This Collection is a remnant of the pressmark system (Fixed Location) previously used to arrange books within the uiversity libraries, before the introduction of subject classification which is now standard within Aberdeen University Library. The main thrust of the Collection lies in its medical and scientific holdings, dating from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. The Collection has proved valuable for research on aspects of the history of medicine.
Keywords: Medicine; phrenology; natural history.
Strengths: Mainly medical and scientific holdings. Standard texts of the time appear with many familiar titles and authors. There are strong holdings of French, Italian and especially Latin medical textbooks.
Languages:English, Latin, French, Italian, German
Identifier: FL
Physical characteristics: 1048 volumes
Accumulation date range: Up to 1920s
Contents date range: c.1604-c. 1839
Associated Publications: Available on Library OPAC or WebPAC
Accrual Status: Closed
Custodial history/provenance: The provenance of many of the volumes is interesting. Many were bequeathed to the University Library in 1782 by John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792), a former Tory Prime Minister, and also by former eminent graduates of Marischal College. These included Sir William Fordyce (1724-1792) (MA, Marischal College, 1742), physician and author, who became Lord Rector of Marischal College in 1790. Fordyce gifted many French and Latin medical texts. Another Marischal College alumnus was Sir John Forbes (1787-1861), who studied the Arts from 1803 and 1806 eventually gained his MD from the University of Edinburgh in 1817. In 1859 he gifted many Latin and Italian medical texts. The Collection is complemented by other named collections which have a strong medical content, such as the Gregory Collection.
Access Control: Closed access - please request. Non-borrowable.