Interesting Book from 1953

**RockyR** · 24th February 15, 10:12 AM

We have a reference book here in the shop that MANY kilt makers use. It's called "Scots Kith & Kin: A guide to the clans & surnames of Scotland". It is the most trusted single source for surname information that I have found to date (and I've asked over a dozen other kilt makers what book they use and this name keeps popping up). It was first published in 1953 by Harper Collins in Glasgow.

In perusing the book the other day on my lunch break, I got to a page on tartans. I found it very interesting that the info / attitude about tartans and who "can wear them" in 1953 in Scotland is much the same as it is today.

Here's a scan from that book. I am specifically referring to the section I highlighted in red.

**Father Bill** · 24th February 15, 10:14 AM

Very similar... a bit more encouraging than some comments we sometimes see here!

**auld argonian** · 24th February 15, 10:51 AM

That's it in a nutshell, eh?

It's been sixty years since that was written…is it still a "compliment"? I tend to get the vibe from a few that they're not so complimented…they ought to re-read the handbook.

I often get the odd person (and they are odd, indeed…) that says that they would wear a kilt but they don't have a "family tartan"…I respond that, if they did some research, no matter who you are, there is a tartan out there that you can wear….you just have to look far enough. I hope that a few of them have followed up on that advice and done the digging to find their tartan.

Best,

AA

**Father Bill** · 24th February 15, 10:56 AM

AA, I've had a few of those vibes too. There are always a few "dog in the manger" attitudes and a few of what I personally call "mothball kilties" who have one but never wear it. I've read some of the comments to which I think you're referring, and I'm not sure they're necessarily representative of either the average or the majority, but I find them helpful to give me perspective.

**RockyR** · 24th February 15, 11:10 AM

I agree with both of the above. I know there's a feeling by some members (and non members I've met) from Scotland that "it's just not done" in regards to who should wear a clan tartan / district tartan / etc. Then, there are others who embrace non Scots wearing the kilt. Often times, people of both schools of thought point to the past and say "this is how it has been done" / "this is what I was brought up believing" / etc.

From my non Scottish perspective, it's nice to see something written which proves that the 'discussions' we have up here on XMARKS have been hashed and re-hashed from the 1950's (and likely long before that) and they're not new thoughts at all! If nothing else, we're in good company.

**OC Richard** · 24th February 15, 11:25 AM

Very nice Rocky!

What was missing from that list was something that probably didn't exist much in 1953 but is very common today: fashion tartans.

Now we have an enormous pile of tartans like Highland Mist and Stone of Destiny and Scottish Heritage and Highland Granite etc etc etc so those without clan ties are very well served.

Back then those without clan connexions seemed to be limited to a very few tartans.

I've noticed many times, out at Games and rugby and what-not, that actual Scots are often to be seen in these sorts of tartans, and Americans more likely to be making a big show about clan allegiance.

It could be due to the nature of my admittedly small 'sample size'.

I have several clan district etc tartans I 'could' wear but I prefer Isle of Skye just because I like it.

I note that the book mentions that one might be challenged for wearing a clan tartan... that sounds familiar!

**unixken** · 24th February 15, 07:11 PM

And of course there's nothing stopping the real die-hards from designing a tartan of their own to wear.

**Grae** · 25th February 15, 11:26 PM

Thanks for the post Rocky , this is exactly what I have always been told regarding wearing the kilt and its refreshing to see it printed!

**MacKenzie** · 4th March 15, 07:48 AM

The entire page should be "required reading".

**Domehead** · 4th March 15, 08:05 AM

I own the book. Use it as an educative tool regularly, both in presentation and at the Donnachaidh tent. Try to get the newest editions every time, my latest being 2008 from Collins. That passage is credited to the late Micheil MacDonald, author of (among others) The Clans of Scotland,1991 - whom I believe had his Ph.D.? ...father of XMTS contributor, tartanological expert and weaver extraordinaire Mr. P.E. MacDonald, aka Figheadair.