Photographic collections: Hay Fleming Collection of St Andrews and Scottish Photography
Hay Fleming Collection of St Andrews and Scottish Photography
David Hay Fleming (1849-1931) was born in St Andrews and studied at Madras College before entering the family merchant business. He sold the business in 1883 to concentrate on the study of Scottish history. In 1904-06 he was lecturer on Church History in New College, University of Edinburgh. He was an author and also served as Secretary of the Scottish History Society and Honorary Curator of the St Andrews Cathedral Museum. His Guidebook to St Andrews, published in 1881, was held as the standard text on the subject for many years.
He accumulated a library of around 13,000 books, a collection of manuscripts, photographs and personal papers which were left to the town of St Andrews upon his death with a bequest to endow a reference library. The Reference Collection, with its later additions, was transferred to the custody of the University Library in 2000.
The photographic section is based on the town and people of St Andrews and comprises engravings photographs and slides dating from 1622 to ca.1930. It was organised into groups ; albums including some by J Valentine & Co.; lantern slides, 1887-1894; images of people, 1882-1935 and 1770-1920; postcards of St Andrews and elsewhere, 1898-1970s; general topography, ca.17th-1938; First World War official press photographs, 1914-1918; various objects, 1622-1911; etchings of St Andrews.
Photographs taken before 1871 are also included within the 'Early Scottish Photography' collection.
To view the collection click here.