National Museums Scotland Library

Special Collections

 

PAPERS OF MARGARET SWAIN

 

 

 

Margaret Helen Swain (1909-2002) was a historian of embroidery and textiles.  The author of several books and numerous articles, she also lectured widely, and her papers reflect these activities.  Her early publications were on Ayrshire needlework but she became an expert on embroidery in general and Scottish work in particular.  Her books included Historical Needlework (1970), The Needlework of Mary, Queen of Scots (1973) and Scottish Embroidery (1986).  Her advice was frequently sought by curators and collectors and she became a consultant to the National Museum of Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.  She was asked to help to improve the displays in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which led to the publication in 1988 of her catalogue of the tapestries and textiles there.

 

The files are arranged in general subject groups, but there is considerable overlapping and material on a particular subject may be found in more than one file or group.  Most of the files contain notes, photographs and correspondence.  Under ‘Title’, the headings are those given to the files by Margaret Swain, but words and phrases in square brackets have been supplied.  Dates given in the finding list should be taken as a rough guide only; much of the material is undated.

 

 

 

General subject groups are as follows:

 

 

 

 

Reference

Title

Contents

Date

Container

MHS 1/1-2/9

Styles of needlework

 

 

 

MHS 1/1

Knotting.

 

1966, 1986

Wallet

MHS 1/2

Blackwork.

Correspondence with enclosures.

1983-87

Folder

MHS 1/3

Tailors patchwork.

 

1975-90

Folder

MHS 1/4

Patchwork [and quilting].

Printed items; also photographs of Canadian and American quilts.

 

Envelope

MHS 1/5

Turkey work.

Includes typescript of article ‘Textile covers and the ‘farthingale’ chair from: the evidence from Holyroodhouse’ by Margaret Swain, 1979.

1975-86

Folder

MHS 1/6

Turkey work.

 

1987-91

Folder

MHS 1/7

Tambouring.

Notes and correspondence.

1961-61

Wallet

MHS 1/8

Whitework and handkerchiefs.

Notes and correspondence, mostly on Edinburgh shawls.

1956-59

Folder

MHS 1/9

Whitework

(a) detail of trade sampler; (b) pincushion with boy with hoop.  From the Misses Bowie, embroidery firm, Edinburgh.  Photographs and notes.

 

Envelope

MHS 2/1

Whitework (Dresden work, etc.).

Mostly photographs.

1961-87

Folder

MHS 2/2

Dresden work.

Correspondence.

1954-68

Wallet

MHS 2/3

Details of flounces, Dresden work, etc.

Photographs from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

 

Folder

MHS 2/4

[Ayrshire embroidery and lace].

 

1954-83

Folder

MHS 2/5

Pitsligo lace.

 

1961-62

Wallet

MHS 2/6

Lace (various).

 

1971, 1986

Folder

MHS 2/7

Het Sterckshof.  Exhibition of lace.

 

1967

Wallet

MHS 2/8

Damasks and shawls.

Correspondence, notes and two articles by A. Cavallo.  Also typescript of an article ‘Edinburgh shawls’ by Margaret Swain.

1960-66

Wallet

MHS 2/9

False Florentine.

 

1975-78

Envelope


 

 

 

MHS 2/10-3/7

Needlework pictures and colifichets

 

 

 

MHS 2/10

Needlework pictures, 17th cent.  Allegorical and pastoral.

Photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 3/1

18th c. needlework pictures.

 

1989-94

Wallet

MHS 3/2

[Needlework pictures].

Photographs and letters about four pictures owned by Miss Ann Parkinson.

1992

Folder

MHS 3/3

Embroidered Georgian pictures.

Photographs and correspondence.  See also MHS 39.

1966

Wallet

MHS 3/4

[Embroidered Georgian pictures:] illustrations.

Photographs and correspondence.  See also MHS 39.

1991-95

Wallet

MHS 3/5

Colifichets.

 

1960-81

Wallet

MHS 3/6

Colifichets.

 

1961-98

Wallet

MHS 3/7

Colifichets.  Spamer A.

Photostats from a publication probably by Adolf Spamer (1883-1953).

 

Wallet

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 3/8-4/6

Tapestries

 

 

 

MHS 3/8

17th c. Flemish tapestry hangings in Scotland.

Lectures.

1986, 1991

Folder

MHS 3/9

Oudenaarde (Cawdor)

Papers concerning the Oudenaarde tapestries at Cawdor Castle, with a typescript of a paper on the subject by Margaret Swain.

1989-97

Folder

MHS 4/1

Dalmahoy tapestries.

Letters, notes and transcripts.

1977, 1985

Wallet

MHS 4/2

NTS tapestries: Newhailes [and] Falkland.

 

1980-99

Wallet

MHS 4/3

Prestonfield tapestries.

 

1986-97

Wallet

MHS 4/4

Tapestries at Wemyss Castle.

 

1977-96

Folder

MHS 4/5

Tapestries at Wemyss Castle.

Includes material on Stanway House tapestries.

1982-94

Folder

MHS 4/6

Saumarez Manor tapestries, Guernsey.

 

1988-98

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 4/7-5/11

Furnishings

 

 

 

MHS 4/7

Screens.

Wallington and elsewhere.

1975, 1988

Folder

MHS 4/8

Screens.

Holyrood, Newhailes, etc.

1983

Folder

MHS 4/9

Screens.

Correspondence with Elizabeth Price of Houston, Texas.

1972-77, 1991

Folder

MHS 4/10

Mirrors.

Photographs only.

1987

Folder

MHS 4/11

Welbeck.  Bonheur du jour.

 

1988

Envelope

MHS 4/12

Card tables.

 

1970, 1993

Wallet

MHS 4/13

Dummy boards.

 

1987

Folder

MHS 5/1

Needlework caskets.

 

1968, 1985-87

Wallet

MHS 5/2

Needlework boxes.

 

1989-96

Wallet

MHS 5/3

Embroidered cabinet.

Cabinet, c.1720, in the Centraal Museum, Utrecht.  Photographs only.

 

Envelope

MHS 5/4

Philadelphia cabinet.

Correspondence with Jay R. Stiefel.

1977

Wallet

MHS 5/5

Cushions.

Photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 5/6

[Valances, etc.]

 

1973-96

Folder

MHS 5/7

Curtains at Haddo House, Aberdeenshire.

Mostly photographs.

 

Envelope

MHS 5/8

Curtains at Haddo House.

Mostly photographs.

 

Envelope

MHS 5/9

Scotch carpets.

.

1971-78

Wallet

MHS 5/10

Mary Erskine table carpet.

Correspondence and a few notes.

1964-65

Wallet

MHS 5/11

[Table carpet.  Charles van der Heyden.]

 

1985

Envelope

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 5/12-7/3

Chair covers

 

 

 

MHS 5/12

Chair covers.

 

1975-98

Folder

MHS 6/1

Chair covers.

Includes xeroxes but no photographs.

1968-99

Wallet

MHS 6/2

Chair covers.

Mostly photographs.

 

Wallet

MHS 6/3

Chair covers: Mrs Delany.

 

1991

Envelope

MHS 6/4

Chair covers: Nunwick Arbury.

Photographs only.

 

Envelope

MHS 6/5

[Chair covers:] pictorial.

 

1976-77, 2000

Folder

MHS 6/6

[Chair covers:] pictorial (Lady Lever Art Gallery).

 

2001

Folder

MHS 6/7

[Chair covers:] flowered.

 

 

Folder

MHS 7/1

[Chair covers:] Florentine work.

 

1975

Folder

MHS 7/2

[Chair covers:] not canvas.

 

1977

Folder

MHS 7/3

Tapestry chair seats.

Material for an article in Country Life.

1991

Folder

 

 

 

MHS 7/4-7/11

Costume

 

 

 

MHS 7/4

Aprons.

Postcards only.

 

Wallet

MHS 7/5

Caps.

Photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 7/6

Ayrshire caps.

Photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 7/7

Men’s nightcaps.

 

 

Wallet

MHS 7/8

Ayrshire gowns.

 

1981-85

Folder

MHS 7/9

Eglinton.

Photographs of costume, etc., belonging to the Earl and Countess of Eglinton.

1996

Envelope

MHS 7/10

Purses: ceremonial.

 

1968-80

Envelope

MHS 7/11

Costume: ceremonial.

 

1984-85

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 7/12-8/2

Vestments

 

 

 

MHS 7/12

Vestments.

 

1981-83

Wallet

MHS 8/1

Vestments: Blairs College, Aberdeen; Traquair, etc.

 

1970-73

Wallet

MHS 8/2

Vestments at Traquair.

 

1992-95

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 8/3-8/10

Needlework in country houses

 

 

 

MHS 8/3

Textiles in Scottish country houses.

Typescript catalogue entries.

1981

Folder

MHS 8/4

[Needlework at Balcarres.]

Includes a list of manuscript designs for needlework and letters about Margaret Swain’s article ‘A Wild Sort of Imagination.’

1977

Folder

MHS 8/5

Cowdenknowes.

Photographs of embroideries (by Katherine M. Hope?).

1995

Envelope

MHS 8/6

Mellerstain panel.

(No. 21 in the exhibition Needlework from Scottish Country Houses).

1963-70

Wallet

MHS 8/7

Newliston panels.

Notes, photocopies, etc.

 

Wallet

MHS 8/8

Newliston panels.

Mostly correspondence.

1964-82

Folder

MHS 8/9

Gawthorpe Hall catalogue.

Typescript lists of costume, embroidery and related collections.

 

Clip binder

MHS 8/10

Hardwick Hall.

Photographs.

 

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 9/1-9/5

Holyroodhouse

 

 

 

MHS 9/1

Hamilton inventories.  Holyrood.

 

 

Folder

MHS 9/2

Holyrood furniture.

Photographs and letters.

1978, 1983

Folder

MHS 9/3

[Tapestries at] Holyrood.

Photographs and letters. See also MHS 48.

1978, 1990

Folder

MHS 9/4

[Silk wall coverings at Holyrood.]

Correspondence.

1992

Envelope

MHS 9/5

Turkeywork chairs, Holyroodhouse.

 

1975-80

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 9/6-9/8

Mary, Queen of Scots

 

 

 

MHS 9/6

Mary, Queen of Scots.

Notes, photocopies and letters. See also MHS 32.

1972-76

Folder

MHS 9/7

Mary, Queen of Scots.

Mostly photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 9/8

Mary, Queen of Scots.

Photocopies of inventories, etc.

 

Wallet

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 9/9-10/10

Needlewomen

 

 

 

MHS 9/9

Needlewomen.

Includes material on Mary Linwood, Anne Eliza Morritt and Mary Knowles.

1980-94

Folder

MHS 10/1

Autograph needlework designs.

 

1953, 1975

Folder

MHS 10/2

G. Wingfield Digby, ‘Lady Julia Calverley, embroideress.’

Letter from Mary Ireland and photostat of article in the Connoisseur cxlv.

1959-60

Folder

MHS 10/3

20th century needlewomen.  Ann Macbeth, Mrs Newbery [and others].

 

 

Folder

MHS 10/4

Studio 1.

Photocopies of articles in Studio 1 (1898-1900) on Glasgow designers including Ann Macbeth and Mrs Newbery.

 

Clip file

MHS 10/5

Studio 2.

Photocopies of articles, mainly on Ann Macbeth.

 

Clip file

MHS 10/6

Ann Macbeth, 1875-1948.

 

1972-73

Wallet

MHS 10/7

Mrs Newbery.

 

1970-78

Folder

MHS 10/8

Joan Drew.

Retrospective exhibition of her embroidery, 1978.

1983

Folder

MHS 10/9

Sketches made by Mrs [Isabel A.] Simpson, “Carita”.

Needlework designs.

 

Sketch pad

MHS 10/10

[Illustrations of women sewing].

 

1986, n.d.

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 10/11-11/12

Sources of designs

 

 

 

MHS 10/11

Designs from a manuscript book lent by Mrs G. Anderson.

Photostats.

 

Folder

MHS 10/12

Designs from manuscript book labelled Mrs Mercer of Gorthy.

 

 

Envelope

MHS 10/13

Needlework design.

Correspondence.

1970-79

Folder

MHS 10/14

Lorimer designs for embroidery.

Photocopies, with a few photographs of other designs and of the process of pricking.

 

Folder

MHS 10/15

17th-c Biblical [designs in embroideries].

Biblical designs in embroideries.

1979-91

Folder

MHS 11/1

[17th-century Biblical engravings].

Photographs from the Pierpont Morgan Library.

 

Folder

MHS 11/2

Esther and Ahasuerus

Photographs of illustrations from incunabula.

 

Wallet

MHS 11/3

Historical [subjects].

Embroidery depicting historical events.  Photographs.

 

Folder

MHS 11/4

Engravings.

Photographs and photostats, mostly of costumes, and notes from the Nancy Cabot collection.

 

Wallet

MHS 11/5

[Engravings, mostly of animals and birds].

Photocopies from early printed books.

 

Folder

MHS 11/6-7

[Illustrations from early printed books].

Photostats.

 

2 folders

MHS 11/8

[Illustrations after M. de Vos].

Two sets of photographs: illustrations from Icones illustrium feminarum by P. Gallaeus (MHS 11/8/1) and illustrations of scenes from the life of Christ (MHS 11/8/2).

 

Folder

MHS 11/9

The Four Seasons after Brill.

Photographs.

 

Envelope

MHS 11/10

Vinciolo and Shorleyker.

Photographs from F. Vinciolo, Les secondes oeuvres and R. Shorleyker, A Scholehouse of the Needle.

 

Envelope

MHS 11/11

[Isaac Moillon].

Photocopies of material concerning Isaac Moillon, peintre du roi, 1614-73.

2002

Envelope

MHS 11/12

English or unknown provenance.

Photographs of designs.

 

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 11/13-11/18

Canadian and American work

 

 

 

MHS 11/13

Embroidery in Canada.

 

1979-82

Folder

MHS 11/14

Moosehair embroidery.

 

1966-75

Folder

MHS 11/15

Moosehair [embroidery].

Photographs and a letter.

1987

Folder

MHS 11/16

[Ursuline embroidery].

Translation by J.T. Dawson, 1982, of ‘Airs on the Viol, gilded flowers’ by Marius Barbeau, on the embroidery of the Ursuline Sisters of Quebec.  Typescript.

 

Ring binder

MHS 11/17

American memorial pictures.

 

1974, 1993

Folder

MHS 11/18

[American embroidery].

Correspondence, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 12/1-13/4

Miscellaneous subjects

 

 

 

MHS 12/1

Scottish needlework.

 

1965, 1985

Folder

MHS 12/2

[Luigi Ruffini].

Correspondence and notes concerning Ruffini (d. ca. 1807), a professional embroiderer in Scotland.

1953-2000

Folder

MHS 12/3

[Testaments in the National Archives of Scotland].

Photocopies and transcripts.

 

Wallet

MHS 12/4

Wemyss School of Needlework.

Notes and typescript catalogue of the collection.

 

Wallet

MHS 12/5

Scottish calico printing.

 

1961-64

Folder

MHS 12/6

Block printing and embroidery.

 

1969-76

Folder

MHS 12/7

[Embroidered bookbindings].

 

1966-89

Folder

MHS 12/8

Tools, etc.

 

1979

Folder

MHS 12/9

Emblems.

One letter only.

1977

Folder

MHS 12/10

Cut paper.

 

 

Envelope

MHS 12/11

[Biographical notes on Scottish figures].

Card index.

 

Small envelope

MHS 12/12

Mrs Delany.

Photographs and MS extracts from her Life and Correspondence.

 

Folder

MHS 12/13

[Russborough].

Postcards of Russborough, Co. Wicklow, and its paintings.

 

Small envelope

MHS 12/14

[Photographs].

Packets of photographs and negatives taken by Margaret Swain, including the Wemyss tapestries.

1980-85

Wallet

MHS 13/1-3

[Photographs].

Photographs, mainly of embroideries.

 

3 folders

MHS 13/4

[Miscellaneous papers].

 

1953-89, n.d.

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 13/5-14/5

Correspondence

 

 

 

MHS 13/5

[General correspondence].

 

1993

Folder

MHS 13/6

[General correspondence].

 

1994

Folder

MHS 13/7

[General correspondence].

 

1995

Folder

MHS 13/8

[General correspondence].

 

1996

Folder

MHS 13/9

[General correspondence].

 

1997

Folder

MHS 13/10

[General correspondence].

 

1998

Folder

MHS 13/11

[General correspondence].

 

1999

Folder

MHS 13/12

[General correspondence].

 

2000

Folder

MHS 13/13

Ian Gow.

Correspondence.

1996-99

Wallet

MHS 14/1

Monreith.

Correspondence and photocopies from Ian Gow concerning Monreith House.

1997

Folder

MHS 14/2

Publishers’ letters.

 

1954-80

Folder

MHS 14/3

Mrs Jamieson’s portrait.

Correspondence.

1994

Folder

MHS 14/4

Re Mrs Cabot’s letters.

Correspondence concerning the gift of the letters to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, with photocopies of three letters, 1964, 1969.

1996-97

Folder

MHS 14/5

[Danièle Denise].

Correspondence with Danièle Denise, Fontainebleau.

1995-56

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 14/6-14/12

Student and early notes

 

 

 

MHS 14/6

[English literature].

Student notes.

1928?

Notebook

MHS 14/7

[Designs for needlework].

Three exercise books, probably early, containing designs for needlework and notes mostly from printed sources.

 

Envelope

MHS 14/8

[History of art].

Notes from lectures on the history of art.  Originally in a ring binder.

1961-61

Folder

MHS 14/9

[European painting].

Notes.

1962

Ring binder

MHS 14/10

[European painting].

Notes from lectures. Originally in a ring binder.

1963

Folder

MHS 14/11

[Linen trade].

Notes on the linen trade, needlework, etc.

1950s

Ring binder in envelope

MHS 14/12

[Needlework].

Notes on needlework, mostly from printed sources.

 

Small ring binder in envelope

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 15/1-15/2

Bibliographical notes

 

 

 

MHS 15/1

[Bibliographical notes].

Bibliographical notes on textiles and related subjects.

1960s?

Ring binder in envelope

MHS 15/2

[Book lists and library call-slips].

 

 

Envelope

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 15/3-15/5

Articles by Margaret Swain

 

 

 

MHS 15/3

Published articles by MS.

Includes MSS, typescripts, newspaper cuttings and offprints.

1928-77

Wallet

MHS 15/4

Published articles by MS.

Includes MSS, typescripts, newspaper cuttings, offprints and photocopies.

1978-97, n.d.

Wallet

MHS 15/5

George Harrison & Co.

Correspondence, notes and typescript of Harrisons of Edinburgh, 1863-1963 by M.H. Swain, 1964.

1962-64

Wallet

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 15/6-16/7

Articles by other authors

 

 

 

MHS 15/6

Figures on Fabric.

Pages from a scrapbook containing mostly reviews of and letters concerning Figures on Fabric by Margaret Swain, 1980.

 

Folder

MHS 15/7

[Publications by others].

Off-prints and articles by other authors.

1957-98, n.d.

Folder

MHS 15/8

The Needle’s Excellency.

Photostats of The Needle’s Excellency (London, 1640).

 

Envelope

MHS 15/9

[‘Tissus anciens’].

Photostats of E. Chartraire, ‘Les tissus anciens du trésor de la cathédrale de Sens’, Revue de l’art chrétien (1911).

 

Folder

MHS 16/1

French needlework at the Bowes Museum.

Article by Sydney E. Harrison in the Connoisseur (1934) with additional photographs.

 

Envelope

MHS 16/2

Coventry ribbons and ribbon pictures.

Article by Sylvia Groves in Country Life, 13 Feb. 1948.

 

Folder

MHS 16/3

[York vestments and weavers].

Typescripts of articles by Sylvia Hogarth: ‘Ecclesiastical vestments in York (1985) and ‘York silkweavers’ (1992).

 

Folder

MHS 16/4

Kunigunda von Fleckenstein, 1651-1707: Lucerne needlewoman.

Article by Robert L. Suter (1988).

 

Folder

MHS 16/5

[Costumes in the Sistine Chapel].

Edward Maeder, ‘The Costumes worn by the ancestors of Christ in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel,’ 1990.  Typescript.

 

Folder

MHS 16/6

[History of the bedgown].

Clare Rose, ‘The early history of the bedgown,’ 1993.  Typescript and letters.

1993, 1995

Envelope

MHS 16/7

[Edith Standen].

Memorial tribute to Edith A. Standen by Thomas Campbell, 1998.

 

Envelope

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 16/8-16/9

Outlines for talks and lists of slides

 

 

 

MHS 16/8

Outlines for talks and lists of slides.

MSS and typescripts.

1973-83

Folder

MHS 16/9

Outlines for talks and lists of slides.

MSS and typescripts.

1984-99

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 16/10

Personal papers

 

 

 

MHS 16/10

[Personal papers].

Personal papers including obituaries.

1966-2002

Folder

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 17-26

Single volumes and boxes

 

 

 

MHS 17

Needlework from Scottish Country Houses.

Scrapbook of cuttings and other papers relating to the exhibition, 1966.

 

Volume

MHS 18

[Scrapbook].

Scrapbook of photographs, cuttings, etc.

1969-71

Volume

MHS 19

Textile furnishings.

Volume of slides.

 

Volume

MHS 20

Tapestries.

Volume of slides.

 

Volume

MHS 21

[Photographs].

Five large mounted photographs of whitework and three (unmounted) of chair covers.

 

Brown paper parcel

MHS 22

A Devotional Miscellany.

Photographs.

 

Box

MHS 23

Glass negatives.

Illustrations from A. Lescure, Fonds de bonnets du xixe siècle, 1927, and elsewhere.

 

Small box

MHS 24

[Card index].

Index cards and postcards.  Two drawers: ‘Costumes’ and ‘Furnishings.’

 

Wooden cabinet

MHS 25

[Card index].

Index cards and postcards.   Two drawers:  [label missing] and ‘Tapestries.’

 

Wooden cabinet

MHS 26

[Royalties and fees].

Card index of royalties, fees and other payments

 

Small box

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 27-48

Printed books with annotations or enclosures

 

 

 

MHS 27

A Devotional Miscellany.

Author’s copy.

 

Book

MHS 28

Historical Needlework.

By Margaret Swain (1970). Includes letters and notes (MHS 28/1).

1970-71

Book

MHS 29

Figures on Fabric.

By Margaret Swain (1980). Enclosing a letter (MHS 29/1).

1983

Book

MHS 30

A Dictionary of Edinburgh Furniture Makers.

By Francis Bamford (1983).  Enclosing letters (MHS 30/1) and notes (MHS 30/2).

1983

Book

MHS 31

Connoisseur.

Issue for Aug. 1973 containing the article ‘A New Year’s Gift from the Princess Elizabeth’ by Margaret Swain.  Enclosing notes from Alison Plowden, The Young Elizabeth (MHS 31/1).

 

Magazine

MHS 32

Needlework of Mary, Queen of Scots.

By Margaret Swain (1973).  Enclosing letters (MHS 32/1) and notes, photocopies and typescript of ‘The Oxburgh hangings’ (MHS 32/2). See also MHS 9/6-9/8.

1972-87

Book

MHS 33

Scots Magazine.

Issue for March 1965 with an article ‘Turkey Red’ by Margaret Swain.  Enclosing two letters (MHS 33/1).

1964

Magazine

MHS 34

Needlework from Scottish Country Houses.

Exhibition catalogue, 1966.  Annotated copy enclosing letters (MHS 34/1).

1966

Booklet

MHS 35

Needlework from Scottish Country Houses.

Exhibition catalogue, 1966.  Annotated copy enclosing letters (MHS 35/2).

1972, 1974

Booklet

MHS 36

Clothes from Scottish Houses.

Exhibition catalogue, 1969. Text with annotations (MHS 36/1) and Picture book (MHS 36/2).

 

Two pamphlets

MHS 37

Ayrshire and other Whitework.

By Margaret Swain (1982).  With annotations and a letter (MHS 37/1).

1982

Booklet

MHS 38

Embroidered Stuart Pictures.

By Margaret Swain (1990).  With reviews (MHS 38/1).

1991-93

Booklet

MHS 39

Embroidered Georgian Pictures.

By Margaret Swain (1994).  Enclosing a letter and photocopies (MHS 39/1). See also MHS 3/3 and 3/4.

1994-97

Booklet

MHS 40

[Redburn (antiques)].

Catalogue, [c.1975].  Enclosing a letter (MHS 40/1).

1975

Pamphlet

MHS 41

The Fetternear Banner.

By David McRoberts.  Annotated copy.

 

Booklet

MHS 42

[Loose Covers or Cases].

Article by Margaret Swain in Furniture History xxxiii (1997).  Off-print enclosing a letter (MHS 42/1).

1997

Pamphlet

MHS 43

Harrisons of Edinburgh, 1863-1963.

Enclosing a printed circular and a letter (MHS 43/1).

1964

Booklet

MHS 44

Leeds Arts Calendar.

Issue for 1974, enclosing a photograph (MHS 44/1).

 

Booklet

MHS 45

The Green Man in Scotland.

Enclosing a letter from Betty Willsher (MHS 45/1).

1990

Pamphlet

MHS 46

[Selection from the gift of textiles from Twickel and Weldam].

Published by the Rijksmuseum (1991).  With a letter from the curator, Kees Burgers (MHS 46/1).

1991

Pamphlet

MHS 47

Works of Art.

By Peter H. Tillou (?1993).  Enclosing a letter and photograph (MHS 47/1) and an exhibition catalogue of English decorative needlework (MHS 47/2).

1993

Book

MHS 48

Tapestries and Textiles at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

By Margaret Swain (1988).  Enclosing letters (MHS 48/1), reviews and cuttings (MS 48/2), papers concerning the OxburghCatte” panel (MHS 48/3) and miscellaneous papers (MHS 48/4).  See also MHS 9/3.

1989-99

Book

 

 

 

 

 

MHS 49-67

Additional papers

 

 

 

MHS 49

Crewel curtains

 

 

Letters concerning hangings in the Burrell Collection, photographs and copy of an article.

1981-87

Wallet

MHS 50-53

Samplers

 

 

 

MHS 50

Scottish samplers

Correspondence and photographs.

1961, 1966, 1976-2002

Wallet

MHS 51

Scottish samplers

Index cards and correspondence.

1980-81

Wallet

MHS 52

Samplers

Mostly correspondence and photographs.

1968-93

Wallet

MHS 53

[Sampler collections]

Reports on samplers held by NMAS and RMS.

1984, 1986

Folder

MHS 54

Wall hangings

Photographs, photocopies and some correspondence, including an article on the panels attributed to Mary Jamesone in Aberdeen.

1957, 1987-92

Folder

 

MHS 55

Bed hangings

Letters, notes and photographs.

1978, 1989, 1993

Folder

MHS 56

Scone hangings

Needlework in Scone Palace. Correspondence, notes and photographs, mostly concerning the panel of Justice and Peace.

1974-81

Wallet

MHS 57

Monreith

Letter, notes and photographs of the carpet at Monreith House.

1987

Folder

MHS 58

Costume

Mostly photographs.

1970-85

Folder

MHS 59

John Nelham, [embroiderer]

Correspondence, notes and photographs. Many of the letters are from and to John Nevinson who collaborated with Margaret Swain on an article about Nelham published in 1982.

1872, 1977-97

Wallet

MHS 60

John Nevinson

Correspondence, with off-prints and other enclosures, between Nevinson and Margaret Swain. Also included is a typescript bibliography of Nevinson’s work.

1950, 1867-85

Folder

MHS 61

Betty Ring

Correspondence, with photographs and other enclosures, between Betty Ring and Margaret Swain.

1950, 1957, 1978-99

Folder

MHS 62

[Articles by other authors]

Photocopies and extracts from journals.

1956-66, n.d.

Folder

MHS 63

[Miscellaneous papers]

Letters, notes, cuttings and photographs. They include the typescript of an article by Margaret Swain, “Wet Washing Day”.

1961-93

Folder

MHS 64

[Personal papers]

Bibliography of Margaret Swain’s publications, photographs, obituaries and letters, and a copy of “Mrs M.H. Swain and Scottish embroidery”, a dissertation by Diane Oakes.

2002-03

Folder

MHS 65

A Century of Scottish Shawlmaking

Two articles published by Edinburgh City Museums, enclosing letters about the acknowledgement to Margaret Swain.

1962

Folder

MHS 66

Nursing: a Family Tradition

By Margaret Swain.

2001

Booklet

MHS 67

Costume in Scotland in the 18th Century

Annotated copy of the exhibition catalogue.

1952

Booklet

 

 

 

 

Last updated: February 2023