Dr Hugh Marwick papers
- Reference:GB 241 D29
- Dates of Creation:1562-1965
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English Norwegian Danish Swedish
- Physical Description:2.40 Linear Metres
Scope and Content
Birth certificate of Marwick, 1881; genealogical notes on various Orkney families compiled by Marwick, c1935-c1954; articles from Proceedings of the Orkney Antiquarian Society, 1933-1934; articles concerning excavations at Skara Brae, 1928; parts of typescripts of Marwick publications and unpublished works, c1925-1952; general archaeological and historical notes made by Marwick, 1920-c1960, including notes on Maes Howe, c1960; notebooks of Marwick on Orkney, 1912-c1950, including notebooks containing information about the Orkney dialect, 1913-1918; deeds relating to land in Orkney and other legal papers, 1562-1841, collected by Marwick, including papers involving the Baikie family, 1653-1729, papers involving the Fea family of Clestrain, 1675-1722, notice offering reward for the capture of a deserter, 1798; sketches of Orkney coats of arms, c1950; Orkney seals and explanatory notes 1700-1950; sketch map by Marwick of the parish of Sandwick, c1950; speech made by Marwick on receiving the Freedom of Kirkwall, 1954; letters to Marwick concerning place-names in Orkney and local genealogy, 1920-1965, including several letters relating to Birsay place-names and local history, 1957-1965; letters from, and notes by, AW Johnston concerning Norse history in Orkney, 1921-1935; letters from J Storer Clouston relating to Orkney history, 1920-1935; educational certificates, academic and civil awards, 1899-1964; photographs of Marwick and other scholars in Norway, c1920; family photographs, c1950; photographic prints and negatives of archaeological sites and excavations and Orkney landmarks, c1900-1950.
Administrative / Biographical History
Papers of Dr. Hugh Marwick, O.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., L.L.D., 1881 - 1965. Historian, archaeologist, teacher and administrator, Marwick's supreme achievement was the study of the place-names of Orkney and of the Orkney Norn. Educated in Rousay, in 1902 he qualified at the Free Church Training College for Teachers in Aberdeen after
which he taught at Newbattle School, Midlothian for three years. In 1909 he
graduated with first class honours in English Language and Literature from Edinburgh
University. He was principal teacher of English at Burnley Academy, Lancashire,
until 1914 when he was appointed headmaster at Kirkwall Burgh School, a post he
retained until 1929 when he became Director of Education for the Orkney Education
Authority. In 1926 he was awarded a D.Litt. from Edinburgh University for his thesis
on 'The Orkney Norn', and many others followed including the O.B.E. in 1938 and the
Order, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1946. In 1954 he was made an Honorary
Burgess of the City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall. He retired in 1946 but continued
his academic pursuits for many years until his death in 1965. For obituary of Hugh
Marwick and tribute to him by Robert Rendall, see 'The Orcadian', Thursday 27 May
1965.
Access Information
Open
Other Finding Aids
Item level catalogue in typescript form held by Orkney Archives.