The papers of the late Dr Victor Skretkowicz, Senior Lecturer in English at Dundee University 1993-2003, have recently been fully catalogued and are now available for use. The collection comprises a range of records created, received and maintained by Dr Skretkowicz during his time at Dundee University. The records provide a fascinating incite into the development of two projects relating to the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue with which Dr Skretkowicz was heavily involved.

Dr Skretkowicz was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on the 26th August 1942 and was awarded a BA from McMaster University, Canada in 1964, an MA from University of New Brunswick, Canada in 1967 and a PhD from University of Southampton in 1974. In 1978 he joined the University of Dundee as Lecturer in English. Dr Skretkowicz was a highly accomplished researcher of cultural and biographical history, a widely published author, accomplished editor and internationally respected figure.

In 1989, Dr Skretkowicz become Dundee University’s representative on the Joint Council for the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue and in 1992 was elected Convenor. He directed the Edinburgh-based research team that was responsible for creating volumes 9-12 of the Dictionary.

In 2001, Dr Skretkowicz was appointed Research Director of a project to create the Dictionary of the Scots Language, an electronic version of all eleven volumes of the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue and the ten volumes of the Scottish National Dictionary. This hugely significant project, based at the University of Dundee, achieved its goal to provide free access to this rich lexicographic resource in January 2004.

Dr Victor Skretkowicz’s catalogue can be accessed online and the collection can be consulted in the search room. For more information, please contact archives@dundee.ac.uk.

Durham Burt, Archive Services