In May of 2008 I emigrated from Canada to take up the role of Photographic Archivist in the Special Collections Department of the University of St Andrews Library. I am enjoying exploring all this collection has to offer, and am presently focused on establishing new ways to create access in order to share its great wealth with researchers and a broader audience.
Our collection now encompasses over 700,000 photographs including many topographic views of Scotland and the British Isles, representing diverse aspects cultural transformation from the 1840s onward. In addition to historic views of Scotland, our holdings have been developed in support of the University’s academic curricula, and boast many albums, travel views, private collections, and of course images from the formative days of photographic practice.
The next few years will be devoted to mining our many hidden riches and resources, modernising our management and access to the collection, and building collaborative relationships with colleagues and institutions throughout the UK and abroad.
If anyone is interested in learning more about our collection or would like to conduct research in person, please feel free to contact me at your leisure.
To obtain an overview of our holdings, please take the opportunity to consult our online database at:
http://special.st-andrews.ac.uk/saspecial/index.phpThis online resource represents 10% of our collection but functions as an excellent starting point for most research. Greater internet access to our collections and supporting documentation will be available when we implement a new more extensive and user-friendly online system in the summer and fall of 2009.
Yours sincerely,
Marc Boulay
Photographic Archivist
Special Collections, University Library
University of St Andrews
North Street
St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TR
Scotland
Tel: 01334.462326
Fax: 01334.462282