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Preferred citation: [Identification of item], MacMillan Albums, WLU Coll. 0266, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
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This collection consists of three scrapbooks with contents compiled by Mary MacMillan and her son Charles MacMillan. The first contains scenes from a trip to Ireland, containing Mary MacMillan's pencil sketches of scenes and prints of Ireland mostly by James Howard Burgess. The second contains poetry and calligraphy from Mary MacMillan and others as well as collections of dried and pressed marine marine algae or seaweed, watercolors sketches and cartoons. The third consists of mica paintings made in India for British tourists, and were most likely collected by Mary's son Charles.
These albums were a gift of Reverend H. Middleton Raynal.
The two creators of this collection were Mary Margaret MacMillan nee Campbell, and her son Charles Newton MacMillan of Scotland. Margaret MacMillan was born around the beginning of the nineteenth century and made/collected the contents of the sketchbook of Ireland and the commonplace book. The mica paintings likely come from Mary's son Charles during his time in India as a British soldier. After his time in the British service, he emigrated to Virginia in the United States, eventually to a the Fancy Hill vicinity of Rockbridge County, Virginia.
This scrapbook contains a mixture of prints and sketches mostly of places in Ireland. One half of the book consists of pencil sketches and one watercolor by Mary MacMillan. Most of the engraving prints, including one of Edinburgh, Scotland, are by artist James Howard Burgess (J. H. Burgess). Also included are two newspaper cutouts not pasted, likely collected for the print art.
This scrapbook contains poetry and art created and compiled by Mary MacMillan. The poetry was written by Mary and others. The most common theme throughout the poetry is grieving or mourning death. The scrapbook has pencil sketches, watercolors, and cartoons from others and some calligraphy by Mary. Other contents include a few pieces of pressed and dried seaweed or marine algae and a miniature piece of sheet music with hand drawn musical notes.
This scrapbook contains Indian mica paintings likely collected by Charles MacMillan. These paintings consist of gouache paint on thin sheets of mica showing people and scenes in India. They were made for the tourist trade during the British colonial era and were sold as souvenirs. The paintings in this collection likely come from the city of Patna. The likely collector of this album was Charles MacMillan, son of Mary MacMillan, had served in the British Army in India. Charles emigrated to the United Sates from Scotland before 1861.