Guide to the Collections held by the Aberdeen University Library (as filmed by the AJCP)

Biographical / Historical

Three of the sons of William Leslie, 9th Laird of Warthill, (1770-1857) and his wife, Jane Davidson-Patrick, (1815-1881) Walter, and George, (1820-1860) emigrated to Australia in the 1830's. Three hundred and thirty four of their letters to their parents are in the Oxley Memorial Library, Brisbane, and were used by K G T Waller for his BA Hons thesis The letters of the Leslie brothers in Australia, 1834-1854. Queensland University. 1956.

Patrick Leslie arrived at Sydney in 1835 and in 1836 went to manage his uncle; W S Davidson's property at Collaroi. In 1839 his brothers arrived and they set up their own sheep station on the Darling Downs at Canning Downs. In 1840 he married Catherine Macarthur. At first the property didn't flourish and Patrick was also indebted to his uncle. His brothers took over sole running of Canning Downs, and Patrick moved to Brisbane. He later sold out, firstly returning to Britain, then settling in New Zealand. In 1879 he returned to Milson's Point, Sydney where he died in 1881.

Richard Jones, 1786-1852, was one of the foremost pasturalists and merchants in NSW. He arrived at Sydney in 1809 and set up as a merchant. In 1818 he went to China, where he joined forces with W S Davidson. In 1825 he introduced Saxon sheep to NSW in partnership with Davidson. In spite of his vast land holdings Jones still ran a merchant house and had several maritime and whaling interests. He was an active member of the Legislative Council from 1829 to 1843, a magistrate and leading public figure.

Walter Stevenson Davidson, 1785-1869 was a landowner and merchant. He arrived in Sydney in June 1805 and was granted 2000 acres in Cowpastures. In October 1807 he visited China and India where he assembled a cargo for John Macarthur, Robert Campbell and Garnham Blaxcell. In March 1809 he left for London, and didn't return to Australia, although retaining his Australian business interests. Richard Jones became his agent and managed his Collaroi property. In 1836 he entrusted this property to Patrick Leslie, whose activities there became a source of dispute between the two families for many years.

Biographical / Historical

The estate of Mounie, three miles NW of Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire, was puchased by George Seton, an Edinburgh Advocate, in 1714. His daughter Margaret married Dr. James Anderson, and their son Alexander, a business man in London, adopted the name Seton in 1812. The estate was sold in 1970 and the family papers deposited in Aberdeen University Library by the solicitors acting for Alexander Wake Seton. Apart from estate papers the archive contains family correspondence.

Biographical / Historical

James Godsman, 1893-1972, was a local Aberdeen historian and author. His works included The Church of King Edward, 1948; King Edward, 1952 History of Bugh and Parish of Ellon, 1958 and Glass, the story of a Parish, 1970, and many newspaper articles.

Biographical / Historical

Prof. Laird (1887-1946), was Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen. His papers were given by his wife in 1978.

Biographical / Historical

John Malcolm Bulloch (1867-1938) was born and educated in Aberdeen. He graduated with an MA in 1888 from Aberdeen University and joined the Aberdeen Free Press. In 1893 he moved to London, firstly to The Sketch and then to The Graphic which he edited from 1909 to 1924. He then became chief literary critic of Allied Newspapers. His main interest in life was genealogical and antiquarian research. He wrote many books on the Gordon family including The House of Gordon Aberdeen University, 1907-1912. 3 Vols. and Bibliography of the Gordons 1924. He bequeathed all his manuscripts, books, documents and papers and other effects relating to the Gordon Family to Aberdeen University.

Biographical / Historical

Algernon Hawkins Thomond Keith-Falconer (1852-1930) succeeded his father as 10th Earl of Kintore in 1880. He held various court and other offices until 1889 when he was appointed Governor of South Australia. On his resignation in 1895 he returned to service at court.

Biographical / Historical

Alice Hay was born in Western Australia, (maiden name Wigmore) but she left Perth aged twelve, before the First World War to continue her musical education in London. Her husband, Malcolm Hay, was a distinguished Scottish Historian and Mrs. Hay herself was a writer and public speaker. Her son-in-law was Orde Wingate and in 1963 she published There was a Man of Genius, as a memorial to him. In 1971 she published a biography of Malcolm Hay, Valiant for Truth.

Biographical / Historical

The International Biological Programme aimed between 1964-1974, to increase scientific knowledge of the world's biological resources, human adaptability and the effect of human activities on the environment. The Programme was divided into seven operational sections including the present C.T.section (Conservation Terrestrial Communities).The Archive of the SCIBP itself is held by the Linnean Society of London.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. William Wood (1882-1974) studied medicine at Aberdeen University and graduated in 1904. He travelled to India in 1905 as a ship's surgeon. In 1912 he went to Sydney and practised medicine in Coffs Harbour. In World War 1 he served in Egypt and Palestine with the 1st Lighthorse Regiment.

After the war he toured New Zealand, and then went into practice at Bondi Beach. In 1930 he moved to a practice in Macquarie Street and organised a war veteran's home at Narrabeen. During World War 2 he founded 113(Concord) Military Hospital. He was made an OBE in 1965.