ELISA Summer Gathering and AGM – report

This year’s Summer Gathering and AGM was held yesterday at the Advocates Library. Here is a very brief summary of proceedings:

Cleo Jones, ELISA Business Committee Chair, welcomed everyone and opened the meeting with an introduction to the work of ELISA.

Reports:

Treasurer’s report – Iain Young: Treasurers Report 2015-16
Access Group (Chair Lauren Thow) – report given by Andrew Kirk: – Access Group AGM Report Aug 2016
Web & e-content Group (webmaster Jane Condie): web group report – August 2016
Training and Development Group – report given by Claire Donlan: Training and Development Group Report for AGM2016

Nominations for the Business Committee, 2016-17
Current committee: Cleo Jones, Fiona Laing, Lauren Thow, Jane Condie, Julie Johnson, Clare Donlan , Ellen Peacock, Iain Young, Kirsteen Urquart.

All BC members are happy to stay on. The existing Business Committee were nominated by Elaine Simpson and seconded by Julie Arnot to serve for another year.

Tour of the Advocates Library
After the AGM, myself and Senior Librarian Andrea Longson provided tours of the Advocates Library building and Parliament Hall. There was also a small display of a few treasures from our collection.

Some rare books

The Advocates Library

The Laigh Hall – Advocates Library

The Mackenzie Building

The Laigh Hall

Many thanks to Andrea Longson for her time yesterday and while preparing for the visit.

If you were unable to attend, or if you’d like another visit, the Advocates Library will be participating in Doors Open Day again this year. That’s on Saturday 24th September. Also, if you’re interested, you can read more about the sad history of The Faculty Mummy on my blog 🙂

ELISA’s Winter Warmer social – an illustrated report

Fiona scrutinising a display — Fiona scrutinising a particularly interesting display of Jacobite documents

Apologies for the delay in posting this report – I did mean to do it far sooner. Better late than never though, eh?

ELISA’s Winter Warmer social 2015 took place on the evening of Monday the 9^th of February.

Around fifteen ELISA members turned up to the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge for a special tour of the Game of Crowns: the 1715 Jacobite rising exhibition, led by Rare Books Curator Robert Betteridge.

I arrived at NLS a little after 5pm to find the first group had already set off on their tour round the exhibit. I chatted with those left behind and enjoyed the very tasty snacks that were on offer – many thanks to Fiona for organising those… Once Group 1 returned, me and the rest of Group 2 had our chance to view the exhibition.

Robert kindly gave me permission to take photos for inclusion in this report.

Group 1 enjoying after tour refreshments

As you can see, the range and scope of documents Robert Betteridge has collected together is very impressive. Robert explained that he’d wanted to present the documents in context. For that reason the exhibition begins by looking at the various contenders for Scotland’s throne at the time, examining their familial connections and religious leanings.

The main body of the Game of Crowns exhibition is made up of pamphlets, letters, and legislation.

this case features a beautifully illustrated map

There are also various maps and illustrations on display, as well as coins and a very impressive sword! Touch-screens offer an interactive element, while specially recorded audio files sing songs and give voice to historic characters.

There seemed to be a fairly large proportion of items on display which were written by or about the Earl of Mar, a Jacobite general. My favourite piece in the exhibit was an I.O.U, written by Mar on a scrap of paper, for items commandeered to the Jacobite cause.

item 11 – the Earl of Mar’s I.O.U.

an interactive display used to illustrated codes and code breaking

It’s amazing to me that such a literal scrap of history is not only still in existence, it is here on display for my viewing pleasure!

Robert Betteridge is a quietly spoken man but his knowledge of this subject is extensive. This knowledge was gained during the curation of the exhibition! I’m sure everyone who attended this event would like to thank Robert for taking the time to give us these tours. I found his commentary extremely informative and particularly appreciated the incite he gave into the creation of a major exhibition of this type.

Group 2 are engrossed

a Jacobite diary written on playing cards

Game of Crowns: The 1715 Jacobite rising runs until the 10th of May 2015 at NLS, George IV Bridge Building

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