Joseph Anderson (1832–1916) and the Scottish historical collection in the Antiquities Museum, 1869 to 1892

Abstract

Joseph Anderson (1832–1916) was an influential figure within the history of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scottish archaeology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But while Anderson is best known for his contribution to the development of Scottish prehistoric and early medieval archaeology, there has been less focus on his role in expanding and studying the Society’s Scottish historical collection. This article considers the ways in which Scottish historical material culture was displayed in the Antiquities Museum and investigated by Anderson from 1869 until 1892, with arrangements in Scotland compared to other national museums in the British Isles and Europe. The Society’s archives and Anderson’s publications have been critically examined within this study to demonstrate that Anderson’s archaeological background influenced his approach to studying historic objects and contributed to his vision of a unified Scottish cultural history contextualised through international comparisons. This article also seeks to show how Anderson was in a privileged position as keeper of the museum for 43 years, allowing him to systematise and apply ideas and methodologies to the Scottish historical collection that had been developing within the Society both prior to and during his keepership.