The Shetland Archives oftenreceives gifts of papers, andsometimes these papers havebeen the collections of poets:W.J. Tait, Rhoda Bulter andBasil Ramsay Anderson, forinstance. In 1999 the late MrsPat Robertson donated thepapers of her husband, T.A.Robertson, the poet ‘Vagaland’.

Mrs Robertson died lastmonth, and she has generouslybequeathed all rights in herhusband’s work, and her ownwork, to the Archives.

T.A. Robertson was born inWesterwick in Sandsting in1909. A shy man, he was afounder member of the NewShetlander magazine in 1947.He began to write poems for it– and contributed at least oneto each issue until he died, 27years later.

He was a fine poet in theShetland dialect, and his workinspired other local writers.Poems like ‘Da Sneug wal’,‘October poppy’ and ‘ASkyinbow o Tammy’s’ rankamong our finest verse.

Laeves fae Vagalandappeared in 1952, and MairLaeves fae Vagaland in 1965.His Collected Poems waspublished posthumously in1975, edited by his widow.

Pat Robertson, daughter of aShetland minister, wasVagaland’s collaborator inseveral projects, notably in thework called Da Sangs at A’llSing ta Dee, a carefullyassembled collection of

Shetland songs, published in1973.

Assistant Archivist JoanneWishart said: ‘This is a veryunusual and welcome bequest.T.A. Robertson’s work has beenout of print for many years, andwe shall now investigate thepossibility of reprinting some ofit. It is a very great honour forus to receive these rights.’

UnkansThe newsletter of the Shetland Museum and Archivesand the Shetland heritage community

FREEMarch 2009

Issue 13

Archives acquire Vagaland rights

MarchEEnnddss 1166tthh MMaarrcchh:: JJiimm TTaaiitt// BBoobbbbyyRRoobbeerrttssoonn eexxhhiibbiittiioonn.. DaGadderie.1188tthh:: LLeeccttuurree ‘‘TThhee BBrroocchhss ooffSShheettllaanndd:: rreecceenntt ccoonnttrroovveerrssiieessaanndd nneeww iiddeeaass’’ by Brian Smith.7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) Free– but booking essential.1144tthh:: MMuussiicc:: NNeeww TTrraaddiittiioonn.. Comealong and listen to the fantasticyoung fiddle group New Tradition.2pm, Free, drop-in. Boat Hall.2211sstt MMaarrcchh––2200tthh AApprriill:: EExxhhiibbiittiioonn‘‘FFaacciinngg tthhee SSeeaa’’, by Paul Bloomer.Da Gadderie.2277tthh MMaarrcchh––2277tthh AApprriill:: EExxhhiibbiittiioonn‘‘IInnssttaanntt KKaarrmmrraa’’, by Nick Brett,Eve Eunson, Hazel Walker.Corridor outside Auditorium2299tthh::‘‘JJoouurrnneeyymmaann''.. An illustratedtalk by Paul Bloomer on his artproduced during the last twentyyears. 2:30pm. Free, drop in.Auditorium

April11sstt:: ‘‘BBoorrrroowwiinngg DDaayy’’ KKiitteess..Forecast summer weather usingtraditional Borrowing Daystechnique. Make a kite with

forecast designs. P1-3:10:30am–12pm; P4-7: 1:30 – 3pm.£4, booking essential11sstt AApprriill––11sstt OOccttoobbeerr:: FFooccuussddiissppllaayy:: WWaalltteerr SSccootttt’’ss HHeerrbbaarriiuumm..Lower gallery22nndd:: KKaallee PPllaannttiinngg.. Learn aboutkale planting and why it was soimportant to crofters. Plant somekale and decorate a pot to takehome. P1-3: 10:30–11:30am; P4-7: 2:30–3.30pm. £3, bookingessential33rrdd:: PPrriinntt--mmaakkiinngg:: Be inspired byPaul Bloomer’s exhibition,‘Journeyman’. Design and createyour own prints. P5-7: 10:30-12:00am; S1-2: 2:00-3.30pm. £3booking essential2255tthh AApprriill –– 2255tthh MMaayy:: EExxhhiibbiittiioonn::‘‘OOiill WWoorrkkss’’ by Sue Jane Taylor. DaGadderiePlus lots to do for all agesthroughout the holidays! EasterScavenger Hunt, Trails, StorySacks AAllll eevveennttss aarree hheelldd aatt tthheeSShheettllaanndd MMuusseeuumm aanndd AArrcchhiivveessaanndd aarree ffrreeee,, uunnlleessss ootthheerrwwiisseessttaatteedd.. TToo bbooookk ccaallll 0011559955 669955005577..NNoo bbooookkiinngg iiss nneecceessssaarryy ffoorr ddrroopp--iinn eevveennttss..

What’s On Guide

Opening HoursMuseum:Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm

Archives:Monday-Friday 10am-4.30pm, Saturday 10am-1pm,Sunday closed

Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant:Daytime: Monday-Saturday 11am-4pm,Sunday 12pm-4pmEvenings: Friday-Saturday 7.00pm-11pm, last orders 9pm.To book, phone 01595 741569

FFrroomm lleefftt:: PPooeett TT.. AA..RRoobbeerrttssoonn,, MMrrss PPaatt RRoobbeerrttssoonn,,GGeeoorrggee MMaacckkaayy BBrroowwnn,, aannddMMrrss JJaanneettttee MMaarrwwiicckk iinn 11996677..AArrcchhiivveess DD2222//11//11//22

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BBrriiaann WWiisshhaarrtt aatt wwoorrkk..

MMaabbeell FFiisshheerr iinn aalllloovveerr,, wwiitthh hheerrhhuussbbaanndd..

Andy Robertson,1925-2008

Shetland’s heritage community wassaddened by the death in lateDecember of Andy Robertson of TheCabin museum.

Andy joined the Royal Navy duringthe Second World War and served ontank landing craft to Belgium and inthe clean-up in the Far East, stationedin Sri Lanka. Before he went away towar, he met his wife Babs in Voe. Theyrenewed their acquaintance in May1946 on his return from Australia.

Andy could turn his hand to mostthings and during his working life hehad many careers, from weaving tweedto lobster fishing. On his retirement in1989, Andy began to devote his energyto the collection of war memorabilia hehad amassed. The Cabin collectionbegan as a hobby, eventuallyoutgrowing Andy’s original porta-cabin,and is now housed in a modern Nissan-hut next to his home in Vidlin. Thegrowth of his collection attests to theinterest and support of visitors, many ofwhom became donors over the years.In some ways, however, Andy himselfwas the star attraction of The Cabin.His informal guided talks and hisknowledge of the collection captivatedvisitors and brought out the stories theobjects had to tell, for schoolbairns andwar veterans alike.

Andy was a one-man tour de force.He will be sorely missed by everyoneinvolved in local heritage, as well as bythe many dedicated visitors to TheCabin.An interview with Andy by Mary Blance,recorded 12 April 1989, is available inthe Shetland Archives. (BBCRS/1/9/57)

A sail for Vaila MaeFollowing the successful launch androwing season of the Museum’ssixareen Vaila Mae, we spent the wintermaking a few alterations. JackDuncan and Robbie Tait have made aninboard pump, auskerrie, owsin scoopand haulin kabe. They also haveimproved the oars and rowingpositions, making it easier for less-experienced rowers to use the boat.

The main task has been to put a sailon her. Robbie made the mast andyard using a 50 year old Sitka sprucefrom the Sullom Woodland Plantation.The difficult job of designing the sailwas entrusted to Brian Wishart fromSandwick. Brian has spent manyhours drawing different sail shapesusing a variety of sources in an attemptto get a sail that works well, reflectsthe sixareen's Westside heritage, andlooks right for the boat itself. He hasalso designed a smaller sail which willallow sailors of all abilities to have ago.

The sixareen and other boats will beafloat again in May, ready for anotherbusy season.

Aunt Mabel’s alloverOur Textile Collection was recentlyenhanced by the donation of a beautifulallover cardigan thought to have beenknitted by a Burra wife in the 1930’s or40’s.

The cardigan belonged to MabelFisher (1912-2008) from Ayrshire. Herniece, Mrs. Margaret Dunbar, kindlydonated it to the museum. Sheexplained that her Aunt Mabel travelledextensively and came to Shetland morethan once, her final trip being in 2002.As a young woman she had taken hermother’s advice to travel light with aheavy purse, travelling throughoutEurope, being one of the first Britishpeople to go behind the Iron Curtainfollowing the war.

Mrs. Fisher visited Shetland in the1930’s and 40’s and bought the cardigan

at that time. The bright, rich colours,the moss stitch button band and tailoredfit are typical of this period. Alas thename of the knitter has been forgotten,but Mrs. Fisher’s niece thought thejumper was purchased in Burra. We’dbe keen to hear from anyone withinformation about who may have knittedit.

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Is your heritage group working on aspecial project? Why not tell usabout it. Contact Carol Christiansenon 741560, carol@shetland-museum.org.uk

CCoommmmuunniittyy AArrcchhaaeeoollooggyyccoonnffeerreenncceeThe first Scottish CommunityArchaeology conference will be heldat Queen Margaret University inMusselburgh, 16-17 May 2009. Threeof Shetland’s community archaeologyprojects will be featured: excavationsat Sandwick in Unst by UnstArchaeology Group, reconstruction ofa Norse stofa by Papa Stour HistoryGroup and relocation/reconstructionof Cruester burnt mound by BressayHistory Group. For moreinformation, seewww.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=844&documentID=940

GGeeoollooggyy ccoouurrsseeAn introductory Shetland geologycourse is planned for late spring, forheritage workers who may want toboost their knowledge of this subject.If you are interested, please contactRobina Barton at Shetland AmenityTrust, 01595 694688,robina@shetlandamenity.org

OOrrggaanniissaattiioonn hheellppTwo organisations which may be ofhelp to volunteer groups are theScottish Council for VoluntaryOrganisations (SCVO):www.scvo.org.uk and the Office of theScottish Charity Regulator (OSCR):www.oscr.org.uk, which isparticularly helpful for groups whoare considering charitable status.

CChhuurrcchhiillll rreesseeaarrcchhffeelllloowwsshhiippssFunding is available from theWinston Churchill Memorial Trusttoward overseas travel costs forresearch projects. Fellowships areavailable to British citizens in theU.K. of any age and occupation.Projects must benefit the communityand the U.K. For more information,visit www.wcmt.org.uk/index.php.

COMMUNITYHERITAGE NEWS

Correction!

Staff Profile:Craig Gauld,AssistantArchivist

We would like to apologise for wrongly identifying one of the donors of the sheepmark book in the last issue of Unkans. He is, in fact, Christopher Halcrow (notChristopher Jamieson), shown here with the book just before it went south forconservation.

Assistant Archivist Joanne Wishart is going on maternity leave this month. We hearfrom her replacement Craig Gauld. Craig comes from Paisley and has recentlycompleted his Ph.D in Information Management and Preservation at GlasgowUniversity.QQ.. WWhhaatt aarree yyoouu llooookkiinngg ffoorrwwaarrdd ttoo mmoosstt aabboouutt yyoouurr nneeww jjoobb??I am really looking forward to working in an archive that is so rooted in thecommunity and plays such a prominent role within it. The archive comes alive at alocal level when it is accountable to those whose heritage we hold – the collectionswe hold should be seen as every Shetlander’s very own private collection. QQ.. WWhhyy ddoo yyoouu tthhiinnkk aarrcchhiivveess aarree iimmppoorrttaanntt??The archive must be at the centre of a community that is forward-looking yet learnsfrom its past. We preserve. We hold our records in perpetuity in order that they caninform and educate those who wish to access them. QQ.. WWhhaatt ddoo yyoouu eennjjooyy mmoosstt aabboouutt wwoorrkkiinngg wwiitthh aarrcchhiivveess??I love the sense of personal fulfilment and knowledge-gathering that occurs fromany gateway into the records – when a new collection comes in that you caninvestigate or when a user makes a request that throws up some unexpectedsnippet of information. In addition I love the sense of public service - the archiveserves its users and can bring personal development and knowledge to theindividual.QQ.. WWhhaatt aarree yyoouu llooookkiinngg ffoorrwwaarrdd ttoo mmoosstt aabboouutt lliivviinngg aanndd wwoorrkkiinngg iinn SShheettllaanndd??It is a great opportunity to enhance my knowledge of such a rich and diverseculture, to take on new activities and challenges, and to become, hopefully, part ofa community both in the workplace and outwith.

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Get in touchWe are keen to include contributions from anyone who has something interesting to share about Shetland’s heritage.

If you would like to stock our newsletter or distribute copies to your group, let us know.

Email: info@shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk Telephone: 01595 695057 Fax: 01595 696729

Post: Newsletter, Shetland Museum and Archives, Hay’s Dock, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0WP

TThhiiss ppaaggee iiss ddeeddiiccaatteedd ttoo rreesseeaarrcchh oonn aallll aassppeeccttss ooff SShheettllaanndd’’ss hhiissttoorryy aanndd hheerriittaaggee.. CCoonnttrriibbuuttiioonnss aarree wweellccoommee..

DDEEAADDLLIINNEE FFOORR NNEEXXTT IISSSSUUEE IISS 1177 AAPPRRIILL 22000099

The wheels on the bus . . .The 1910s was the golden age of shop marketing, and it wasalso the era when mass-produced toys became available. Wewere pleased to receive a splendid item that was a bit of both:a tin for Victory Gums and Lozenges, in the form of a bus. Thetin would have functioned as a display container on the shopcounter, until the lucky child who was in the shop the day allits sweets were sold got to take it home as a toy. No such funwith a cardboard box.

Unfortunately the Edwardian road wreck had a bent andrusted body, and all wheels were detached. Artefacts in thecollection have very tight restrictions on what work can becarried out on them, because we have to protect all originalfeatures. Luckily, the bus is for our Learning Collection, whereobjects are to be handled, and don’t have the same restrictionsas artefacts. In his role of Museum Attendant, TrevorJamieson has turned his hand to most things, but not carmechanics. It was possible to use filler and tiny bolts, and adiscreet re-paint. Nothing more was required, because we stillwant the toy to look like it is 90 years old, and over-restorationwould ruin its authenticity.

The bus will once more be used by children, as one of theobjects in our Toys From the Past sessions. These popularsessions are held for children from nursery to primary two,and involve a tour of the displays, looking at toys from theViking to the Victorian periods. The children then do aworkshop in the Learning Room where they look at thedifferences between a modern doll and a straw duckie, and geta chance to handle some old toys – which will now include thebus.

At this stage in their education the children are justbeginning to learn about concepts such as time and history.This fun session is a way of looking at materials, describingobjects, and working out the similarities and differencesbetween toys in the past and today. It’s really important thatthey get a chance to touch objects, as there is so much morethey can learn through touch – especially at this young age.The whole visit aims to develop key skills such as enquiry andobservation, as well as being good fun.

Many objects that have no special background story mightstill be useful to our Learning Service. We use objects ontours, in workshops and for our Discovery Boxes that areloaned to schools, care homes and community groups. If youhave items please contact Kirsty Clark, on 01595 695057 oremail kirsty@shetland-museum.org.uk

DDrr.. IIaann TTaaiitt,, CCuurraattoorr ooff CCoolllleeccttiioonnssKKiirrssttyy CCllaarrkk,, LLiiffeelloonngg LLeeaarrnniinngg OOffffiicceerr

AAlltthhoouugghh tthhee bbuuss wwaass bbaatttteerreedd,, aallll tthhee bbiittss wweerree tthheerree..

SSppookkeess ppaaiinntteedd,, aanndd rreeaaddyy ffoorr tthhee rrooaadd..

TThhee rreessttoorreedd bbuuss iinn uussee..