The Library Collection
The Strathmartine Centre Library (pictured above) began life as the private collection of Ronald Cant and his family, and has grown considerably since the creation of the Strathmartine Trust in 2003 with the addition of numerous private donations from the collections of other scholars.
The Library consists chiefly of R. G. Cant's own collection, augmented by substantial gifts from the late Marjorie Ogilvie Anderson and Prof. Donald Watt, and several smaller donations. It covers most aspects of Scottish History, not only political but economic, social and ecclesiastical, and there are also significant holdings of general British and Scandinavian history. Scottish (and to some extent Scandinavian) antiquities and architecture are also covered. Most of the books were published in the period 1850-2000: very few are earlier.
Holdings of journals and periodicals include practically complete sets of the 'Scottish Historical Review', the 'Innes Review', and the 'Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland', a substantial run of the 'Scots Magazine' and some smaller sets. There are numerous volumes (though not complete sets) of the Scottish History Society and the three Spalding Clubs. Among the pamphlets, guides to historic buildings in Scotland and elsewhere are prominent.
There is also a complete set of the Seventh Series Ordnance Survey 1"= 1 mile maps of Scotland.
The Library houses in total approximately 2700 books, 350 volumes from monographic series, 900 volumes from periodicals, and 1100 pamphlets. A PC in the Library provides access to a computerised catalogue of its holdings (which is unfortunately not available online) and also to Internet resources generally.
As the Library's resources for the purchase of books and periodicals are quite limited, the centre would be grateful for gifts of relevant works in the subject areas mentioned, especially those of recent date.
The Strathmartine Trust also has a small range of publications for sale, written by researchers connected to the Trust. These can be purchased direct from the Centre's office, or can be posted out at an additional cost of £3 postage and packing.
R.G.Cant, The University of St Andrews A Short History, (The Strathmartine Trust, 2002) (£17)
Crawford, Barbara E. ed., Church, Chronicle and Learning in Medieval and Early Renaissance Scotland, Conference proceedings presented to Professor D.E.R.Watt (The Mercat Press, 1999) (£5)
Hulse, Elizabeth, ed. Thinking with Both Hands: Sir Daniel Wilson In the Old World and the New (University of Toronto Press, 1999) (£5)