On this day in Dundee

This is the first of two posts in which we look back to the year just gone and forward to the coming year. In this post we remember some significant anniversaries for the University and for Dundee which occurred in 2012.

Doris Mackinnon

September saw the 100^th anniversary of the 1912 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Dundee. This event involved several members of staff of University College, Dundee including Patrick Geddes, Angus Fulton and Doris Mackinnon.

1912 was also notable for one of the largest industrial disputes in Dundee’s history with around 30,000 millworkers going on strike in the city, bringing production to a virtual standstill. Matters were eventually settled on 15^th April and the strike was soon eclipsed by the news of the sinking of RMS Titanic. It would later emerge that the Dundee built vessel SS Californian had been close to Titanic (the question of how close remains doubtful) but had not responded to her distress signals. Archive Services holds records relating to both the 1912 meeting and to the strike.

Dundee Asylum

This year also marked the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Harry Walker, the founder of an important local jute firm, the papers of which we hold (MS 66/VI).  1812 was also the year when the foundation stone of the original Dundee Asylum was laid.  Its records (THB 7) are held has part of the NHS Tayside Archive.

Other significant anniversaries in 2012 included:

• ·         125^th anniversary of the opening of the second Tay Rail Bridge
• ·         115^th anniversary of the founding of The Dundee Women's Hospital and Nursing Home
• ·         65^th anniversary of the foundation of the Abertay Historical Society
• ·         40^th anniversary of the 1972 University of Dundee North East Greenland Expedition
• ·         25^th anniversary of the arrival of Michael Hamlin as Principal
• ·         20^th anniversary of the appointment of Sir James Whyte Black as Chancellor and of Stephen Fry as Rector.

We hold material on all of these events and institutions in the Archives. If you are interested in finding out more contact archives@dundee.ac.uk or visit www.dundee.ac.uk/archives.