Jainti Dass Saggar (1898-1954) was a medical practitioner and Labour politician. Born 6 September 1898 in Deharru, Punjab, India, he was one of six children to parents Ram Saran Dass Saggar (1870-1943) and Sardhi Devi Uppal (1873-1960). Studying medicine at Lahore Medical College, he made the lengthy, 26-day journey to Scotland in 1919 to continue … Continue reading Dr Jainti Dass Saggar
Scotland’s pioneering Olympic stars
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris is within touching distance and as Olympic fever mounts, we look back at Scottish athletes who have broken records in previous Games. In Paris 1924, it was Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell (16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) who stole the headlines, breaking the Olympic and world … Continue reading Scotland’s pioneering Olympic stars
Part 3 – Tytler’s rise and fall
Following our post 'Part 2 - Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon' from last week, we continue the story of James Tytler. Aerostation plate from the third edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.Image credit: http://www.archive.org. Public domain The success Tytler found in launching and piloting his fire balloon in August 1784, was sadly not to … Continue reading Part 3 – Tytler’s rise and fall
Part 2 – Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon
This is part two of our profile of James Tytler, the first person in Britain to fly by hot air balloon. Part one is available here on Open Book. Tytler was not alone in his enthusiasm for the possibilities offered by air balloons as a means of human conveyance and by the early 1780s fully-fledged … Continue reading Part 2 – Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon
The sky’s the limit: James Tytler and balloon-mania in the archives – part 1
Should you have been on Edinburgh’s Princes Street, a little before noon on Monday 19 July 1784, you would have been greeted by an extraordinary sight. The elegant and imposing Register Office (now General Register House), the first purpose-built public records repository in Britain and Ireland and still the home of the National Records of … Continue reading The sky’s the limit: James Tytler and balloon-mania in the archives – part 1
Register House: the search for the site, 1760-1769
Register House, as it stood in 1790 after the completion of the facade, rotunda and half of the wings. Attributed to John Brown (1749-1787). (National Galleries Scotland, CC by NC) When the foundation stone of the new Register Office or Register House was laid on 27 June 1774, it was the culmination of a long … Continue reading Register House: the search for the site, 1760-1769
250th anniversary of General Register House: we’re going to need a bigger cake
Hidden in plain sight, General Register House (GRH) is one of the most prominent landmarks on Edinburgh’s New Town Princes Street, yet many do not know the significance of this building. Designed to house the records of the nation, it continues to hold and provide access to some of Scotland’s most essential and precious documents. … Continue reading 250th anniversary of General Register House: we’re going to need a bigger cake
Professor Margaret Fairlie (1891-1963)
Professor Margaret Fairlie was a leading medical professional in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. She advocated for and advanced the treatments available for women’s health throughout the first half of the 20th century, and became the first woman to be appointed to a university professorship in Scotland. She was born to James and Marjory … Continue reading Professor Margaret Fairlie (1891-1963)
Morison’s Haven – Part 2
Digital Imaging Specialist Clare Stubbs continues her exploration of the archives to learn more about Morison’s Haven, a once-thriving port at Prestonpans in East Lothian, now long deserted. In 1877, plans were drawn up to not only expand the Prestongrange mining operations but to put down train tracks between the colliery and the harbour to … Continue reading Morison’s Haven – Part 2
Morison’s Haven – Part 1
Digital Imaging Specialist Clare Stubbs delves into the archives to learn more about Morison’s Haven, a once-thriving port at Prestonpans in East Lothian, now long deserted. For people travelling from Edinburgh to North Berwick along the curving lines of the East Lothian coast, there are hints of its industrial history dotted along the landscape. One … Continue reading Morison’s Haven – Part 1
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