Scottish Tartans Society
As Keeper since 2000 of the Tartan Records of the Scottish Tartans Society, as its Librarian and its Curator of Artefacts I wish to express the Society's deepest gratitude to Keith & Elizabeth Lumsden who together, through the Scottish Tartans World Register, have ensured that the comprehensive pattern of Registration of Tartans originally encouraged by Lord Lyon from 1963 and subsequently conducted through the Society's Register of all Publicly Known Tartans until 2002, has been sustained to this time. They have also ensured the proper care and maintenance of the Library and Artefacts of the Society.
Keith Lumsden was my predecessor for many years as Keeper and we gladly gave him access to all the Society's records including the manual 'slog' S-Index so that the Scottish Tartans World Register could become the definitive source it is, and importantly also the locus for new registrations as they are sought.
It is well known that following HRH Prince Charles Edward's unsuccessful attempt to regain the throne for his Stuart family in 1745/ 1746, the tartan was proscribed by the Hanoverian Government in London. We were 'fortunate' as a nation in this particular respect because this ensured that wearing it would forever be a symbol of Scottish identity and national defiance.
As such it is not at all surprising that the resumed Scottish Parliament some 300 years after the Act of Union with England and Wales should be asked to ensure that quite the opposite should henceforth apply. Indeed, the Scottish Executive has formally resolved during 2007/ 2008 to ask that Parliament at Holyrood to establish a comprehensive National Tartans Register under the direct aegis of The Lord Lyon and for the National Archives to receive all appropriate tartan artefacts into their safekeeping. As Keeper, Librarian and Curator on behalf of the Society we shall continue our collaboration with Scottish Tartans World Register, The Lord Lyon and Officers of the nascent National Register and its Archives to ensure that the very highest traditions and benefits of the tartan are preserved, presented and nourished as 'living history' of the Scottish nation within this long overdue statutory framework.
Dr Gordon Prestoungrange
Baron of Prestoungrange
Keeper Librarian and Curator
August 1st 2007