A cricital and analytic bibliography of printed materials on the ethnog
raphy, folk life, folklore, and local sociocultural history of the Orkney Is
lands, off the north coast of Scotland. In this survey a primary emphasis
has been placed upon the relevant local Orcadian publications, which are
rarely seen in libraries beyond Scotland. Most of these are of a surprisingly
high quality, ethnographically speaking.
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References
1.
Abbotsford Club 1837 "Trials for witchcraft, sorcery and superstition in Orkney," Abbotsford Club, Miscellany 11: 133-85 (Edinburgh). Primarily for the medieval and early modern period.
2.
Anderson, George, and Peter Anderson1834Guide to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland including Orkney and Zetland, London, John Murray. 12, 759 p., maps.
3.
1850 Third edition, carefully revised, enlarged, and remodeled, Edinburgh, A. and C. Black. 11, 608 p., illus., maps.
4.
1851 Third edition, carefully revised... 11, 808 p., 5 plates, 2 folding maps. (A fourth edition, on which no data are available, was issued in 1863.) General descriptive data on geography, economic, social, and cultural life.
5.
Anderson, James1906 "Communion tokens of the established church of the Presbyteries of Kirkwall, Cairston, and North Isles (Synod of Orkney)," Scottish Notes and Queries 2d ser. 8: 120-21, 1 plate.
6.
Anderson, Otto1954 "Ballad hunting in the Orkney Islands," Budklaven (Åbo): 23-58. An account of the author's field research in 1938; includes an excellent sample of song texts and music, some of which were originally printed in the local newspaper, The Orcadian, in 1933 and 1934.
7.
Bailey, Patrick1971Orkney, Newton Abbot, David & Charles. 245 p., illus., maps, 16 plates. A general survey of Orcadian history, topography, and folk life.
8.
Baldwin, John R.1974 "Sea bird fowling in Scotland and Faroe," Folk Life12: 60-103, 4 plates. Contains material on the hunting equipment and techniques, cliff rights, and the use of sea birds and their eggs on Copinsay, Hoy, and Westray islands.
9.
Balfour, David1859Oppressions of the sixteenth century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland: from original documents, Edinburgh , Abbotsford Club Publication No. 31 (also published as the Maitland Club Publication No. 75). 56, 129 p. Study of the political and economic policies of the Scottish nobility.
10.
1860Odal rights and feudal wrongs: a memorial for Orkney, Edinburgh, published by the author. 120 p., illus. Originally intended as an introduction to his 1859 volume.
11.
1885Ancient Orkney melodies, Edinburgh, Ballantyne, Hanson. 88 p. Words and scores from the author's boyhood days on Shapinsay Island.
12.
Banks (Mrs.) Mary Macleod *1946 British calendar customs: Orkney & Shetland. London, Wm. Glaisher for The Folk-Lore Society. 12, 110 p., illus. An excellent survey of materials on seasonal, movable, and calendrical customs from the earlier printed works.
13.
Barclay, Robert S.1965The population of Orkney 1755-1961. A record of the parishes and islands, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Kirkwall Press . 28 p. The only historical survey and analysis of demographic data for Orkney.
14.
Barry, George *1805History of the Orkney Islands. Including a view of the manners and customs of their ancient and modern inhabitants... the present state of their agriculture; manufactures; fisheries; and commerce; and the means of their improvementLondon, Longman, Hurst, Rees. 16, 512 p. Reprinted in London, 1808. Reprinted in 1867, Kirkwall, William Peace. 39 (new introduction), 457 p. For its time, an excellent coverage of economic conditions, customs, social problems, folklore, and history.
15.
1974Facsimile reprint of the 1805 edition, Edinburgh, Mercat Press.
16.
Black, George F. (edited by Northcote W. Thomas) 1903 "Examples of printed folk-lore concerning the Orkney and Shetland Islands," County Folk-lore 3, Printed Extracts No. 5, London, The Folk-Lore Society. 277 p.
17.
Brand, John1701A brief description of Orkney, Zetland, Rightland-Firth and Caithness, Edinburgh, G. Mosman . 6, 50, 159 p.
18.
1809 "A brief description of Orkney, Zetland, Rightland-Firth and Caithness," in John Pinkerton, ed., A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels, vol. 3, London , Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme [etc.]. 731-810. map.
19.
Brown, George Mackay1969An Orkney tapestry, London, Victor Gollancz. 192 p., 12 pages of illustrations. A factual and interpretiye study of Orkney by Orkney's most distinguished poet and novelist. Anyone who is seriously interested in Orcadian folk life should also consult his novels and short story collections, especially: A Calendar for Love (1970), A Time to Keep (1972), and Greenvoe (1972). All are published by Hogarth Press in London.
20.
Bruford, Alan1974 "The grey selkie," Scottish Studies18: 63-81. Songs and folktales about selkies in Orkney.
21.
Cant, H.W.M.1970Preaching in a Scottish parish church. St. Magnus and other sermons, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Kirkwall Press . 112 p. These sermons contain some very useful data on values and cultural patterning for Orkney and northern Scotland.
22.
Cant, Ronald C.1972 "The church in Orkney and Shetland and its relation with Norway and Scotland in the Middle Ages," Northern Scotland1: 1-18. Excellent historical survey of the ecclesiastical organization, historic churches, and religion and politics for the area.
23.
Charleson, M. M., ed. 1905 Orcadian papers: being selections from the proceedings of the Orkney Natural Society from 1887 to 1904, Stromness, printed for the Society by William Rendall. 16, 160 p. Especially note Walter Traill Dennison's "Manufacture of straw articles in Orkney," pp. 32-42. Most of the articles are on natural history.
1927 "The runrig system in Orkney," Orkney Agricultural Discussion Society, Journal 2: 73-78. History and change in the runrig farming system, mainly in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
26.
Coleman, Stanley Jackson, comp. 1954Lore of Orkney and Shetland, Douglas, Isle of Man, Folklore Academy. 13 p. Very poor secondary material.
Cormack, Alastair, and Anne Cormack1971Days of Orkney steam, Kirkwall , The Kirkwall Press. 14, 232 p., illus., plates. A history of steam navigation in Orkney, which also contains much useful information on social and economic conditions over the past hundred years.
29.
Cormack, Anne, and Alastair Cormack , comps. 1974Sanday. A picture of a northern isle, Sanday, Sanday Printing Press. 31 p. Mainly local island information for travelers.
30.
Corrigall, Simon1933 "Seventy years of Orkney farming," Orkney Argricultural Discussion Society, Journal8: 47-50. Sandwick Island: changing crops, land use pattern, landlordism, ploughing matches, and causes of agricultural change.
31.
Coull, James R.1966a "The economic development of the island of Westray, Orkney ," Scottish Geographical Magazine82, no. 3: 154-168. The evolution of the local economic system from the eighteenth century: new crops, commercial farming, fishing, depopulation, sense of community.
32.
1966b "Population trends and structures on the island of Westray, Orkney," Scottish Studies10: 69-77.
33.
Craven, (Rev.) James B.1911Church life in South Ronaldshay [sic] and Burray in the seventeenth century, Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. 131 p.
34.
1912 History of the Episcopal Church in Orkney, 1888-1912. With some notes on the church in Caithness and Shetland during that period; and an introductory sketch of the earlier ecclesiastical history of Orkney, 2d ed., Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. 8, 117 p. (First ed. 1883, 132 p.)
35.
Cruden, Stewart1949Click mill: Dounby, Orkney, Edinburgh , HMSO. (Reprinted 1966.) 5 p. Descriptive guide to the last traditional "click mill" in Orkney.
36.
Cursiter, James W., comp. 1894List of books and pamphlets relating to Orkney and Shetland, Hirkwall, W. Peace and Son. 2, 1, 73 p. A useful older bibliography, especially for locally printed materials.
37.
Dennison, Walter Traill1880The Orcadian sketch book, being traits of Orkney life written partly in Orkney dialect, Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. 227 p.
38.
Fictionalized—but excellent descriptive data, including a selkie story. 1886 "Burials and funerals in Orkney," in The Orkney and Shetland Guide and Almanack for 1886, Kirkwall, William Peace and Son: 70-77.
39.
1905 Orkney weddings and wedding customs, Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. 42 p. (Only 60 copies printed.)
40.
Contains: "The would-be wedding of East Brough," pp. 1-24; "Marriage and wedding feasts of Orkney," pp. 25-42. The latter essay was reprinted in Dennison 1961. *1961 Orkney folklore and traditions (edited, with an introduction, by Ernest W. Marwick), Kirkwall, The Herald Press. 16, 96 p. A major folkloristic source, consisting of reprints of the author's most important papers published in the late nineteenth century.
41.
Drever, W.P.1904 "Udal law and the foreshore," Juridicial Review16: 189-202 (Edinburgh). (Republished as a booklet, Edinburgh, William Green and Sons, 1914. 16 p.). An analysis of legal cases in Orkney, illustrating the conflict between the old udal system of law on land tenure of Norwegian origin and Scottish feudal-based legal traditions.
42.
1914 "Udal law in the Orkneys and Zetland," Green's Encyclopaedia of the Law of Scotland, vol. 12, 2d ed., Edinburgh, W. Green and Sons: 427-43. (Also published as a booklet, Edinburgh, William Green and Sons, 1914. 16 p.). Same as above citation, but wider in scope.
43.
Dryden, (Sir) Henry1886Anderson's guide to Orkney with a description of the ruined churches in Orkney, and the bells of St. Magnus, Kirkwall,
44.
James Anderson, Orcadian Office/Edinburgh, John Menzies. 8, 165 p. Much scattered cultural data, and other descriptive data. This is the best edition, in that the plates are clear. There is also a 1903 revised edition (Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh. 194 p.).
45.
Eunson, George1788The ancient and present state of Orkney, particularly the capital borough of Kirkwall. To which are added the petty tyrants, or grinders of the poor... , published by the author, New-castle-upon-Tyne. 127, 21, 3 p. Protest literature on social conditions, politics, and economic life.
46.
Farrall, Thomas1874 "On the agriculture of the Islands of Orkney," Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Transactions , ser. 4, 6: 186-228. General data on traditional agriculture; more specific data on improvements in agriculture in the early and middle nineteenth century.
47.
Fea, James1787Considerations on the fisheries in the Scotch islands: to which is prefixed a general account elucidating the history, soil, productions, curiosities, &c., of the same, the manners of the inhabitants &c, London, printed for the author. 7, 101, 88, (6) p., folding map. An island-by-island survey, biased at times.
48.
Fea, James (Surgeon) 1884The present state of the Orkney Islands considered, and an account of the new method of fishing on the coasts of Shetland , Edinburgh, W. Brown. 1, 1, 6, 160 p. General descriptive material, with a focus on fishing.
49.
Fenton, Alexander1962- "Early and traditional cultivating implements in Scotland," 63 Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Proceedings 96: 264-317, 21 figures, 7 plates. Includes information on Orkney ploughs, spades, and plough teams.
50.
1967 "Das Bauernhaus auf Orkney und Shetland," Deutsches Jahrbuch für Volkskunde13: 50-68. Traditional farmhouses: types, construction, function of different areas, and changing forms.
51.
1968- "The tabu language of the fishermen of Orkney and Shetland," 69 Ethnologia Europaea 2-3: 118-22. Word tabus of fishermen while on fishing boats and on their way to the boats.
52.
1969 "Sheep in North Ronaldsay, Orkney," in J. Geraint Jenkins, ed., Studies in Folk Life. Essays in Honour of Iorwerth C. Peate, London, Routledge & Kegan Paul: 206-33. The local native breed of sheep, use of the fore-shore commons, sheep marks, punding and shearing, and sheep regulations.
53.
1970 "Paring and burning and the cutting of peat and turf in Scotland ," in Alan Gailey and Alexander Fenton, eds., The Spade in Northern and Atlantic Europe, Belfast, Ulster Folk Museum and the Institute of Irish Studies, Queens University: 155-93. Includes good summary data on Orkney.
54.
1973a "Craig-fishing in the northern isles of Scotland and notes on the poke-net," Scottish Studies17: 71-80, 3 plates. Mainly on Shetland, but does contain comparative notes on the use of poke-nets for sillocks in Stromness harbor.
55.
1973 b "Transport with pack-horse and slide-car," in Alexander Fenton, J. Podolák , and H. Rasmussen, eds., Land Transport in Europe, Copenhagen, National Museum of Denmark [Folkelivs Studier 4]: 121-71. Primarily on Scotland, but contains some information for Orkney on the use of packhorses, types of packsaddles, slide-cars, sledges, and carts.
56.
1975 "Traditional elements in the diet of the northern isles of Scotland," Kansatieteellinen Arkisto26: 64-78. (Reports of the Second International Symposium for Ethnological Food Research, Helsinki, August 1973.) The only detailed survey of the dietary traditions in Orkney and Shetland: vegetable, flesh, fish, sea birds, and the changing patterns.
57.
1976Scottish country life, Edinburgh, John Donald Publishers. 255 p., including 85 illus. and plates. Contains a considerable amount of scattered information on various aspects of Orcadian ethnology.
58.
Fereday, R.P. n.d. (ca. 1970-74) Phin of Finstown, Stromness, W. R. Rendall. 28 p. History of the Irish founder of the local community of Finstown, on the Mainland, in the early nineteenth century.
59.
Fergusson, Robert Menzies1883Rambling sketches in the far north and Orcadian musings , London, Simpkin, Marshall . 3, 177 p.
60.
1884Rambles in the far north, 2d ed., Paisley, A. Gardner. 12, 266 p.
61.
1892Our trip north, London, Digby, Long. 6, 255 p. All volumes contain general descriptive data and some folkloristic information.
62.
Firth, John1920Reminiscences of an Orkney Parish. Together with old Orkney words, riddles and proverbs, Stromness, W. R. Rendall. 8, 158 p.
63.
*1974 Second edition, reprinted, Stromness, W. R. Rendall. 8, 161 p., 26 plates. The only basic ethnography or village study for Orkney, written by a wheelwright and carpenter who was born in 1838. Primarily on the village of Firth, in the township of Redland. The author focuses on the period from 1840 to 1860.
64.
Flett, J.F., and T.M. Flett1966Traditional dancing in Scotland, London , Routledge & Kegan Paul/ Nashville, Vanderbilt University Press. (See chap. 3, "Dancing in Orkney": 50-58, and chap. 8, "Some Orkney reels": 187-98.)
65.
1973 "The history of the Scottish reel as a dance form: II," Scottish Studies17: 91-108. (For Orkney reels, see pp. 97-103.)
66.
Forsythe, Diana Elizabeth1974 "Escape to fulfillment: urban-rural migration and the future of a small island community," Dissertation Abstracts International35 (975): 3954—A—3955—A. (Doctoral dissertation, Department of Social Anthropology, Cornell University, 1974. 199 p. UM 75-1611.) On the community of Rousay, in Orkney.
67.
Garson, J.G.1884 "Exhibition of lamps from the Orkney Islands," Anthropologicnl Institute, Journal (London ) 13: 275-76.
68.
Gorrie, Daniel1868Summers and winters in the Orkneys, London, Hodder and Stroughton. 7, 384 p. Much scattered information on local history, natural history, ethnography, and folklore. There are also a number of later reprintings by Simpkin, Marshall in London and William Peace in Kirkwall, 9, 400 p. These are undated editions.
69.
Great Britain. Commission of Inquiry into the Condition of Crofters and Cottars of Scotland *1884 Report of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Inquiry into the conditions of the crofters and cottars in the highlands and islands of Scotland, 5 vols., Edinburgh, printed by Neill. The basic documentary source on rural social and economic conditions for this period. Also excellent for basic ethnographic data.
70.
Grieve, Christopher Murray1939The islands of Scotland: Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland , London, B. T. Batsford . 20, 140 p., illus., maps.
Groundwater, Henrietta1962 "Everyday food in 19th century Orkney," Scottish Home and Country38 (April): 105-06 (November): 321. Local recipes and comments on diet and food preparation.
73.
1967 Memories of an Orkney family, Kirkwall, The Kirkwall Press. 42 p. Material on daily life in nineteenth-century Orphir Parish, by an eighty-seven-year-old woman. Also information heard from her father.
74.
Gunn, John1909The Orkney book: readings for young Orcadians, London, Nelson. 448 p. Especially see pp. 227-70 on kelp gathering, a whale hunt, making articles of straw, place names, weather lore, and folklore.
75.
1932 Orkney, the magnetic north, London, Thomas Nelson. 286 p., illus., maps. A popular general book: history, topography, natural history.
76.
Harcus, (Rev.) Henry 1898 The history of the Orkney Baptist churches and a sketch of the life of Rev. Oliver Flett, D.D.... Ayr, David Hourston. 173 p. Westray church, pp. 61-99; Burray church, pp. 99-122; Eday church, pp. 122-42.
77.
Hewson, Raymond1950 "North Ronaldsay," The Countryman41: 341-44. Brief descriptive notes on the cottages, foods, fields, and wildlife.
78.
Horne, David1923Songs of Orkney, Kirkwall, Orkney Herald. 110 p.
79.
1925 Under Orcadian skies, Kirkwall, Proprieters of the Orkney Herald. 8, 128 p. A series of reflective essays on Orkney life, land, and history. Most important is "The brutality of the ba'," on the annual New Year's ball game in Kirkwall, pp. 19-24.
80.
Hossack, Buckham Hugh1900Kirkwall in the Orkneys ... with maps and illustrations , Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. 18, 490 p. See pp. 344-47, on the old fair.
81.
Leask, J. T. Smith *1931A peculiar people and other Orkney tales, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, "The Orcadian Office." 280 p. One of the finest sources on general Orcadian folklore and folk life: folk medicine, proverbs, courtship, crafts, witchcraft, folktales, match-making, courtship, and religious practices.
82.
Linklater, Eric1965Orkney and Shetland; an historical, geographical, social and scenic survey, London, Robert Hale. 255 p., maps.
83.
Low, George1879A tour through the islands of Orkney and Schetland [sic] containing hints relative to their ancient, modern and natural historyKirkwall, W. Peace and Son. 24, 223 p., 74 illus.
84.
Mackenzie, J.1836The general grievances and oppressions of the isles of Orkney and Shetland, Edinburgh, Neill. 118 p.
85.
Mackintosh, William R.1887Glimpses of Kirkwall and its people in olden time , Kirkwall, James Anderson, The Orcadian Office. 16, 320 p. Many short sketches from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century burgh records: legal problems, social problems, church affairs, beggars, football, etc.
86.
1892Curious incidents from the ancient records of Kirkwall, Kirkwall, James Anderson, The Orcadian Office. 323 p. A sociocultural history of the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall, based on information from the local archives.
87.
1914Around the Orkney peat fires: being sketches of notable Orcadians, smuggling anecdotes, stories of the press-gang, and witch and other stories , 3d ed., Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh. 365 p. There are a number of good earlier and later printings of this work, e.g. the fifth edition, 1949, 341 p. Good descriptive accounts of local life, folktales, press-gang stories, smuggling, etc. Originally published as newspaper articles, ca. 1890-1900.
88.
Mackintosh, William R., comp. * 1889The Orkney crofters: their evidence and statements by agents, as given before the Crofting Commission 1888 (also the decisions of the various cases, as well as the Crofters' Acts 1886, and 1887, and an index), Kirkwall, James Anderson , The Orcadian Office. 296 p. Excellent data on crofters and farming practices and conditions, including court transcripts.
89.
Marwick, Ernest W.1972 "Creatures of Orkney legend and their Norse ancestory ," Norveg15: 177-204. Trows (trolls), Finn-folk, changelings, giants, fairies, and their comparison to Norse forms.
90.
* 1975The folklore of Orkney and Shetland: legends, folk-tales and customs, Totowa, N.J., Rowman and Littlefield/London, B. T. Batsfotd. 215 p. The basic source on Orcadian folk customs and folklore.
91.
Marwick, Ernest W., ed. 1949An anthology of Orkney verse, 2d ed., Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Kirkwall Press. 197 p. Important for examples of regional literature, dialect verse, and the ethnographic notes on pages 189-94.
92.
Marwick, G.1936The old Roman plough, Kirkwall , The Kirkwall Press, The Orcadian Office. 12 p., 1 plate. Originally given as a lecture at Dounby, Sandwick, Orkney, October 8, 1903. Contains some important data on old Orkney ploughs. See (in this bibliography) Fenton (1962-63), who extracted much information from this work.
93.
Marwick, Hugh1923 "Place-names of North Ronaldsay," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings1: 53-64.
94.
1925 "Place-names of Papa Westray," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings3: 40-47. (Appendix to an article entitled: "Antiquarian Notes on Papa Westray.")
95.
1926The Orkney Norn, a treatise on the Norn speech in Orkney, with a glossary, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1, 232 p.
96.
1927 "Place-names of Stronsay," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings 5: 73-83. (Appendix to an article entitled: "Antiquarian Notes on Stronsay.")
97.
1930 "An Orkney Jacobite farmer," Orkney Agricultural Discussion Society, Journal 5: 64-75. From the diaries of Patrick Fea of Airy [Stronsay and Sanday]: his farming record, crop statistics, root crops, grain, peat cutting, meat production, journeys. Mainly for the 1760s and the 1770s. He died in 1796.
98.
1934 "Two Orkney 18th century inventories," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings 12: 47-54. Lists of material goods and their assessed value in the estates of the deceased. Very useful for the ethnohistorical study of household economies.
99.
1939 "Old-time weights and measures," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings 15: 9-13. Primarily on the eighteenth century and before.
100.
1936, Merchant lairds of long ago: being studies of Orkney life and
101.
1939 conditions in the early 18th century, 2 vols., Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh. 157 p., 2 plates; 94 p., 3 plates, 1 illustration. Social life, customs, agriculture, economic life and conditions in the eighteenth century.
102.
1947The place-names of Rousay, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Orcadian Office. 95 p.
103.
*1951 Orkney, London, Robert Hale. 8, 287 p., 48 illus., map. An excellent general survey of the land and people of Orkney.
104.
1952 Orkney farm names, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh. 6, 267 p. A study of the traditional udal land tenure system, with an etymological and historical survey of Orcadian farm names.
105.
1970 The place-names of Birsay, edited and introduced by W. F. H. Nicolaisen, Aberdeen, Aberdeen University Press. 12, 135 p. A detailed survey for the northwestern area of the Mainland.
106.
Mathur, J.Y.1964 "Boats and boatmen of Orkney and Shetland," Scottish Studies8: 19-32.
107.
Miller, Ronald1959 "Orkney: a land of increment," in Ronald Miller and J. Wreford Watson, eds., Geographical Essays in Memory of A. G. Ogilvie , London/New York, Nelson: 7-15. A very general physical and cultural geographical sketch.
108.
Miller, Ronald, and Susan Luther-Davies1968Eday and Hoy. A developmental survey, Glasgow, Department of Geography , University of Glasgow. 7, 94 p. Geography, geology, land use, and general economic life and conditions.
109.
Monteith, Robert, of Eglisha and Gairsa, 1633 1711 The description of the Isles of Orkney and Zetland, with maps of them, done from the accurate observations of the most learned who lived in the isles, Edinburgh: published under the supervision of S[ir] R.[obert] S.[ibbald] by Andrew Symson. 42 p. From an original manuscript dated September 24, 1633.
110.
1845 Description of the islands of Orkney and Zetland, Edinburgh, published under the supervision of Sir Robert Sibbald (reprinted by Thomas G. Steavenson from the 1711 edition). 83 p.
111.
Neill, Patrick1806A tour through some of the islands of Orkney and Shetland , Edinburgh, A. Constable. 11, 239 p.
112.
The new statistical account of Scotland *1845 By the ministers of the respective parishes, under the superintendence of the Committee of the Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy ..., Edinburgh, Blackwood and Sons. 15 volumes, including plates and maps. See vol. 15 for Orkney. Originally issued in 52 separate numbers, beginning in 1831. A basic set of documents for economic conditions, social conditions, and folk life.
113.
O'Dell, Andrew Charles1935 "Geographical controls of agriculture in Orkney and Shetland ," Economic Geography11: 1-19.
114.
1939 "Orkney," in Land Utilisation Survey of Britain, The Land of Britain; the Report of the Land Utilisation Survey of Britain, edited by L. Dudley Stamp, Vol. 1, no. 4, London, published for the Survey by Geographical Publishers: 191-263.
115.
Olcott, Charles S.1921 "The Orkneys and Shetlands: a mysterious group of islands ," National Geographic Magazine39: 197-228.
116.
Old-lore Miscellany .... See Orkney and Shetland Miscellany
117.
Omond, James *n.d. (ca. 1911) Orkney eighty years ago (with special attention to Evie), Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh. 27 (double-column) p. (There is another n.d. edition, with 62 p.) The parish of Ophir in the southern Mainland: beliefs, domestic animals, houses, foods, furniture, dress, feasts, weddings, tools, kilns, farm buildings, farm implements, querns, etc. A good source, but there are a number of serious factual errors.
118.
The Orcadian Hirkwall (1854- ). The oldest, and still surviving, weekly newspaper in the Orkney Islands. A gold mine for data on local history, folk life, and folklore.
The Orkney Herald Kirkwall (1860- ). The second Orcadian newspaper; ceased publication in the late 1950s. Important for items on local history and folk life.
122.
Orkney Miscellany. Being Orkney Record and Antiquarian Society Papers Five issues so far (1953- ). Mainly history, but useful to the ethnologist.
123.
Orkney and Shetland Miscellany Title changed April 1909 (vol. 3) to Old-lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Sutherland, London, Viking Society for Northern Research. 10 volumes: Vol. 1 (1907- )-Vol. 10 (1935-46).
124.
Orkney Tourist Association n.d. Welcome to the Orkney Islands. The official guide book of the c. 1974 County of Orkney, Kirkwall, Orkney Tourist Association. 88 p.
125.
Peterkin, Alexander (The Elder) 1822 Notes on Orkney and Zetland; illustrative of the history, antiquities, scenery, and customs of those islands, Vol. 1 (no more issued). Edinburgh, Macredie, Skelly. 144, 109 p.
126.
Picken, Stuart D. B.1972The soul of an Orkney parish. Studies in the life and history of an ancient Orkney parish, Kirkwall, The Kirkwall Press. 5, 120 p. Local religious history and religious practices in the parishes of South Ronaldsay and Burray; data from the local church archives.
127.
Pløyen, Christian1840Erindringer fra en reise til Shetlandsøerne, Örkenøerne og Skotland i sommern1839, Kjøbenhavn, C. A. Reissel. 298 p.
128.
Pringle, Robert Oliphant1874On the agriculture of the islands of Orkney, Edinburgh, Neill. 68 p., map. (Originally in the Highland and Agriculture Society of Scotland, Transactions, 4th ser. 6 [1874]: 1-68.) General conditions, house construction, cattle breeds, soils, and changing patterns of agriculture.
129.
Reid, John F.1881Pictures from the Orkney Islands, Edinburgh , David Douglas. 58 p. of text, 55 illus.
130.
Rendall, Robert1960Orkney shore, 2d ed., Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Kirkwall Press. 200 p. Mainly natural history, but contains a surprising amount of information on folk life.
131.
Robertson, D.J.1909 "Orkney folk-lore notes," Old Lore Miscellany...2: 105-09. Finn men, charms, fairies and fishermen's superstitions. 1923- " Orkney folk-lore," Orkney Antiquarian Society, Proceedings2: 2437-46.
132.
Robertson, John *1967Uppies & doonies. The story of Kirkwall ba' game, Aberdeen, Aberdeen University Press. 18, 239 p., 30 plates, maps on end papers. A social history of the New Year's ba' game of Kirkwall and comparative notes on similar rituals in Britain.
133.
Roussell, Aage1934Norse building customs in the Scottish isles, Copenhagen, Levin and Munksgaard/ London, Williams & Norgate. 113 p., 56 illus. Includes some data on folk architecture in Orkney.
134.
Scotland, Education Department1974Education in Orkney. A report by H.M. Inspector of Schools, Edinburgh, Scottish Education Department. 3, 26 p.
135.
Scott, Mary A. *n.d. Island saga. The story of North Ronaldsay, Aberdeen, Alex P (1968) Reed and Son. 213 p. Contains a vast amount of data on local economic life, beliefs, peat cutting, houses, weddings, brewing, and other local customs.
136.
Senior, W. H., and W. B. Swan 1972 The report of a survey of agriculture in Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, Inverness, Highland and Island Development Board, Special Report No. 8. 222 p. General information on present-day agriculture, pp. 41-69.
137.
Shearer, John, ed., W. Groundwater, and J. D. Mackay 1966 The New Orkney book, London, Nelson. 183 p., 17 plates, maps. General information on Orkney; mainly for younger readers.
138.
Shirreff, John *1814 General view of the agriculture of the Orkney Islands, Edinburgh, London Board of Agriculture (Edinburgh, Archibald Constable/London, Longman, Rees, Hurst, Orme & Brown). 9, 195, 66, 12 p. The basic source for preindustrial agricultural practices and general folk life in Orkney.
139.
Simpson, Eric J.1963 "Farm carts and waggons of the Orkney Islands: the introduction and development of wheeled vehicles in Orkney in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries," Scottish Studies7: 154-69. Origin and history of sleds, wheeled vehicles, wheel types, harnesses, axles, brakes, and types of draught animals.
140.
Sinclair, (Sir) John, bart. *1791- The statistical account of Scotland. Drawn up from the commu-99 nications of the ministers of different parishes, 21 vols. Edinburgh, W. Creech ..., illus. (some folding), plates (partly folding), maps, plans, tables. A basic encyclopedic work on economic and social conditions, local history, and folk customs for the period. Usually referred to as: "The Old Statistical Account."
141.
1795 General view of the agriculture of the northern counties and islands of Scotland, including the counties of Cromarty, Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness, and the islands of Shetland, ... Orkney ..., 2 parts, London, Board of Agriculture. 21, 281 p.
142.
Sinclair, John, and J. Storer Clouston *1927The Orkney parishes, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, The Orcadian Office. 396 p. A reprinting, with commentaries, of the sections on Orkney from Sinclair's Statistical Account... (1791-99).
143.
Skea, Bessie1962A countrywoman's calendar, Kirkwall , W. R. Mackintosh. 60 p.
144.
1963Melons and icicles. A book of Orkney memories, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, " The Kirkwall Press." 62 p. Mainly reflective accounts of the author's earlier years on Shapinsay Island, as is her 1962 volume.
145.
Smith, Charles, Sprague1891 "Orkneys and Shetland," American Geographical Society, Bulletin23: 131-55.
146.
Spence, Magnus1907- "Orkney bonfires," Orkney and Shetland Miscellany1: 179-86. 08 The use of bonfires during St. John's Eve, Hallowmas, and Lammas.
147.
Spence, Rhoda1956 "Orkney's boy ploughmen," Scotland's Magazine (February): 21-23. A children's annual Easter folk ritual on South Ronaldsay Island.
148.
1973- Starling, Kirkwall, Kirkwall Press, "The Orcadian Office." 33 p. Three issues so far. Annual anthology of Orkney children's writings. Excellent for children's views of their own culture. There are also two older annuals of children's writings by the two secondary schools on the island: The Kirkwallian (Kirkwall), and The Stromnessian. I have not examined either publication.
149.
Steinnes, Asgaut1959 "The 'Huseby' system in Orkney," Scottish Historical Review38: 36-46. A study of the Viking Age royal administrative farms in Orkney and the modern evidence for them in local place names.
150.
Stromness Museum 1972 Stromness. Late nineteenth century photographs, Stromness, Orkney Natural History Society. 4 p. of text, 59 plates. A series of photos by an unknown photographer, depicting street scenes and life in Stromness in the 1890s.
151.
1972 The Orkney croft, Stromness, Stromness Museum. 8 p. Brief but very useful, especially the plates and illustrations.
152.
Sutherland, Douglas1966Against the wind: an Orkney idyll, London, Heinemann. 210 p., 8 plates. General information on social life and local customs.
153.
Tait, W.S.1926 "Farming in a bygone day," Orkney Agricultural Discussion Society, Journal2: 13-18. Farming practices from the 1730s to the 1850s. Includes some notes on Caithness in Scotland.
154.
Thompson, David1965The people of the sea. A journey in search of the seal legend, rev. ed., London, Barrie & Rockliffe. 10, 210 p. Contains some information on selkie legends in Orkney.
155.
Thomson, David Patrick1956Orkney through the centuries. Lights and shadows of the church's life in the northern islands, Crieff, published by the Author/Perth, Munro Press. 32 p.
156.
Tocher Edinburgh, School of Scottish Studies. 1971-. A quarterly. Contains many scattered short notes on Orkney folktales, ethnological notes, proverbs, dietary customs, etc. Material taken from the Folklore Archives of the School of Scottish Studies.
157.
Troup, J.A., and E. Eunson1967Stromness. 150 years a burgh 1817-1967, Stromness, W. R. Rendall. 32 p., map.
158.
Tudor, John R. *1883The Orkneys and Shetland; their past and present state, London, E. Staford. 33, 703 p. Excellent general cultural information culled from various earlier published sources.
159.
Tulloch, Peter A. *1974A window on North Ronaldsay, Kirkwall, The Kirkwall Press, "The Orcadian Office." 3, 216 p., end maps. Good scattered information on all aspects of local folk life on North Ronaldsay.
160.
Wallace, James (M.D.) 1700An account of the islands of Orkney, London, printed for Jacob Tonson within Gray's-Inn-Gate ... 182 p. Local customs, pages 62-77; town of Kirkwall, pages 78-80.
161.
Wallace, (Rev.) James (Minister of Kirkwall) 1883 A description of the isles of Orkney, published by his son, Edinburgh, William Brown. 251 p. Original edition printed in 1693; additional notes added by his son in 1700.
162.
Weld, Charles Richard1860Two months in the Highlands, Orcades, and Skye, London, Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts . 19, 404 p., illus., 3 colored plates.
163.
Wilson, John1928Tales and travels of a school inspector, Glasgow, Jackson, Wylie. For rites on Orkney, see pages 146-59.
164.
1961Orkney journeys, Kirkwall, W. R. Mackintosh, "The Kirkwall Press." 98 p. A series of short sketches on the author's travels and short stays for puppet shows, vacations at various islands. Some sporadic useful data on local folk life.
