Alexander Crawford Lamb (21 February 1843 – 29 April 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).
Alexander Crawford Lamb
From John Maclauchlan, A Brief Guide to the "Old Dundee" Historical Collection, facing p.16.
A. C. Lamb was born in Dundee 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,[1] (the building was recently 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).[2] 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 , and other societies.[3] He died in London on 29 April 1897.
The Lamb Collectionedit
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".[4] 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 in , Wellgate, Dundee. His library included quarto and folio works of Shakespeare, and first editions of Burns, 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."[5] 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)edit
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 Library). 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."
Publicationsedit
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 Howff, 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 in Dundee.
Catalogues of the Lamb Collectionedit
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 Collectionedit
William Barclay (fl. 19th century) – Broughty Castle from the Stannergate – Cat. No. 1971/6.
James Michael Brown (1854–1947)[6] – 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.[7]
Referencesedit
^The Dundee Directory, 1884–85. Dundee: James P. Matthew & Co., 17–18 Cowgate, 1884, p. 460.
^Births, marriages and deaths information available at the General Register Office for Scotland, Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh, and also at http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
^W. R. Hardie, Dundee City Art Gallery Catalogue of the Permanent Collection of Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture. Dundee: 1973.
Sourcesedit
British Library catalogue
National Library of Scotland catalogue
Worldcat
Dundee Libraries, (Accessed 2012-10-03):
Lamb Collection
Biography of Lamb
Obituaries of Lamb
January 01, 1970
alexander, crawford, lamb, february, 1843, april, 1897, scottish, hotelier, collector, antiquarian, writer, amassed, considerable, collection, paintings, literary, works, china, furniture, antiquities, other, ephemera, memorabilia, most, notable, literary, ach. Alexander Crawford Lamb 21 February 1843 29 April 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 Alexander Crawford LambFrom John Maclauchlan A Brief Guide to the Old Dundee Historical Collection facing p 16 Born 1843 02 21 21 February 1843Dundee Scotland UKDied29 April 1897 1897 04 29 aged 54 London UKPen nameA C LambOccupationWriter Art collector Antiquarian HotelierNationalityScottishGenreNon fiction collectionsSpouseMary Ann WorrallChildrentwo sons and four daughters Contents 1 Life 2 The Lamb Collection 2 1 Dundee Its Quaint and Historic Buildings 1895 2 2 Publications 2 3 Catalogues of the Lamb Collection 2 4 Paintings catalogued in the Dundee Art Collection 3 References 4 SourcesLife editA C Lamb was born in Dundee 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 1 the building was recently 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 2 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 3 He died in London on 29 April 1897 The Lamb Collection editLamb 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 4 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 Burns 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 5 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 edit 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 Library 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 Publications edit The Dundee Register of Merchants and Trades with all the public offices amp 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 amp 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 Howff 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 edit 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 amp 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 edit William Barclay fl 19th century Broughty Castle from the Stannergate Cat No 1971 6 James Michael Brown 1854 1947 6 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 7 References edit The Dundee Directory 1884 85 Dundee James P Matthew amp Co 17 18 Cowgate 1884 p 460 Births marriages and deaths information available at the General Register Office for Scotland Scotland s People Centre in Edinburgh and also at http scotlandspeople gov uk His biography at http www dundeecity gov uk lamb biography htm Archived 10 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine Iain E F Flett Dundee City Archivist in a Foreword to the 2005 facsimile of Lamb s Dundee Its Quaint and Historic Buildings His biography at http www dundeecity gov uk lamb biography htm Archived 10 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine Cf http www arcadja com auctions en brown james michael artist 59748 date of death 1947 not 1957 as in this site W R Hardie Dundee City Art Gallery Catalogue of the Permanent Collection of Paintings Drawings and Sculpture Dundee 1973 Sources editBritish Library catalogue National Library of Scotland catalogue Worldcat Dundee Libraries Local History Centre Accessed 2012 10 03 Lamb Collection Biography of Lamb Obituaries of Lamb Contents of the Lamb Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Crawford Lamb amp oldid 1062851912, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
