Peterhead:

The Early History of The Arbuthnot Museum
by David M Bertie

Introduction

The Arbuthnot family of the Peterhead area came from the Mearns in the mid-sixteenth century. As landowners and merchants they were an important family locally. Notable members included John Arbuthnot (d 1735), Physician to Queen Anne; Charles Arbuthnot (1739-1820), last Lord Abbot of Ratisbon; George Arbuthnot (1775-1847), 1st Provost of Peterhead 1833-34; and Thomas Arbuthnot (b 1792), 2nd Provost of Peterhead 1834-43.

Thomas Arbuthnot (1681-1762), the 'Old Bailie', was Baron Bailie of Peterhead to the 10th and last Earl Marischal. The Old Bailie's son, Thomas (1727-1773), was a Lieutenant at Culloden in the Jacobite army. Adam Arbuthnott (1773-1850), son of the younger Thomas, was the founder of the Arbuthnot Museum (Arbuthnot, 1920).

Retiring from merchant business about 1820, Adam Arbuthnot devoted his leisure to the acquisition of a collection of antiquities, coins and objects in natural history. By 1837 his museum had become well-known locally and the writer of the 'New Statistical Account' of Peterhead commented that 'the museum is not always accessible to the public' (Donald, 1845). When Adam Arbuthnot died in 1850, he bequeathed his collections to the Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of Peterhead.

Early days in Union Street and Catto's Hall

The collections were then removed from Arbuthnot's premises in Jamaica Street, to a room in the Corner Buildings in Union Street (Anon., 1852a; Findlay, 1933). Regulations for the museum were drawn up in 1851 and printed in the 1852 Catalogue (Anon., 1852b). Admission charges were 6d for one person or 1/- for three persons, children under 14 accompanying their parents being free. Annual tickets at 5/- each were also available. Regulation IV stated that 'visitors will be allowed to remain, and view the different objects, for the space of two hours, for each ticket, but no longer'.

Few people visited the museum, however. The room was 'in too huddled a condition' (Peterhead Sentinel, 15th October 1858) and could 'scarcely admit half a dozen individuals' (Peterhead Sentinel, 8th May 1857). By 1859 only some 60-80 persons had visited the museum annually; the museum had, in fact, been effectively closed since 1857. It was suggested by some Councillors that the Peterhead Institute (founded in 1857) be invited to take over the running of the Museum.

At the end of 1858 the Town Council finally made one of the Councillors responsible for the museum and Alexander Lockie became the first Curator. One of Lockie's first acts was to secure possession of the Arbuthnot coin collection which had been retained in the hands of Arbuthnot's trustees since 1850 and had not been transferred to the Museum. The plan to have the Peterhead Institute take over the running of the Museum finally came to nothing, and in 1861 the Museum was moved to better premises in Catto's Hall in Broad Street.

Initially, admission charges were set at 3d per person, with 1d on Saturday afternoons and holidays; annual family tickets cost 2/6. From the beginning of 1863 there was free admission on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

In 1863 the Museum absorbed the collections of the Peterhead Institute (see below). As part of the arrangement, the Institute held its monthly meetings thereafter in Catto's Hall, but the Institute's history subsequent to 1867 is unknown. The Museum benefited by gaining substantial botanical, conchological and geological collections, Arbuthnot's collection having been largely antiquarian. Some of Arbuthnot's coins eventually went on display in 1865, in specially constructed swivel-frame cases.

The Peterhead Institute

The Peterhead Association for Science, Literature and the Arts was originally established in 1835. Monthly meetings with occasional lectures were held. By 1840 a museum was being fitted up, and donations of shells, minerals and antiques had been received (Donald, 1845; Wilson, 1866). The Association subsequently fell into abeyance and the fate of its museum is not known.

The Peterhead Institute was founded in April 1857 by Rev. James Yuill (Free Church Minister), Rev. Gilbert Rorison (Episcopal Minister) and Thomas Bell (teacher at Free Church School). Monthly meetings were held initially in the Free Church Vestry. In July 1859 the Institute moved to The Hall in Maiden Street, which was fitted up as a meeting-place and museum. The museum was particularly strong in botanical, conchological and geological specimens. Early in its history it seemed as though the Institute would also take over the running of the Arbuthnot Museum. Such a move was being urged by both Institute members and some Town Councillors.

In addition to its normal monthly meetings, the Institute held several series of winter lectures. The 1860-61 series proved over-ambitious, however, and weakened the Institute financially. Membership declined rapidly the following year, and early in 1863 the Institute approached the Town Council with a view to amalgamating the Institute's museum with the Arbuthnot Museum which had now acquired improved premises in Catto's Hall.

Although the two museums were essentially complementary in nature, some Councillors were deeply suspicious of the Institute's request that the Arbuthnot Museum become the new meeting place of the Institute. There was acrimonious discussion of the subject at the Town Council, some Councillors adamantly opposed to any addition to Arbuthnot's collection, others pointing out that the Arbuthnot Museum could only benefit from close association with the Institute. The amalgamation of the museums took place in June 1863.

The Institute continued its separate existence, meeting in the Arbuthnot Museum at Catto's Hall. Monthly meetings continued to be held and reported in the Peterhead Sentinel until the A.G.M. in April 1866. The Peterhead Sentinel subsequently reported the A.G.M. in April 1867 but no further meeting of the Institute is recorded. A number of the Institute's members were subsequently involved in the founding of the Buchan Field Club in 1887.

Plans for a new museum building

In 1872 an exhibition of Fine Art was held in Peterhead for the financial maintenance of the Museum, with excellent results. The Museum subsequently moved to the Chapel Street Hall (later Caledonian Hall) in Chapel Street in May 1874 (Findlay, 1933). In 1884 a Bazaar and Art Exhibition was held with a view to raising funds for the erection of a suitable building for the Museum. The bazaar was held in the Music Hall in Marischal Street in the closing days of October 1884. The Art Exhibition was opened in the Drill Hall in Kirk Street on 19th December 1884. The proceeds of the events, £1015 19s 8d, while just enough to erect a building, would not cover the subsequent maintenance. The project therefore lapsed for a time.

Various proposals were suggested, however, over the next few years. On enquiry, it was found that it was not open to local authorities to levy a rate for museum purposes alone. On the other hand it was quite competent in cases where there was a Free Library associated with a museum to devote part of the Free Library rate to the upkeep of the museum. This idea was mooted at a meeting on 5th January 1886, and gradually gained favour. The bazaar proceeds, however, were insufficient to erect a building of the size required which would cost over £3000.

In the summer of 1889 the situation in Peterhead came to the notice of Andrew Carnegie who had made a substantial contribution to Free Libraries in Scotland and America. In a letter of 11th October 1889, Carnegie expressed his willingness to give the last £1000 for a Free Library in Peterhead, on two conditions: Firstly that the Free Libraries Act should be adopted; and that a suitable building should be erected for the library.

The Free Libraries Act was adopted on 27th February 1890, following canvassing of public opinion which showed 94% of the ratepayers in favour. A building appeal fund was set in hand which eventually raised 2157 1s 5d. The corner of Queen Street and St Peter Street opposite the Court House was chosen as the site for the new building and purchased by the Town Council for £1000. The joint Town Council/ratepayers Library Committee first met on 14th November 1890 and considered twenty submitted designs for the new building. The design prepared by Duncan McMillan, an Aberdeen architect, was chosen. This was approved by the Town Council on 9th February 1891. The Town Council considered estimates for building work in May 1891 and allocated contracts.

The foundation stone of the new building was laid by Mrs Carnegie on 8th August 1891 (it rained all the forenoon in Peterhead). The day was declared a general holiday and a Trades' procession preceded the foundation stone laying ceremony. This was followed by an address by Andrew Carnegie in the Music Hall (Anon., 1891).

The New Arbuthnot Museum

On 11th October 1893 Provost Smith held a conversazione of Peterhead's principle inhabitants in the new building. The Museum and the Library Newsroom were opened to the public on 12th October 1893 and the Lending Library on 28th May 1894. The Museum consisted of a natural history room, antiquarian room and art gallery.

By November 1894 a total expenditure of £5488 8s 2d had been made, including £1000 for the site. This was met by money already in hand, Andrew Carnegie's gift, subscriptions from the general public and the Town Council and the proceeds of a three day bazaar held during the summer of 1893. The Feuars Manager gave £122 4s towards the cost of the tower clock. The building was thus opened practically free of debt.

In 1902 the then Librarian, David Scott, commented that 'as proof of the popularity [the museum] now enjoys compared to that extended to it when in Chapel Street, it may be mentioned that from 11th October 1893 to 15th May 1894, 2215 visitors recorded their names in the visitors book, while only 66 names were entered during a like period when the collection was in the old place' (manuscript in Peterhead Library files, dated 29th October 1902). Part of the popularity must have been due to the novelty of the building plus the fact that there were no admission charges.

Admission charges in the new building were only made for special Art Exhibitions held in the Art Gallery. The first exhibition, in April 1895, was chiefly a loan collection of watercolours from Kensington. The second, in March 1898, was largely of local artists' pictures. The third exhibition, held in October 1899, consisted of loan pictures by well-known artists and a number of works by local artists. These three exhibitions made profits of £9 11s 1d, £15 and £2 respectively (manuscript by David Scott, dated 29th October 1902, in Peterhead Library files). Subsequent exhibitions were held in March 1904 and February - March 1911, both largely consisting of pictures by local artists (Anon., 1904, 1911).

Curators

As stated above, no Curator was appointed until 1858. Before this time a caretaker (or keeper) had been employed to open the Museum; a Mr Elrick was keeper in 1852 (Anon., 1852a). From 1858 onwards a Councillor was appointed Curator, but the title 'curator' was interchangeable with 'convener of museum committee'. The museum was well served by a succession of enthusiastic Councillors over the next thirty years. After the new Museum and Library had been built, the Librarian had charge of the Museum. The following notes give a few biographical details about the individual Curators and Librarians.

Alexander Lockie was the first Curator. He was born at St Fergus in 1788 but lived in Peterhead from the commencement of his cabinet maker apprenticeship. He was a master cabinet maker from 1812 onwards, was an elder of Peterhead Parish Church and entered the Town Council in 1856. After being appointed Curator in 1858, he was instrumental in getting the Arbuthnott Trustees to hand the Arbuthnot coin collection over to the Town Council in 1859. He also secured new premises for the Museum in Catto's Hall in Broad Street in 1861. He died on 26th May 1862.

Alexander Robertson, Town-Treasurer and merchant, succeeded as Curator from 1862 to 1866; he was also Curator of the Institute's museum 1865-66. His brother, David Robertson, built the swivel frames for the coin display which are still in use in the Museum.

The succeeding Curator, Alexander Ingram, fish curer, was associated with the Museum for many years. He had been one of the earliest members of the Peterhead Institute and was its Treasurer 1858-60 and President 1865-66. He was among those Councillors who argued for the amalgamation of the two museums in 1863 and became Curator in 1866. He remained Curator until his retirement from the Town Council in 1882 (except for 1867-68 and 1871-74). He was responsible for securing the Chapel Street premises for the museum in 1874. After his retirement from the Town Council in 1882 he continued as an honorary curator for a while.

David Fraser was one of the founder members of the Peterhead Institute. He was treasurer 1857-58 and 1864-65, Secretary 1860-62 and President 1862-63. He read a number of papers to the Institute, his 'Geology of Buchan' being printed in four parts in the Peterhead Sentinel in 1860. He entered the Town Council in 1871 and was immediately made Curator of the Museum, Alexander Ingram having temporarily lost his seat. Fraser resigned office in February 1874 (being replaced by Alexander Ingram who had regained his Council seat), but became Curator again in 1886-87.

James Aiken was one of the earliest members of the Peterhead Institute and was almost permanent Curator of the Institute's museum. He subsequently served on the Town Council's museum committee from 1879 and was Curator 1882-86. James Aiken was born at Peterhead on 12th May 1828 and educated at Scott's School and then Peterhead Academy where he was one of the first group of scholars. His father, who had a baker's business in Rose Street, died when James was still a lad. The widowed Mrs Aiken carried on the business until her son took over the management some thirty years later. He was a veritable 'master of all trades'. He was interested in geology; was well versed in numismatics; was keenly interested in astronomy; had several poems published; and had assembled a valuable collection of etchings and portraits. He served on the Parochial Board; became a member of the first Burgh School Board in 1873, retiring in 1891; was elected to the Town Council in 1876 and was appointed a Bailie in 1886; and was an elder of the Parish Church for 31 years. He was a founder member of the Buchan Field Club in 1887 and its President in 1897. He wrote the guide to the new museum building in 1893 (Anon., 1893) and prompted several of the Art Exhibitions. He died on 16th May 1897 (Anon., 1908; Buchan 1987).

Thomas Bell was one of the founders of the Peterhead Institute and was a schoolteacher in the Free Church School. He was almost permanent Secretary of the Institute, also serving as President 1866-67 and Curator of the Institute's museum 1861-62. He gave many lectures to the Institute, principally on botany.

After 1893 the day-to-day running of the Museum lay in the hands of the Librarian. The title of Curator was retained by the convener of the Museum Committee whose role was principally honorary. Robert Stevens, the first Librarian, appointed in 1893, resigned in 1898 to run a pub in Peterhead.

The succeeding Librarians, David Scott, Marion Scott and Dora Scott, formed a library dynasty over 51 years. David Scott was born in Peterhead in 1839. His father Alexander Scott, was the town's letter-carrier and one of the first officers of Peterhead Burns Club; his mother was Anne Buchan, sister of Peter Buchan, the journalist, poet, ballad collector, antiquary and author. David Scott served an apprenticeship as a hairdresser but his uncle's fame obviously influenced him, for in February 1866 he took over the publication of the Peterhead Sentinel newspaper. The 'Sentinel' office did much other printing work locally. David Scott married Marion Thom, a daughter of William Thom, the Inverurie poet. They had three daughters, Dora, Violet and Annie. The Scott household thus had strong literary connections and they also developed friendships with several Northeast artists such as James Forbes and Fiddes Watt. David Scott assisted at several of the Art Exhibitions after the new Museum opened, making use of his artistic connections. He severed his connection with the printing business in 1897; the following year, in May 1898, he became Librarian. A presentation bust, by Harry S. Gamely, was given to him by friends in December 1910. He died on 22nd June 1911.

Dora Scott was born in 1885, and grew up amidst the Scott family's literary and artistic milieu. After the death of David Scott in 1911, the Museum and Library were initially run by Marion Scott and her three daughters, but Dora Scott had sole charge from 1917 onwards. Dora Scott remained Librarian until October 1949 when she retired. She died on 10th February 1976.