Primary Sources

During a delightful evening out recently, we stopped in the local used book store. What should I see on the shelf but a neat old copy of The Clans of the Scottish Highlands. This is a neat old classic from the 19th century English fascination with the clans of old. I suppose it was not too different from our own American romanticism of the native nations of the west... a century after the bloodshed and fear and warfare was safely behind us.

Anyhow, it's a source that's been used to great effect by historical reenactor types ever since, to the point that quite a few of the plates were cribbed some years back in a neat little sketchbook. Until the other night though, I'd never gotten a chance to see the original - it's so cool to finally see the clothing plates in color!

(I so want an arisaid now!)

Given the hills I grew up were settled in large part by the 18th c. Scots diaspora, leafing through it is sort of like looking at great-great-great-great Aunt Nellie's photo album. You don't know any of the people, but lots of those faces and stories just look eerily familiar.

What a curious branch of the human family this little strain of Scots-Irish in America is. Yeah... that's a cool heritage right there.

And bonus? Tartan is waaaaarm.