From ‘Scoundrel’ to Professor
Abstract
The Musical Instrument Collection at the University of Edinburgh can trace its history back to one individual: John Donaldson. Appointed as the Reid Professor of Music in 1845, Donaldson was an unusual choice for the music school. Trained as a lawyer, Donaldson was a tenacious individual whose vision led to the acquisition of a collection of acoustic and musical instruments for use in teaching. The chapter will highlight some of the more interesting instruments in the collection, the methods in which they were acquired, and explore the philosophy behind establishing a musical instrument museum in nineteenth-century Scotland.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Musicology and Musical Analysis
Libraries and Information Services
History of Science and Medicine
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 45–63
- Publication date
- 2 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter