Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1678 to date (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
87 metres of books + 7 metres of oversize books + 12 archive boxes of ephemera and notes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Robertson served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He became a local government officer at the Glasgow Corporation from 1959 until retiring in 1977. In the 1960s he attended evening classes on industrial and social history of Scotland at the University of Strathclyde and developed good relationships with the history department staff including, John Butt, John Hume and Tom Devine. He was known for having an encyclopaedic knowledge of Glasgow's local history with a particular emphasis on industrial archaeology.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The books that formed the foundation of the Robertson collection were bequeathed to the University from the estate of the late Mr John Robertson in 1991.
The University has continued to add to the collection by transfer, donation or purchase within the scope of the collection.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Collection of material on the history and description of Glasgow, industrial archaeology in the West of Scotland, Scottish topography and travel history. Also includes a collection of ephemera, notes and articles.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
The repository continues to add materials to this collection on a regular basis.
System of arrangement
Dewey Decimal Classification
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
All the books in this collection are catalogued on SUPrimo the University of Strathclyde Library's integrated search service.
Search "MLSPRO" to find a full list of title in the Robertson collection
Item level list of notes and ephemera is available in the reading room.