This Society was founded in Edinburgh on Friday, 13th April 1934, at a meeting of individuals and of representatives from various Scottish societies of the time. The proposal to form the Society was moved by Professor W. J. Watson, then the Professor of Celtic at Edinburgh University, who, in his supporting address, defined very clearly the purpose of the Society. It was "to provide the publication of texts in the Scottish Gaelic language, accompanied by such introductions, English translations, glossaries and notes as may be deemed desirable". That is still its purpose, its primary purpose and, indeed, its only purpose, in terms of its constitution.
The formation of the Society attracted quite a satisfactory measure of interest and response at the time and the Society was able to publish its first volume in 1937. This was Scottish Verse from the Book of the Dean of Lismore, edited appropriately enough by Professor Watson himself. It may seem to some a slow beginning, in the circumstances, to take three years to produce the first publication, but this interval is a useful reminder of what work for the Society can mean for its editors. Its first book represented the better part of a lifetime of study by an eminent scholar, and, as the first publication of the new Society, it could not have been bettered. It was concerned, as Watson himself had said in his inaugural address, with the virtual beginnings of recoverable Gaelic literature in Scotland, and it set standards of scholarship for the later publications of the Society which have been salutary and beneficial. The book became at once a standard textbook for students of Gaelic in university departments and schools. In addition to the full edition the Society also issued at the same time an edition of the Gaelic text only, without notes and for particular use in schools. The issue of such school editions of texts, when suitable, was a feature of the publication programme of the Society until 1964, when the practice was abandoned, mainly because schools seemed to prefer the full edition.
Before the Second World War the Society published two more volumes, both in 1939. Its second publication, The Songs of John MacCodrum, was edited by the late Mr William Matheson, for many years Hon. President of the Society, and has been out of print since 1965. A reprint is planned with amendments currently being prepared by Professor William Gillies. The Society's third publication, Heroic Poetry from the Book of the Dean of Lismore, was edited by Dr Neil Ross, and did not actually appear until some time after war had broken out. It has been out of print since 1967, and a major revision of this book, by Professor Donald E. Meek, is also in progress.
Understandably, the Second World War caused a complete cessation of the Society's publishing programme, and its activities virtually ceased for six years, being revived again in late 1946. In June 1947 the Society was formally reconstituted, with Professor W. J. Watson as Hon. President. Its first post-war publication and the fourth in its series appeared in 1952 when The Songs of Duncan Ban MacIntyre, edited by Mr Angus MacLeod, Headmaster of Oban High School, was published. This book turned out to be a much lengthier and more expensive publication than the Society had anticipated, but it sold well and had actually to be reprinted in 1978.
Thereafter the publishing activities of the Society (see Publications) were resumed from 1947 on in a steady flow right up to the present day, with plenty more still to come in due course in fulfilment of its original and abiding purpose. In 1996 a parallel series was launched with the publication of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair: Selected Poems, edited by Professor D. S. Thomson. The aim of the new series is to provide selections from the work of individual writers, or complete texts where only a small body of work survives, or a miscellany of items, and the texts will have introductory discussions, notes and glossaries where appropriate, but not full translations. The second volume in this series, a new edition of Professor Donald E. Meek's 1977 volume on the work of the Skye poet, Màiri Mhòr nan Oran, appeared in 1999.
Since the founding of the Society in 1934 twenty volumes have been published, a publication rate which works out at just over 3 to the decade. In addition, there has been a certain amount of reprinting of books already published and rebindings of sheet stock. Volumes 1, 4, 6 and 8 have all been reprinted, and volumes 9 and 15 have been reprinted twice. Analysis of the subject-matter already covered shows eleven volumes in the field of poetry compared to four in the field of prose, which is as might be expected. In present circumstances the choice of subject matter for publication is an issue decided to a large extent by the editors who become available and are willing. As might also be expected, the emphasis has been on the 16th to 18th century period, although there have been volumes devoted to the work of the twentieth century poet Donald MacIntyre (Vol. 10) and modern prose writers like MacKinnon (Vol. 5), Lamont (Vol. 6) and MacLeod (Vol. 16).
When the Society was being established in 1934 the problem of how it was to become financially viable was not the first concern. There was a general feeling of confidence unmistakably expressed that if and when the Society required financial help it would be forthcoming from a number of sources. It proceeded to establish itself on an annual membership fee of 10/6 to begin with, and three years later it had to price its first publication at 12/6. Thus, with its first book, the Society discovered that, on revenue limited to annual fees from members and estimated sales, it could by no means face the costs of publication on its own. It would have to seek help on each occasion that it published and as the costs of publication proceeded to escalate, which they have done particularly in the last two decades, it would have to seek this outside help to an increasing degree.
It is not, of course, possible to acknowledge in detail the financial help which this Society has received in its time, but it has been considerable, especially in recent years. Many individuals have helped, and some of the organisations that have helped range from smaller ones like the Oban branch of An Comunn Gaidhealach (for Vol. 4) and the Uist and Barra Association of Glasgow (for Vol. 10) to larger and more affluent bodies like the Royal Celtic Society, the Carnegie Trust, Catherine McCaig's Trust and the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow (the three Scottish Universities with Celtic departments). Over the last three decades the Society has had to lean heavily on the Gaelic Books Council, an organisation that was formed in 1968 to stimulate Gaelic publication. The Society would like to record its indebtedness to all these sources of help, and to acknowledge that, without their help, it could not have remained in existence as a publishing body for over sixty years.
The very specific nature of the Society has meant that its membership has never been large. The highest annual figure recorded is just about 200, including 25 to 30 libraries, but the current figure is about 145, including 20 institutions. Apart from a comparatively strong Scottish representation, its members are scattered around the world. It would be quite impracticable, of course, for the great majority of its members to attend the annual general meeting, but it has been a loyal membership. In these circumstances, the responsibility for running the Society has fallen more readily than it does in other societies on the office-bearers of the Society and on its Executive Committee. Its office-bearers and committee members have, fortunately, been able as a rule to give long years of service, and this has been to the advantage of the Society. It is appropriate, therefore, to thank all who have served the Society in office and committee over the seventy two years of its existence and, in particular, to record the names of its main office-bearers in their order of service, as follows:
One of the greatest problems that will probably always face a publishing Society like this is to find the scholars who can undertake the work required and bring forward their MSS for publication. Here the enthusiastic founders of the Society seem to have underestimated the difficulties. The number of scholars who can do the work expected of them is probably more distinctly limited than is thought. There are all sorts of difficulties. One text can take much longer to complete than another. He or she has to be sure of earning a living in some other way and is expected to devote what can be spared of leisure time to the extra work entailed for the Society. It is difficult to see, therefore, how our present rate of publication can be accelerated, much as everyone would like that to happen. It becomes all the more necessary for us to record our heartfelt thanks, on behalf of the members of the Society and its reading public generally, to those able scholars who have edited for us the twenty volumes in our two series to date. Their names are recorded on the list of publications.
Our thanks should also be recorded to all
those scholars who are at present working on MSS for us but whose work has not
yet been published. These include, in addition to the work on Vol. 2 (The
Songs of John MacCodrum) and Vol. 3 (Heroic Poetry from the Book of the
Dean of Lismore) already mentioned, the McLagan MS (anonymous poems) edited
by Professor D. S. Thomson, a (selection) collection of the short
stories of Iain Crichton Smith, edited by Mr Ian. MacDonald, a selection of the
prose of John MacKenzie (Bliadhna Theàrlaich) edited by Rev Kenneth. D.
MacDonald, and a selection of 19th century còmhraidhean (prose
dialogues) edited by Dr Sheila Kidd, a collection of Gaelic Sermons edited by
Rev Dr Roderick MacLeod and a selection of the Gaelic writings of the Very Rev
Dr T M Murchison edited by Professor Donald E Meek.
The programme of editing that remains for the Society to undertake is still an extensive one. It includes editions of bardic/classical verse and of such prominent 17th and 18th century poets as Rob Donn, Iain MacAilein and Mairearad Nighean Lachainn, while it is desirable to re-edit the work of, for example, Uilleam Ros. The early anthologies, such as the Eigg Collection and the Gillies Collection, also deserve modern editing. The same applies to works of prose and poetry from the 19th century--for example, the prose of Caraid nan Gàidheal or the poetry of Uilleam Mac Dhunlèibhe. Various anthologies, as of religious verse or early folksongs, would also be useful additions to the Society's programme. There is enough in such a programme to occupy decades to come.
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