SMC Archives

The official account for the Archives held at Stewart's Melville College. Formerly Daniel Stewart's College and Melville College. E: [email protected]

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eBay purchase = coming home - rugby cap and medals of Garry Fairbairn (Melville College 1925-37)Blenheim pilot, lost 1941 off Malta, aged 21. Garry, you’re coming home and SMC pupils will speak your name and see your face again. You will not be blotted out. #WeWillRememberThem

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#WeWillRememberThem #lightupred2021

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#WeWillRememberThem We are taking part in #LightUpRed2021 #ScottishPoppyAppeal. In addition to Old College being flood lit this week, the Ante Chapel WW2 DSC Memorial has also turned red.(After and before recent restoration thanks to Thrift Shop funding.)

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1955 Daniel Stewart's College Usher Hall Concert.

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Last week a photographic copy of the portrait of Rev Cunningham was unveiled in Merchants’ Hall. Robert Cunningham founded The Edinburgh Institution in 1832 which became Melville College in 1932. The original portrait was donated to the school and is now displayed in The Dean.

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100 years ago this was one of the adverts in the Collegian School Magazine ... useful gifts??

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This photograph shows the original main entrance to Daniel Stewart's College with the open courtyard behind. This was glazed over in 1894 and eventually became the Tom Fleming Centre. The photograph is undated but pre 1894 and probably 1880’s.

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1st image is a page from the 1868 report on the state of Daniel Stewart's Hospital School (Hospital Schools = boarding schools for children who otherwise would not have the chance of an education.)
The 2nd image is of the original plan of the ground floor from that time.

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The first play performed at the Edinburgh Institution dated 1930.
The Edinburgh Institution was founded in 1832. When it celebrated its Centenary in 1932 it was decided to change its name and four years of discussion followed before becoming Melville College by 1936.

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This is from 1962 and the arrival of a helicopter as part of the CCF Inspection at Daniel Stewart’s College. You can see the “Science block” in the background with the old “playsheds" (?) in front where the present Dining Hall is … and no high rise flats or offices beyond that.

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So that is the new school session starting today. Hopefully all the pupils look as happy as (most do!) in this photograph from Daniel Stewart's in 1956 as they headed to the Dean Church for Founder's Day.

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How are your Dictation skills? Here is an example from an inspection of Daniel Stewart's in 1868 for boys of 13 years old.

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All ready to start the new session next week. We do hope to be able to welcome visitors back to Archives at some point during the session but we shall see.

[SMC Archives @smcarchives]

OTD in 1883 Rev Robert Cunningham died at his home North West Castle, Stranraer. He founded The Edinburgh Institution (later Melville College)in 1832. His portrait, along with that of his wife, now hands in the Dean.

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Melville College Primary 1 in 1963 .. from FP I.W. Ross.

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As we watch the Olympics we remember Harcourt Ommundsen who attended Daniel Stewart's College from 1891 and won Silver Medals in the 1908 & 1912 Olympic Games for Rifle Shooting. He was killed in 1915 in WW1.

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Normally at this time of year (but not this year or last year) Mr Park leads a group of boys to Malawi where they have supported a number of Malawian charities over the course of many years. Here we have photos from 2006.

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2005 one of the last Junior School Assemblies in the old Assembly Hall before it was converted into the Tom Fleming Centre.

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This would normally be a week of multiple Prize Giving ceremonies in the Tom Fleming Centre but this year all are on line .. so here is a reminder of Junior School 2007 and the TFC all set and ready to go in 2018.

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As we approach the end of session (yes we are still in school this week) I thought a couple of photos of old main entrance (and exit!) would be appropriate. 1st photo from 2006 looking in during the creation of the TFC and the 2nd from c1880 looking out.