The Scottish History Society is a historical and

text publication society A text publication society is a learned society which publishes (either as its sole function, or as a principal function) scholarly editions of old works of historical or literary interest, or archival documents. In addition to full texts, a text p ...

, which promotes the study of and research in the history of Scotland. It was founded in 1886, as part of the late 19th-century revival in interest in

Scottish national identity Scottish national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity, as embodied in the shared and characteristic culture, languages and traditions, of the Scottish people. Although the various dialects of Gaelic, the Scots lan ...

. The Society was founded as a result of a letter from the

Earl of Rosebery Earl of Rosebery is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1703 for Archibald Primrose, 1st Viscount of Rosebery, with remainder to his issue male and female successively. Its name comes from Roseberry Topping, a hill near Archibald's wif ...

(later to serve as Prime Minister, from 1894–95), published in ''

The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...

'' on 3 February 1886, and Rosebery became the first President of the Society. The first president of the Society defined its work as "the humble and unobtrusive task of letting everyman know, in so far as in us lies, and so far as documentary evidence exists, how our forebears lived and worked and carried on the business of their country in their separate spheres." The Society has a council of scholars representing most of the universities in Scotland and some beyond, as well as other institutions.

Purpose and History of the Society

The Scottish History Society's objects are to promote interest in, and further knowledge of, the history of Scotland by means of discovery and publication of documents illustrative of that history. The first publications, in October 1887, were ''Bishop Pococke's Tours in Scotland, 1747-1760'', edited by D W Kemp, and the ''Diary of and General Expenditure Book of William Cunningham of Craigends, 1673–1680'', edited by the Reverend James Dodds, D.D. By 1900, 65 Public Libraries subscribed for the society's publications. Amongst some of its notable members have been Sir

James Balfour Paul Sir James Balfour Paul (16 November 1846 – 15 September 1931) was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926. Life Paul was born in Edinburgh, the second son of the Rev J ...

Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...

, and Emeritus Professor

David Masson David Mather Masson LLD DLitt (2 December 18226 October 1907), was a Scottish academic, supporter of women's suffrage, literary critic and historian. Biography He was born in Aberdeen, the son of William Masson, a stone-cutter, and his wi ...

, Historiographer Royal for Scotland. Since its foundation the SHS has produced an increasing number of vital records hitherto unavailable to scholars of Scottish history, and in this the SHS have provided an invaluable service to the nation. The current series of SHS publications is the 6th Series, published by Boydell & Brewer.

President of the Society

In 1900, the President was the

. In 1970, the President was Professor

Gordon Donaldson Gordon Donaldson, (13 April 1913 – 16 March 1993) was a Scottish historian. Life He was born in a tenement at 140 McDonald RoadEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1912 off Leith Walk in northern Edinburgh on 13 April 1913 the so ...

. Other Presidents have included the novelist and politician

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. After a brief legal career ...

, Dr

Jenny Wormald Jennifer "Jenny" Wormald HonFSA Scot (18 January 1942 – 9 December 2015) was a Scottish historian who studied late medieval and early modern Scotland. Life Jennifer (Jenny) was born in Glasgow on 18 January 1942, and was adopted by Margaret ...

, and Professor Roger Mason of the University of St Andrews. Information on the Society's current office bearers may be found on the official website.

References

External links

SHS official website

former official website

Bibliography

* * {{Authority control 1886 establishments in Scotland Organizations established in 1886 Learned societies of Scotland History organisations based in Scotland History organisations based in the United Kingdom Text publication societies Heritage organisations in Scotland Historical societies Historical societies of the United Kingdom

Purpose and History of the Society

President of the Society

See also

References

External links

Bibliography