Farmer Collection

This is a collection of papers and books of Henry George Farmer (1882-1965), musician and orientalist, donated at various times between c.1930 and 1965.

The manuscript collection includes diaries, drafts of books and articles, and correspondence with contemporary composers and music critics such as Learmont Drysdale, Hamish MacCunn, and Ernest Newman. The subjects covered include military and oriental (especially Arabic) music and musical instruments, Scottish music, concerts and variety theatre in Glasgow, socialism and trade unions, and the Paris Commune.

Farmer’s considerable personal library was donated to the University along with his papers. Consisting largely of modern books - including those which Farmer wrote himself - this collection includes volumes of Oriental works, music, and works on the Royal Artillery, as well as general literature.

About 50 ethnographic instruments assembled by Henry Farmer are in the musical instruments collection of Glasgow's Art Gallery and Museum (Kelvingrove, Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and History).

How to find material from the Farmer Collection

• Records for the papers are catalogued with the shelf-mark MS Farmer: go to the manuscripts collection level record and click on link 'List collection content' to bring up a list of all the items in the collection; alternatively, use the manuscripts search
• Records for the printed books in Special Collections are shelved at Sp Coll Farmer; alternatively, search for titles using the rare books search
• Henry George Farmer. A bibliography by Carl Cowl and Sheila M. Craik: available on Special Collections reference shelves
• Sheila Craik and David Weston Tunic, tinsel, toga: an exhibition to mark the centenary of Henry George Farmer, 1882-1965 (Glasgow: 1982). Available on level 4 and also with the Sp Coll exhibition catalogues on the reference shelves in front of supervisor's desk in the reading room

See also the following book of the month articles featuring Farmer collection items:

• The Bookman Christmas Special London: 1918 (Book of the month: December 2008)
• Dr Henry Farmer's Scrapbook Glasgow: 1911-1940 (Book of the month: July 2007)
• Henry Farmer Papers  (Book of the month: December 2005)