Joseph Anderson (antiquarian)
Joseph Anderson LLD HRSA (1832–1916) was a Scottish antiquarian who served as keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland from 1869 to 1913.
Life[edit]
Anderson was born in Angus, the son of an agricultural labourer, grew up in St Vigeans and attended Arbroath Education Institution.[1] He taught at the English School in Constantinople from 1856-59.[1][2]
In 1860, after moving back to Scotland, he became editor of the John O'Groat journal.[1][2] At this time he started to excavate in Caithness, in partnership with Robert Shearer.[1]
From 1869 to 1913, 44 years, he was the keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland.[1] He was also editor of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland from 1869 to his death in 1916.[2]
V. Gordon Childe wrote that by 1886 Anderson "had sketched the essential outlines of Scottish prehistory in a comprehensive and scientific survey such as then existed in no other country".[1]
As keeper of the National Museum, he oversaw an "enormous growth in the Museum’s collections", and emphasised the importance of record-keeping.[1] DV Clarke states that:
"Anderson’s scholarship was, at its best, challenging and provocative, rivalling that of the finest European scholars of his day", but that "for many years a vibrant and influential figure in Scottish archaeology, in the end he became a poor reflection of once-innovative attitudes".[1]
He retired from the Museum in 1913 following the death of his wife and was succeeded by Alexander Ormiston Curle.[3]
Anderson lived most of his later life at 8 Great King Street in New Town, Edinburgh.[4]
He died in Gullane on 28 September 1916[5] and is buried beneath a large Celtic cross amongst the trees in the section north of the vaults in Warriston Cemetery in north Edinburgh.[1]
Family[edit]
He was married to Jessie Dempster (1833-1913).[citation needed]
One son, William Anderson (1861-1915), was a geologist who emigrated to Australia and died in Sydney.[1] Another was the advocate and judge David Anderson, Lord St Vigeans who served as Chairman of the Scottish Land Court from 1918 to 1934.[1][6]
External links[edit]
- The Anderson 150 project: About Joseph Anderson
- The Anderson 150 project: Resources
- Anderson's plan drawing of the Camster Round
- Portrait of Anderson by Henry Wright Kerr
- Antiquarian work and early syntheses, Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Clarke, DV (2002). "The foremost figure in all matters relating to Scottish archaeology': aspects of the work of Joseph Anderson" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 132: 1–18. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Graham, A (1978). "The archaeology of Joseph Anderson" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 107: 279–98. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "History of National Museums Scotland". National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1908-9 etc
- ^ "Dr Joseph Anderson". Aberdeen Press and Journal. No. 19264. 30 September 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Lord St. Vigeans". The Times. No. 51087. London, England. 2 June 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 3 January 2016 – via The Times Digital Archive.
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