Robert Rendall papers
- Reference:GB 241 D27
- Dates of Creation:c1894-1976
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English Italian French German
- Physical Description:1.80 Linear Metres
Scope and Content
Diaries of Rendall, 1918-c1964, including his accounts of travels abroad; papers describing his holidays, 1915-1916; sketch books, 1911-1914; ordnance survey map of Orkney, 1914; passports, 1950-1960; notes on meteorology, c1920; notes and correspondence relating to his work as a naturalist, 1916-1965, including notes on his published works on marine life; papers published by other naturalists, c1894-c1935; notes of interviews for the BBC concerning Rendall’s marine studies and his poetry, c1950-1960; papers on Scottish poetry in general, c1920-c1965, including those of Randall; notes on Orkney Antiquarian Society, c1950-1965; letters to Randall concerning business and family matters, 1916-1967; correspondence involving Randall concerning religious matters, 1941-1965; newspaper cuttings concerning, or written by, Randall, 1947-1967, including article about his death, 1967; typescript will of Randall, 1967.
Administrative / Biographical History
Robert Rendall, born, Glasgow, 1898, from 1905 received his education at Kirkwall Burgh School, going straight from there to work for George Rendall and co., drapers in Kirkwall. After short service in the navy in World War I, he devoted his life to writing on a diverse number of subjects. Although remembered primarily for his poetry, Robert Rendall was also distinguished for his work on marine life in Orkney, particularly for his books, 'Mollusca Orcadensia' and 'Orkney Shore' and his many articles in various publications concerning Christian theology. Robert Rendall was well known for his letter writing as well as his interest in painting, photography, angling and archaeology. During World War II he bought a small farm at Scapa doing
most of the farm work himself. It was during this time that he wrote the majority of his poems which appeared in 1946 in Orkney Sonnets, his first and an immensely popular book of verse. In 1951 he published 'Orkney Variants', which was followed by 'Shore Poems', his last full scale volume of poetry. Robert Rendall's hearing gradually deteriorated in his last twenty years and he died after a long illness in Eastbank Hospital in 1967, shortly after being awarded a Civil List pension and after seeing two of his poems included in 'The Oxford Book of Scottish Verse.'
Access Information
Open
Other Finding Aids
Item level catalogue in typescript form held by Orkney Archives.