Bibliography

Carmina Gadelica is Alexander Carmichael's masterwork, the culmination of decades of collecting throughout the Highlands. But there is much more of Carmichael in print than Carmina alone. By clicking on the links, you can read Carmichael the newspaper correspondent, the columnist, the essayist, the antiquarian, the ethnographer - and the polemicist. His printed work allows us to examine his changing interests, trace his networks of correspondents, and investigate how his ideas for a folklore collection came together as Carmina Gadelica.

Abbreviations:

CG

Carmina Gadelica

PSAS

Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

TGSG

Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Glasgow

TGSI

Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness

1862

• 'Caol Reidhinn. Why the name was given to it.' and '[Fionn and Caoilte]' in John Francis Campbell (ed.), Popular tales of the West Highlands, iii, 107-13 (Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas, 1862).
• Carmichael's letter, 28 November 1861, concerning Ossian and Fingalian tales in ibid., iv, 229-47 (Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas, 1862)
• Carmichael's letter, 28 November 1861, concerning Ossian and Fingalian tales in ibid., iv, 209-26 (Paisley & London: Alexander Gardner, 1893).
• Capt. Donald Campbell, A treatise of the language, poetry and music of the Highland clans (Edinburgh: Collie, 1862), 190-1: song Buain na Rainich, with music, collected for Campbell by Carmichael.

1870

• 'Donation of baptismal font from Chapel of St Maelrube, Lochaoineart, Skye', PSAS, viii (1868-70), 237-9: includes account by Carmichael, 238-9, of how font was brought from Skye to Uist.
• 'Notices of Teampull Michael, Keallun, North Uist, and of sculptured stones in Bearnarey, Harris, and in Benbecula; an 'Abrach' quern, and quarry for querns, Heisgeir, North Uist, &c. By Alexander A. Carmichael, Esq., Lochmaddy, in a letter to W.F. Skene, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A. Scot.', PSAS, viii (1868-70), 276-86, also 415.

1871

• 'Uist - Harbour for Vessels - Legendary Lore, &c.', letter to Inverness Courier, 5 Jan 1871.
• 'Beath-eachdraidh Choluim Chille. Ceud abstol na Gaidhealtachd', An Gaidheal, i, no.1 (June, 1871), 3-5; no.2 (Sept, 1871), 23-4: by 'A.C., Loch na Madadh, Uist, 1871': this particular item, unlike others in An Gàidheal signed A.C. (=Rev. Alexander Cameron), is probably by Carmichael.
• 'Beath-eachdraidh Choluim Chille. Ceud abstol na Gaidhealtachd', An Gaidheal, i, no.1 (June, 1871), 3-5; no.2 (Sept, 1871), 23-4: by 'A.C., Loch na Madadh, Uist, 1871': this particular item, unlike others in An Gàidheal signed A.C. (=Rev. Alexander Cameron), is probably by Carmichael.

1872

• 'Sgrios nam Piocach, bho Aonas Macaonais, Craoitear, Smearcleit, Uist-a'-Chinn-a'-Deas. [Sgriobhta le Alasdair G. MacGilleMhicheil, air an 13mh là de cheud mhios na bliadhna, 1865.]', An Gaidheal, i, no.10 (Decr, 1872), 266-7.

also:

• 'Beath-eachdraidh Chaluim-Chille', An Gaidheal, i, no.5 (July, 1872), 115-17: given spellings and style, this third part is probably not by Carmichael, but possibly by the editor, in order to finish the series off.
• 'Carmichael': Answer to correspondent concerning the origin of the name Carmichael, referred 'to a member of the Clan, well versed in such matters', An Gaidheal, i, no.6 (August, 1872), 166.
• 'Nether-Lochaber', charms, Inverness Courier, 4 July 1872.
• 'Nether-Lochaber', charms, Inverness Courier, 1 August 1872.
• 'Nether-Lochaber', 'Duan an Dòmhnaich by a MacMhuirich', Inverness Courier, liii, no.2859 (29 August 1872), 3: supplied by Alexander Carmichael.

1873

• 'Toirioc na Taine', TGSI, ii (1872-3), 25-39.
• 'Laoidh nan Ceann', TGSI, ii (1872-3), 46-9.

1874

• 'On a hypogeum at Valaquie, Island of Uist', Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, iii (1874), 272-5. cf. NLS Cam.2.f.4(22): 'Written at the request of Mr Campbell of Islay for the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland; and sent by the directors of the Institute to the British Association at Brighton 3 Aug. 1872.'
• ?Highlander, 14 Nov 1874: 'concerning cailleach set up in laggard's field'.

also:

• Nether-Lochaber, 'Nether-Lochaber column', Inverness Courier, lv, no.2960 (6 August 1874), 2-3: contribution by Alexander Carmichael.

1875

• 'Fionnladh Choinneachain, Mac na Bantraich', TGSI, v (1875-6), 19-37.

1876

• 'Cumha Mhic-an-Toisich', The Highlander, iv, no.165 (3 July 1876), 5: also Carmichael article for 5 February 1876.
• 'Donull Gorm', An Gaidheal, v, no.51 (March, 1876), 68-70.

1880

• William Mackenzie, 'Leaves from my Celtic portfolio. VI', Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness ix (1879-80), 67-74: Bròn Binn material from AC.
• W.F. Skene, Celtic Scotland (3 vols., Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas, 1876-80), iii, 378-93: Carmichael's article on Hebridean agriculture.

1884

• 'Hebridean hymns and popular lore', Northern Chronicle, no. 174 (30 April 1884), 3.
• Carmichael's statement to Commission; 'Statement by Mr Alexander Carmichael as to Farming Customs in the Outer Hebrides'; and 'Grazing and agrestic customs of the Outer Hebrides' in the Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Condition of the Crofters and Cottars in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (Parliamentary Papers 1884 xxxiii-xxxvi): iv, 3325, Appendix, 213-16, 451-82.

1885

• 'Beothail, nigheann Righ Lochlann - Beoil, daughter of the king of Scandinavia' in Lord Archibald Campbell (ed.), Records of Argyll (Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1885), 324-33.
• 'The fate of Celtic MSS.' in Lord Archibald Campbell (ed.), Records of Argyll (Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1885), 381-4.
• 'MacNeacain an Dùin - MacNaughtan of the Dun (Dundaramh)' in Lord Archibald Campbell (ed.), Records of Argyll (Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1885), 489-505.
• 'Prayers and hymns of the Hebrides' in Lord Archibald Campbell (ed.), Records of Argyll (Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1885), 385-98: extracts from 'Grazing and agrestic customs'.

also:

• Nether-Lochaber, 'Nether-Lochaber column', Inverness Courier, lxviii, no.4048 (6 August 1885), 2: mostly Alexander Carmichael - dance traditions.

1886

• 'The place-names of Iona', Scottish Geographical Magazine, ii (1886), 461-74.

1887

• 'Deirdire', TGSI, xiii (1886-7), 241-257.
• 'The place-names of Iona', Scottish Geographical Magazine, iii (1887), 80-7
• 'The place-names of Iona', Scottish Geographical Magazine, iii (1887), 242-7.
• 'The story of Deirdre [English translation] part I' in Alexander Macbain 'The hero tales of the Gael', Celtic Magazine, xiii, no.146 (December, 1887), 69-77.

also:

• Nether-Lochaber, 'Nether-Lochaber column', Inverness Courier, lxx, no.4289 (16 September 1887), 3: Lismore, tradition concerning St. Fillan, not necessarily, but possibly by Carmichael?
• Nether-Lochaber, 'Nether-Lochaber column', Inverness Courier, lxx, no.4293 (30 September 1887), 3: Lismore traditions, not necessarily, but possibly by Carmichael?

1888

• 'Deirdire, English Translation of Deirdire', TGSI, xiv (1887-8), 370-87.
• 'The story of Deirdre [English translation] part II' in Alexander Macbain 'The hero tales of the Gael', Celtic Magazine, xiii, no.147 (January, 1888), 129-38 : by Macbain rather than Carmichael?

1889

• 'Laoidh Chlann Uisneach', TGSI, xv (1888-9), 206-215.

also:

• Map of Iona, ground plan, and 2 views of the Abbey (Iona: J. McCormick & W. Muir, 1889): with Carmichael's help?

1891

• 'Uist old hymns', TGSG, i (1887-91), 34-47: originally delivered 24 December 1888.

1893

• 'Alexander Nicolson, LL.D. Advocate. (From a fellow-worker and a friend of twenty-eight years' standing).', Celtic Monthly, i, no.7 (April, 1893), 111: 4 verses.
• 'Note by Mr. Alexander Carmichael, of Edinburgh' in Camille Rousset (ed.), Recollections of Marshal Macdonald, duke of Tarentum (London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1893), 5-6: Macdonald's visit to Uist in 1825.

also:

• Alexander F. Carmichael, Edinburgh, 'Alexander Macdonald, Govan', Celtic Monthly, ii, no.3 (December, 1893), 41-2: possibly Alasdair's son?

1894

• Æ.J.G. Mackay and Alexander Carmichael, 'Notes on a pair of pampooties, or shoes of raw hide, from Aran More, Galway Bay, by Æ.J.G. Mackay, LL.D., F.S.A. Scot., Sheriff of Fife and Kinross. And on cuaran and other varieties of shoes used in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, by Alexander Carmichael, Corr. Mem. S.A. Scot.', PSAS, xxviii (1893-4), 136-50: letter to Sheriff Mackay from Carmichael, 22 June 1894, concerning Hebridean footwear, similar to later vocabulary lists in CG ii: 144-50.

1895

• 'The Land of Lorne and the satirists of Taynuilt', Evergreen, i (Spring, 1895), 110-15.

1900

• Carmina Gadelica, Vol I (Edinburgh: Constable, 1900).
• 1900 edition:
• 1928 edition:
• Carmina Gadelica, Vol II (Edinburgh: Constable, 1900).
• 1900 edition:
• 1928 edition:

1905

• 'Caol Reathainn (with translation)', Celtic Review, i (1905), 32-5: returning to the first piece he printed in PTWH.
• Deirdire and the Children of Uisne (Edinburgh: Norman MacLeod; London: David Nutt; Dublin: Gill & Son, 1905).

reprinted in 1914:

• Deirdire and the Children of Uisne (Paisley: Alexander Gardner; London: Kenneth Mackenzie; Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., 1914)

1907

• 'The Ruskins', Celtic Review, iii (1907), 343-51.

1908

• 'Naoimh Chinntaile', Celtic Review, iv (1908), 371-2.

1909

• 'The Barons of Bachuill', Celtic Review, v (1909), 356-75.

1910

• 'Some unrecorded incidents of the Jacobite risings', Celtic Review, vi (1910), 278-83, 334-48.

1911

• 'Thugar maighdean a chuil-bhuidhe', Celtic Review, vii (1911), 138-43.

1912

• 'Traditions of the Land of Lorne and the Highland ancestry of Robert Burns', Celtic Review, viii (1912), 314-33.

also:

• Anon., 'The Late Dr. A. Carmichael: died 7th June, 1912, St. Columba's day', Northern Chronicle, no. 1641 (12 June 1912), 5.
• Anon., 'The Late Mr. Alexander Carmichael, LL.D.: A Master Gaelic Gleaner', Oban Times, no. 3003 (15 June 1912), 5.
• Anon., 'Dr. Alexander Carmichael', Oban Times, no. 3004 (22 June 1912), 3.
• Alasdair Camshron, Bàrd Thùrnaig, 'Marbhrann do Alasdair Macghillemicheil, ughdar Carmina Gadelica', Celtic Review, viii (1912), 249-51.
• Kenneth Macleod, 'Alexander Carmichael, LL.D.; our interpreter', Celtic Review, viii (1912), 112-29.

1926

• J.G. Mackay (ed.), 'Gruagach an Eilein Uaine', Scottish Gaelic Studies i (1926), 156-87.