Five guest speakers – all experts in their fields of Scottish history, music, and lore – will headline the 2009 Charles Bascombe Shaw Memorial Scottish Heritage Symposium hosted by St. Andrews Presbyterian College on March 20-22 in Laurinburg [North Carolina].
“Since its inception in 1989, the symposium has provided a forum for those interested in Scottish history, culture, and genealogy to learn from top scholars in their fields,” said Bill Caudill, director of the Scottish Heritage Center. “Our symposium is nationally considered a leader in the exploration of Scottish culture.”
Eleanor Harris, a native of St. Andrews, Fife, will present “Local Sources for Global Communities: An Overview of the Local Collections Held by Argyll and Bute Library Service Highlighting Resources Pertaining to Early Emigrants from Argyll.” After receiving a degree in music from the University of Stirling, she went on to study Library and Information Science at the University of Strathclyde.
Dr. Philip D. Smith Jr. serves as president of the Scottish Tartans Authority and he will present “Tartan Since Proscription.” One of the world’s top scholars of Scottish tartan, he is retired from academia, having served as a dean of West Chester University and currently resides in Tennessee. Smith’s expertise in Scottish topics includes Scottish Gaelic as well as the history and use of tartan. He is a member of the Guild of Tartan Scholars, president of the Scottish Tartans Authority – USA, and a member of the Board of Governors of that authority in Scotland.
Patrick King is a writer, director, and producer making documentary films for international broadcasters including PBS, The History Channel, A&E, as well as BBC Channel 4. His focus has been on historical subjects. King will present “Bagpipes in the Movies”. He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the European Film Academy and 11 of his last 16 productions have won major awards. His presentation will be a “behind the scenes” look at the making of his award-winning productions “Instrument of War” and “When the Pipers Play” which combine inspirational stories and songs with powerful images to give a unique insight into the effect of the Highland bagpipe on people in both peace and war.
Bridget O’Brien graduated from Boston College in 2005 with a B.A. in Art History. In 2007, after travels in Europe, a volunteer stint in Ecuador, and a teaching position in Boston, she was accepted into the M.S. in Historic Preservation program jointly affiliated with Clemson University and the College of Charleston. She will graduate in May of 2009. Her M.S. thesis was inspired by Catherine Rogers of Bennettsville, S.C., who is restoring an 18th century emigrant homestead in Marlboro County.
O’Brien’s presentation will document floor plans, building materials, and construction methods of several emigrant homesteads from the Highland settlement, as well as the genealogical information relative to the families who built them. She will also explore correlations between Scottish vernacular architecture and these early farmsteads.
Isla St. Clair is a native of the North East of Scotland, growing up in Buckie, Findochty, and Aberdeen. She is a well-known exponent of Scottish traditional song and at age 12 was recorded by the legendary Hamish Henderson, Principal of the School of Scottish Studies. She began her broadcasting career at age 13 with a radio program titled “Stories are for Singing.” She has toured or performed with “The Chieftains,” “The Dubliners,” “The Corries,” Billy Connelly, Tom Conti, Chic Murray, Andy Stewart, Jimmy Logan, Pete Seeger, Ewan McColl, and Jimmy Shand. In 2002, St. Clair was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Aberdeen for her contributions to traditional music. She has appeared in numerous television productions from Disneytime by Walt Disney to recent documentary film productions. Isla will also appear in concert with the St. Andrews Pipe Band over the Scottish Heritage Weekend.
For a schedule of events and registration information, please visit http://www.sapc.edu/shc/scottishheritagesymposium.php or call the Scottish Heritage Center at (910) 277-5236.