The University of Aberdeen has been given a magnificent group of 120 prints and drawings put together by James F Walker, former Senior History Master at Aberdeen Grammar School. His other large collection, a library of books on the history of the city, was lost in the Grammar School fire in 1986. The prints and drawings comprising the Walker Collection are all Aberdeen City topographic scenes, and the collection includes some particularly interesting works, including a watercolour of King's in the mid-1800s.
Dr Alan Knox, Manager of the University's Historic Collections Division said: "This is a very generous donation. The collection complements and greatly enhances our existing holdings of local prints and drawings and will be invaluable for teaching and research. James Walker put together a terrific collection and we are very grateful to David Walker for giving it to us. We have already started preparing it for display."
James Frederick Walker was born in Callendar in 1896, the son of a clergyman (DD Abdn 1922). He served with the Gordon Highlanders in Britain and France during World War I, rising to the rank of Lieutenant, and gained his MA Hons from Aberdeen in 1922. From there he joined the staff of Aberdeen Grammar School in 1924, living in Rubislaw Terrace. He retired from the school in 1963 and died in 1977.
The prints passed from James to his sister, Miss Katherine (Kitty) Alice Walker (1900-92). She was an Assistant Librarian in the University from 1922-65 and received an Honorary MA in 1962 'for long service of exceptional merit'.
The collection was subsequently inherited by her nephew, David Walker (currently in Hungary), from whom we have held this material on loan since 1993. We needed the owner's permission to do some work to make the prints available for teaching and research. When approached, Mr Walker very kindly gave the collection to the University.
A selection from the Walker Collection will go on exhibition at Marischal Museum later this year.