The Horse in the room…..

 

In the fourth of the Democracy for Scotland Seminar Series Stan Bell, John McIntyre and Willie Thom spoke at the Stirling Smith today.

The talk was part of the celebrations of the 160th birthday of Cunninghame Graham, who first proposed the establishment of a Scottish Parliament in 1888. They discussed the life of this famous author, traveller, horseman, patriotic Scot and Citizen of the world who died in Argentina and is buried at Inchmaholm. Prominently featured was one of the Smith’s permanent exhibits Cunninghame Graham’s horse Pampa.

A sound recording will be available on the SPA website soon.

Dennis Canavan with SPA Directors Peter Lynch and Jim Smyth

Dennis Canavan with SPA Directors Peter Lynch and Jim Smyth, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

In the second seminar in the Democracy for Scotland seminar series Dennis Canavan gave some personal recollections of the 1979 and 1997 Referendum campaigns, the intervening period and asked what lessons could be learned from the past to help shape Scotland’s future.

The next seminar will be held at the Smith on Thursday 17th May where SPA’s own Peter Lynch will be speaking on ‘From 1979 to 2014:  Referendum Campaigning and the Future of Scotland’

Tickets available at the Stirling Smith (01786 471917)

Dennis Canavan Talk: Let the People Decide

In conjunction with the exhibition Democracy for Scotland: the referendum experience the Scottish Political Archive are hosting a series of lectures at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum throughout May 2012. 

The next seminar is to be held on Thursday 10^th  May at 12pm 

 Dennis Canavan.  Let the People Decide

Dennis will give some personal recollections of the Referendum campaigns, the intervening period of 1979-1997 and ask what lessons can be learned from the past to help shape Scotland’s future.

Dennis Canavan was MP for West Stirlingshire at the time of the 1979 Referendum. He played a leading role in the campaign for a Scottish Parliament, both in the House of Commons and throughout Scotland. Despite the set-back of the 1979 Referendum result, he continued campaigning for another twenty years until the Scottish Parliament eventually became a reality in 1999. By that time, he was MP for Falkirk West and was then elected MSP for the same constituency, becoming the first Independent to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.

Tickets available from the Stirling Smith (01786 471917)

Stirling Smith Exhibition Launch

Stirling Smith Exhibition Launch, a set on Flickr.

Democracy for Scotland: The Referendum Experience was launched at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum on 27th April, 2012.

The exhibition was formally opened by MSP Linda Fabiani and the launch was attended by many of the interviewees who contributed their recollections of the 1979 and 1997 devolution campaigns to the Devolution Referendums Oral History Collection at the Scottish Political Archive

Democracy for Scotland focuses on the campaign for a Scottish Parliament in the second half of the twentieth century. In particular it chronicles the history behind the two devolution referendums of 1979 and 1997 and explores the nature of the Yes and No campaigns for both referendums, their results and the re-establishment of a Scottish Parliament.

The exhibition will be on display at the Stirling Smith until 10th June so please go along

SNP leaflet, Glasgow Central by-election 1980

SNP leaflet, Glasgow Central by-election 1980, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number: spa.gw.em.2.8.1

Gil Paterson contested the Glasgow Central by-election in 1980 after the death of the incumbent MP. This seat was held by Labour. Gil Paterson is an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland region. For biographical information about Gil Paterson www.gilmsp.com/

This leaflet forms part of the Gordon Wilson collection. Gordon Wilson was MP for Dundee East between 1974 and 1987. He was Deputy Leader of the SNP between 1973 and 1974 and leader from 1979 to 1990. He has participated in an interview with the Scottish Political Archive discussing his memories of the 1979 and 1997 devolution referendums. His interview forms part of the Devolution Referendums Oral History Collection within the archive.

The Scottish Political Archive is housed at the University of Stirling. The archive is home to the oral interviews, personal papers and associated material from prominent Scottish politicians. For further information about the work of the archive please visit our website www.scottishpoliticalarchive.org.uk

SNP Leaflet, Hamilton by-election, 1978

SNP Leaflet, Hamilton by-election, 1978, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number: spa.gw.em.2.14.1

Margo contested the Hamilton constituency in 1978, which went to George Robertson.

Margo MacDonald joined the SNP in 1966 and was President of Edinburgh University Scottish Nationalists. She first stood as the SNP parliamentary candidate for Paisley in the 1970 election and was elected MP for Glasgow Govan from November 1973 to February 1974. She was elected as SNP MSP for the Lothians in 1999. In January 2003 she left the SNP and has held this seat as an Independent MSP. For further biographical information

www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/Margo-MacDona…

This leaflet forms part of the Gordon Wilson collection. Gordon Wilson was MP for Dundee East between 1974 and 1987. He was Deputy Leader of the SNP between 1973 and 1974 and leader from 1979 to 1990. He has participated in an interview with the Scottish Political Archive discussing his memories of the 1979 and 1997 devolution referendums. His interview forms part of the Devolution Referendums Oral History Collection within the archive.

The Scottish Political Archive is housed at the University of Stirling. The archive is home to the oral interviews, personal papers and associated material from prominent Scottish politicians. For further information about the work of the archive please visit our website www.scottishpoliticalarchive.org.uk

Can you help us identify this picture?

Can you help us identify this picture?, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number: spa.si.60

Do you know where this picture was taken? Can you identify anyone in the photograph? Do you know what the individuals in the photograph are doing? If you can help please comment below or email us at scottishpoliticalarchive@stir.ac.uk

Image dated December 1986.

This picture forms part of the Scots Independent donation to the Scottish Political Archive. The Scots Independent is a monthly Nationalist newspaper. The paper was founded in 1926 and is the longest surviving political newspaper in Scotland in the twentieth century. For further information about the Scots Independent please visit their website at www.scotsindependent.org

The Scottish Political Archive is housed at the University of Stirling. The archive is home to the oral interviews, personal papers and associated material from prominent Scottish politicians. For further information about the work of the archive please visit our website www.scottishpoliticalarchive.org.uk

STUC Leaflet, 1997 Referendum

STUC Leaflet, 1997 Referendum, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number: spa.769.11.1

Campaign leaflet issued by the STUC for the 1997 referendum urging voters to support both the establishment of a Scottish parliament, and the granting of tax-varying powers to such a body.

The Scottish Political Archive is housed at the University of Stirling. The archive is home to the oral interviews, personal papers and associated material from prominent Scottish politicians. For further information about the work of the archive please visit our website www.scottishpoliticalarchive.org.uk

A Day for Scotland, Stirling 1990

A Day for Scotland, Stirling 1990, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number: spa.sm.10

In the early 1990s the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly and other groups sought to use public events to keep the issue of devolution in the limelight. The first of these was ‘A Day for Scotland’ held in Stirling in the summer of 1990. This music event was organised by Stirling Council and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC). It was attended by approximately 38,000 people and featured bands such as Runrig, Hue and Cry and Deacon Blue. The success of this event led to other music events and rallies.

Photographer, John McPake. Image courtesy of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

The Sun Shines Brighter in a Tory-Free Scotland

The Sun Shines Brighter in a Tory-Free Scotland, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

Accession Number:spa.773.33

This photograph was taken at the Vigil on May 1st 1997, the day of the General Election.

Democracy for Scotland was a non party political organisation. Following the Conservative Party victory in the 1992 General Election Democracy for Scotland maintained a constant vigil on Regent Road in Edinburgh near to old the Royal High School. This site was seen as the natural home of a Scottish Parliament. The vigil ended following the yes vote in the devolution referendum of 11th September 1997.