Ernest Walker Marwick
- Reference:GB 241 D31
- Dates of Creation:1640-1977
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English Norwegian Dutch
- Physical Description:10.00 Units Map
Scope and Content
Files of material including press cuttings, notes, original documents, pamphlets, booklets, photographs, correspondence relating to research carried out by Marwick and his interests, including Orkney folklore, poetry, Orkney dialect, Orkney place names, Orkney history, Orkney archaeology, Orkney families, the Hudson’s Bay Company and Orkney, the connections between Orkney and Scandinavia, Shetland, the preservation of historic buildings in Orkney, broadcasts made by or conducted by Marwick for BBC radio, 1640-1977.Includes:Papers relating to the Hudson Bay Company, including index cards with biographical details of Orcadians known to have been employed by the Hudson’s Bay Company and copies of The Beaver the magazine of the company, 1869-1977; Papers relating to the explorer, William Balfour Baikie (1825-1864), including photographs, 1842-1974; Material relating to the Italian Chapel at Lamb Holm, including photographs and slides of the chapel, the Italian prisoners of war and Domenico Chioccheti (1910-1999) and his family, correspondence between Marwick and the Chiocchetti family, 1944-1973; Material relating to the Orkney Heritage Society and Marwick’s interest in the preservation of historic buildings in Orkney, including photographs, correspondence, 1952-1977; Material relating to Eric Linklater, including letter by him to Marwick, 1947-1974; Papers relating to George Mackay Brown (1921-1996) including photographs, letters to Marwick from Brown, some unpublished poems, 1921-1977; Papers relating to Edwin Muir (1887-1959) including correspondence between Marwick and Edwin and Willa Muir, 1900-1975; Papers relating to Dr Stanley Cursiter (1887-1996) including correspondence, manuscript of Looking Back by Stanley Cursiter, edited by Marwick, 1942-1976; Correspondence between Dr W Irvine and Marwick relating to Shapinsay and the origins of the author Washington Irvine, c1976; Papers relating to the poet Robert Rendall (1898-1967) including poems, photographs, pamphlets on conchology, correspondence between Rendall and Marwick, 1930-1967; Material relating to Udal Law, notes, press cuttings etc, 1900-1972; original documents and related material relating to shipwrecks around Orkney, including the HMS Hampshire 1791-1976; Papers relating to the Baikie family, 1739-1780; Material relating to St Magnus Cathedral including material relating to the Society of Friends of St Magnus Cathedral of which EWM was a founding member, 1911-1977; Printed booklets and pamphlets about Orkney or connected with Orkney and Orcadians, and by Orkney poets or about Orkney, 1800-1976; Material relating to Shetland, 1896-1977; Material relating to Denmark and Norway, 1895-1973; Press cuttings relating to Marwick and his activities, 1946-1976; Typescripts, scripts and related material relating to BBC radio broadcasts, by Marwick on Orkney, including letters from Magnus Magnusson and Archie Lee, 1962-1977; Material relating to the receipt of Marwick of the Freedom and the Burgh of Kirkwall, including the scroll, casket and presentation volume, 1974-1975; Material relating the the receipt of Marwick of an honorary degree from Edinburgh University, 1976; Photographs of Orkney and Orcadians, c1910-1970; Annotated maps and plans, mainly connected with the placename survey by the School of Scottish Studies, c1903-1970. Tapes of interviews conducted by Marwick and of Marwick on folklore, customs, Orkney history, Shetland, c1960-1976.
Administrative / Biographical History
Ernest Walker Marwick, 1915 - 1977, author, journalist, broadcaster, historian and folklorist. He was a self-educated man except for a brief period at Newbattle Abbey in 1953 - 1954 where he studied under the wardenship of Edwin Muir. His interests in Orkney are all reflected in this collection and covered it's history, antiquities, dialect, literature, folklore and conservation. He was a founder member and Chairman of the Orkney Heritage Society and in 1975 he received the Freedom of the Burgh of Kirkwall. The following year he was awarded an Honorary M.A. from Edinburgh University. Principal published works include 'An Anthology of Orkney Verse' which he edited in 1949, and 'The Folklore of Orkney and Shetland', 1975.
Access Information
Open; Some of items may not be available for consultation, please contact the archivist for further details
Other Finding Aids
Item and series level paper based list, searchable database