Tag Archives: dick institute

Poems, Chiefly!

by bmcuser

Today is the anniversary of the publication of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns. At the Burns Monument Centre we’re marking the anniversary with a very special event. On Friday night we have a special guest in the form of Ian Rankin, introduced and in conversation with Zoe Strachan (sold out!). On Saturday we have an intensive creative writing workshop with Rab Wilson (more info below and here).

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We love to explore the many editions, reprints and fascimilies of the Kilmarnock edition, and sometimes we find some nice suprises! Kilmarnock publisher James McKie printed some lovely editions of Burns’ work, including a limited print of 600 copies of Poems in 1867. In the same year, he printed a ‘large-paper reprint and facsimile’ in a very limited print of 50 copies.

McKie's large paper edition title page

The inscription states that this large paper edition was printed for the London publishers Willis and Sotheran. It measures 11″ x 7″. This copy is part of the fantastic McKie Collection held in Kilmarnock’s Dick Institute.

Zoe Strachan’s Favourite Place

by bmcuser

Further to the post about favourite literary places in East Ayrshire, novelist Zoe Strachan has written a wonderful piece about The Dick Institute for the Scottish Book Trust website. Her piece can also be heard on the site as it was recorded as part of BBC Radio 4′s Women’s Hour.

This unusual view of The Dick Institute at night dates from the 1960s. The monkey puzzle trees mentioned in Zoe Strachan’s piece are visible in the foreground.

 

The Dick Institute

by bmcuser

We’ve recently had on display some items relating to the opening of the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock’s famous library, museum and art gallery. The Dick Institute was gifted to the town by Kilmarnock-born businessman James Dick in 1901. This image is of the official opening in April 1901.

 The items include invitations to the public luncheons for Mr and Mrs Dick in September 1898 (when the foundations were laid) and in April 1901.

Menus and Toast Lists also give a nice insight into public events of the time (picture below from the 1901 event)

We also uncovered a very special family bible, belonging to the Dick family. The bible itself dates from 1767, and contains notes on births, deaths and marriages in the family from 1771. Our expert staff had to do some detective work to verify that this family was indeed that of James Dick – using the Centre’s family history resources of course!