Alexander Crawford Lamb
Encyclopedia
Alexander Crawford Lamb (1843–1897) was a Scottish hotelier, art collector, antiquarian
and writer. He amassed a considerable collection of paintings, literary works, china, furniture antiquities and other ephemera
and memorabilia. His most notable literary achievement was the publication of a massive volume entitled Dundee: its Quaint and Historic Buildings (1895).
on 21 February 1843. He was the son of Thomas Lamb, who founded Lamb’s Temperance Hotel in Murraygate, Dundee in 1828, and of Jessie Crawford. Lamb was educated at the High School of Dundee
before being apprenticed to the baking and confectionery trade. After completing his apprenticeship he went to Liverpool, Manchester, and to Edinburgh to gain experience in hotel management. In 1867, Lamb was given charge of a temperance hotel established at 64 Reform Street, (the building is now headquarters of the Alliance Trust
). Soon after, the Murraygate hotel was sold off, and he took over the family business when his father died in 1869. On 3 July 1872, he married Mary Ann Worrall (1851–1937) in Dundee and they had two sons and four daughters. They were Mary (b. 1873), Jessie (b. 1879), Helen Kidd (b. 1881), Thomas Crawford (b. 1883), Maggie Robertson (b. 1885) and George Buxton (b. 1887). In 1878, Lamb was made a member of the Society of Antiquaries
. He was also a member of the Fine Art Committee in Dundee, of the Graphic Arts Association (now the Dundee Art Society) of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, and other societies. He died in London on 29 April 1897.
, Scott
, Dickens
and Ruskin
. In particular, he collected items pertaining to the history of Dundee. "Views of old buildings, examples of early and recent typography, consecutive specimens of Dundee journalism, coins, medals, and tokens, and relics of almost every conceivable kind which illustrated the evolution of the city’s trade and commerce, were obtained, carefully stored, and zealously guarded." This collection formed the basis of exhibitions in 1892-93 and 1896, the catalogues of which are mentioned below.
). It was reviewed in The Spectator
of 19 October 1895: "Mr Lamb deserves high praise for his painstaking and interesting work, which must have cost many years of self-denying labour. It is too large and costly to pass into the hands of the general public, though a judicious selection might easily be made for their use; but many in Dundee can well afford to purchase it, and they ought not to miss the opportunity of possessing themselves of a splendid memorial of their ancient city. . . A word of praise must be given to the illustrations which adorn Mr Lamb's sumptuous volume."
Dundee Libraries, Local History Centre:
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
and writer. He amassed a considerable collection of paintings, literary works, china, furniture antiquities and other ephemera
Ephemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
and memorabilia. His most notable literary achievement was the publication of a massive volume entitled Dundee: its Quaint and Historic Buildings (1895).
Life
A. C. Lamb was born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
on 21 February 1843. He was the son of Thomas Lamb, who founded Lamb’s Temperance Hotel in Murraygate, Dundee in 1828, and of Jessie Crawford. Lamb was educated at the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
before being apprenticed to the baking and confectionery trade. After completing his apprenticeship he went to Liverpool, Manchester, and to Edinburgh to gain experience in hotel management. In 1867, Lamb was given charge of a temperance hotel established at 64 Reform Street, (the building is now headquarters of the Alliance Trust
Alliance Trust
Alliance Trust plc is a publicly-traded investment and financial services company, headquartered in Dundee, Scotland. Established in 1888, the firm operates the largest investment trust in Britain. Alliance Trust is the tenth-largest company based in Scotland...
). Soon after, the Murraygate hotel was sold off, and he took over the family business when his father died in 1869. On 3 July 1872, he married Mary Ann Worrall (1851–1937) in Dundee and they had two sons and four daughters. They were Mary (b. 1873), Jessie (b. 1879), Helen Kidd (b. 1881), Thomas Crawford (b. 1883), Maggie Robertson (b. 1885) and George Buxton (b. 1887). In 1878, Lamb was made a member of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
. He was also a member of the Fine Art Committee in Dundee, of the Graphic Arts Association (now the Dundee Art Society) of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, and other societies. He died in London on 29 April 1897.
The Lamb Collection
Lamb's hotel business was very successful and presumably provided the financial means whereby he amassed the immense Lamb Collection which "now forms one of the largest and most varied collections of local history material in Scotland". On his death the collection was acquired by Edward Cox and donated to the City of Dundee. The artefacts are now in the City Museum and over 450 boxes of written and printed material are available and catalogued at the Local History Centre in Dundee Central Library, Wellgate, Dundee. His library included quarto and folio works of Shakespeare, and first editions of BurnsRobert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
, Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
. In particular, he collected items pertaining to the history of Dundee. "Views of old buildings, examples of early and recent typography, consecutive specimens of Dundee journalism, coins, medals, and tokens, and relics of almost every conceivable kind which illustrated the evolution of the city’s trade and commerce, were obtained, carefully stored, and zealously guarded." This collection formed the basis of exhibitions in 1892-93 and 1896, the catalogues of which are mentioned below.
Dundee: Its Quaint and Historic Buildings (1895)
This book contains large and impressive lithographs of around fifty quaint buildings, streets and closes demolished in the 1870s onwards, together with authoritative historical descriptions of them. Their locations are pinpointed on an 18th century map of the city also included. Queen Victoria was presented with a particularly lavish copy of the book (it is perhaps the copy now available in the British LibraryBritish Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
). It was reviewed in The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
of 19 October 1895: "Mr Lamb deserves high praise for his painstaking and interesting work, which must have cost many years of self-denying labour. It is too large and costly to pass into the hands of the general public, though a judicious selection might easily be made for their use; but many in Dundee can well afford to purchase it, and they ought not to miss the opportunity of possessing themselves of a splendid memorial of their ancient city. . . A word of praise must be given to the illustrations which adorn Mr Lamb's sumptuous volume."
Publications
- The Dundee Register of Merchants and Trades, with all the public offices, &c. for M,DCC,LXXXIII. A reprint in facsimile, edited by A. C. Lamb, of the first number of the “Dundee Register.” Dundee [printed], 1782, [reprinted], 1879.
- "Bibliography of Dundee Periodical Literature, 1775-1891". Scottish Notes and Queries. Aberdeen: D. Wyllie & Son, 1890. Vol. III, Dec 1889 - May 1890 and Vol. IV, June 1890- May 1891. In a series of sixteen articles in this monthly journal, Lamb details exhaustively the periodical publications in Dundee from The Dundee Magazine of 1775 onwards.
- Guide to remarkable monuments in the HowffThe HowffThe Howff is a burial ground in the city of Dundee, Scotland. Established in 1564, it has one of the most important collections of tombstones in Scotland, and is protected as a category A listed building.-History:...
, Dundee, 1892. - Dundee: Its Quaint and Historic Buildings. (The illustrations are from drawings made by William Gibb, David Small [1846-1927] and Charles S. Lawson [d. 1884].) Dundee: G. Petrie, 1895. In 2005, a facsimile copy of this book was published by the Tay Valley Family History Centre in Dundee.
Catalogues of the Lamb Collection
- Catalogue of "Old Dundee" - A Pictorial and Historical Exhibition, Illustrative of the Past Life, Social, Political, Municipal, and Industrial, of the Ancient Burgh of Dundee, 1892-93. Dundee: published by the Dundee Art Exhibition Committee, 1892.
- Catalogue of the Burns, Scott, and Shakespeare exhibition comprising books, manuscripts, engravings, medals, &c. from the collection of A.C. Lamb ... by Alexander Crawford Lamb; James Duncan, of Dundee.; Alexander Balharrie; Dundee (Scotland). Free Libraries. Victoria galleries. Dundee: J. Leng, 1896.
- Dowell, Alexander. Catalogue of the select and charming cabinet of modern paintings: valuable collection of medals, choice old cabinet china, camei, antiquities, etc., the property of the late A. C. Lamb, Esq., Dundee. [Edinburgh] [1898].
- John Maclachlan, A Brief Guide of the "Old Dundee" Historical Collection: Formed by the late Alex. C. Lamb, F.S.A. Scot., and presented by Edward Cox, Esq., M.A., of Cardean. [Dundee] Christmas, 1901.
Paintings catalogued in the Dundee Art Collection
- William Barclay (fl. 19th cent.) - Broughty Castle from the Stannergate - Cat. No. 1971/6.
- James Michael Brown (1854–1947) - The Poet William McGonagall - (charcoal) - Cat. No. 4/41.
- William B. Lamont (1857–1924) - The Poet William McGonagall (1830-1902) - (oil on canvas) - Cat. No. 16/12.
- Unknown Artist - Portrait of a Lady - (oil - bust; full face) - Cat. No. 1971/131.
Sources
- British Library catalogue: http://www.bl.uk
- National Library of Scotland catalogue: http://www.nls.uk
- Worldcat: http://www.worldcat.org
Dundee Libraries, Local History Centre:
- http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/lamb/index.htm
- http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/lamb/biography.htm
- http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/lamb/obituary.htm