Hamish M. Brown photographic collection

Scope and Content

The collection relates primarily to Scottish topography and is a cross-section of Brown's black and white photography of towns and landscapes. An idea of the nature of the material can be gained from the titles of the sections into which the negative sequence are divided: bridges; castles; churches; dams/hydro; doocots; 'Eye of the Wind'; Forth and Clyde Canal; fountains; 'Gardy Loo'; huts; light/houses; monuments memorials; ships; sundials; tolbooths; Union Canal; war memorials; waterfalls; wells; youth hostels. The collection is largely undated.

Administrative / Biographical History

Hamish M. Brown (b. 1934 in Colombo), is a professional writer, lecturer and photographer specialising in mountain, outdoor and travel topics, topography, prehistoric sites, historical interests and travel worldwide. He has lived in Sri Lanka and Japan, escaping from Malaysia to South Africa as a war refugee and serving in a dozen Middle East and East African countries during National Service with the RAF. He has climbed and travelled extensively in the Alps and less known areas of Europe as well as in the remote Andes and Himalayas. He has written or edited over twenty books, ranging from poems and short stories, well-researched and illustrated guidebooks, to narratives on major expeditions. For example, Hamish's Mountain Walk tells of his 112-day walk over all the Munros in Scotland in 1994. He has won various literary prizes and awards for his work. He has appeared on radio and television and his work has appeared in various anthologies. He was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by St Andrews University in 1997, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and MBE in 2000. He is Organiser of Atlas Mountain Information Services, and Proprietor of Hamish Brown, Scottish Photographic (picture library).

Arrangement

Alphabetical within sections as arranged by owner.

Access Information

The photographic collections are currently the subject of a major digitisation project. It is the intention to have the entire archive captured in electronic form, and available (with sophisticated searching facilities) on line via the web. A full version of the software can be accessed in the Library and researchers are welcome to visit the library to use it but it is important that appointments are made in advance. Access to original photographic material may be restricted.

Acquisition Information

Gifted to the University of St Andrews in 1998.

Note

Description compiled by Rachel Hart, Archives Hub Project Archivist.

Other Finding Aids

Unlisted, some have been digitised.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies of images held in the photographic collection (with the exception of any photographs which are held either without copyright or under other restrictions imposed by the donor or photographer) can be ordered. Photographs thus provided for purely personal or research purposes are not subject to any fee beyond the photographic costs (for which a scale of charges is available). Prior written permission must be obtained before any further reproduction is undertaken of images supplied, for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Reproduction fees may be charged.

True photographic reprints of most images can be provided, or computer-generated prints of an increasing proportion of the collection at low, medium or high resolution. Given the fragility of the original material our preference is to provide computer prints where possible. We can also provide transparencies and a range of electronic formats.

Accruals

Possible.

Additional Information

This material is original.

Geographical Names