Curle
Alexander Ormiston Curle FSAS CVO LL.D. (1866–1955) was a Scottish lawyer and archaeologist who rose to be Director of the National Museum of Scotland from 1913 to 1919 and Director of the Royal Scottish Museum on Chambers Street in Edinburgh ...
.
Anderson lived most of his later life at 8 Great King Street in New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Street ...
.
He died in Gullane
Gullane ( or ) is a town on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian on the east coast of Scotland. There has been a church in the village since the ninth century. The ruins of the Old Church of St. Andrew built in the twelft ...
on 28 September 1916 and is buried beneath a large Celtic cross amongst the trees in the section north of the vaults in Warriston Cemetery
Warriston Cemetery is a cemetery in Edinburgh. It lies in Warriston, one of the northern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built by the then newly-formed Edinburgh Cemetery Company, and occupies around of land on a slightly sloping si ...
in north Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
.
Family
He was married to Jessie Dempster (1833-1913). One son, William Anderson (1861-1915), was a geologist who emigrated to Australia and died in Sydney. Another was the advocate and judgeDavid Anderson, Lord St Vigeans
David Anderson, Lord St Vigeans (26 October 1862 – 1 June 1948) was a Scottish advocate and judge. He served from 1918 to 1934 as the second Chairman of the Scottish Land Court.
Early life
Anderson was born on 26 October 1862. He was th ...
who served as Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
The Scottish Land Court is a Scottish court of law based in Edinburgh with subject-matter jurisdiction covering disputes between landlords and tenants relating to agricultural tenancies, and matters related to crofts and crofters. The Scotti ...
from 1918 to 1934.
External links
The Anderson 150 project: About Joseph Anderson
The Anderson 150 project: Resources
of the
Camster Round
The Grey Cairns of Camster are two large Neolithic chambered cairns located about south of Watten and north of Lybster in Caithness, in the Highland region of Scotland. They are among the oldest structures in Scotland, dating to about 5,000 y ...
Portrait of Anderson
by
Henry Wright Kerr
Henry may refer to:
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*Henry (given name)
*Henry (surname)
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* Portuguese royalty
** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal
** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...
Antiquarian work and early syntheses, Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
References
1832 births 1916 deaths Members of the Faculty of Advocates Scottish antiquarians {{UK-archaeologist-stub