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Margaret Anderson (museum creator)

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1929 postcard of Margaret Anderson's museum in Scotland

Margaret Anderson, (14 December 1834 to 2 October 1910), was an early Scottish museum founder. She is known for her roadside museum in Buchan, Scotland.[1]

Life

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Margaret was born on December 14, 1834, in Tarland, Scotland, to Elspet Grant and Robert Anderson .[2] Margaret's work life started at the age of seven, when her education ended upon being employed to herd sheep.[2] Her other occupations included working in harvest, in domestic service, and at a primary school.[2] Later, due to her parents' ill health, she stepped in to oversee the family croft.[2] This was in spite of many health challenges of her own.[2] Though her education was cut short, Margaret's curiosity was not. At a young age, she had begun to collect items, which would later be displayed at her museum. These items included shells, old agricultural and household items, and unique stones.[2] She received donations from friends as well, including animal skins from their travels.[2]

Margaret left her museum in the care of Lord and Lady Aberdeen, who set it up in a physical structure in Tarland.[2] After the start of World War I, however, the museum was shut down because it was needed for use during the war.[2]

References

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  1. ^ The Deeside Field (Fourth Number, 1929) under the title of Margaret Anderson Of Culsh And Her Road- side Museum.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ewan, Elizabeth, ed. (2018). The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-3629-8. OCLC 1057237368.