School of Scottish Studies – Celtic & Scottish Studies

The School of Scottish Studies (Scottish Gaelic: Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba, Scots: Scuil o Scots Studies) was founded in 1951 by Professor William Lindsay Renwick and is affiliated to the University of Edinburgh. 

It holds an archive of over 9000 field recordings of traditional music, song and other lore, housed in George Square, Edinburgh. The collection was begun by Calum Maclean - brother of the poet, Sorley MacLean - and the poet, writer and folklorist, Hamish Henderson, both of whom collaborated with American folklorist Alan Lomax, who is credited as being a catalyst and inspiration for the work of the school.

From 1984 to 1995, the writer, singer and ethnologist, Margaret Bennett - mother of musician Martyn Bennett - worked for the school. In 2012, Mòrag MacLeod, a researcher at the school for forty years, was awarded a Sàr Ghaidheal Fellowship for her contribution to Gaelic language and culture. 

Other staff who have worked in the School include Alan Bruford, Donald-Archie MacDonald, Emily Lyle, Ian Fraser, Peter Cooke, Margaret MacKay, John MacInnes, Gary West, John Shaw, Cathlin MacAulay, Neill Martin, Katherine Campbell and Will Lamb.

In 1986, the department launched a full undergraduate honours degree programme in Scottish Ethnology, comprising courses in topics such as custom and belief, oral narrative, ethnomusicology, material culture, cultural revivalism, emigrant traditions, traditional drama, heritage and the supernatural world. 

Following a major re-organisation of the structure of the University of Edinburgh, the teaching of these programmes transferred to the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies within the School of Literature, Languages and Cultures. 

The title, School of Scottish Studies, now applies to the archival holdings only, and since 2018, it has come under the management of the Centre for Research Collections.