Scottish Referee & Scottish Umpire

[Boris57]

In connection with an ongoing research project I'm hoping to be able to look at the Scottish Referee/Scottish umpire publication which was around from the late 1800's for a while. Anyone know if either the National Library of Scotland or the Mitchell Library have this publication available for research?

[Scottish]

The Mitchell certainly used to. Not a full set and not in the best of condition. It's been some time since I was there so I can't vouch for what's available now.

[stewart]

I used one of them (cant remember which off the top of my head) at the Mitchell Library last year for the early 1890s. Its on microfilm and wasnt in bad condition. Print was easy to read.

[ScottishFA]

Also check with the Scottish Football Museum, as they have holdings of bound volumes which are available to researchers. i can't remember off the top of my head which ones they have but it's a lot easier than trawling through microfilm on screen.

[bobby s]

The scottish referee is the infamous white on black microfilm in the Mitchell.

I think the run is something like 1890-1914 BUT I seem to think that the first one or two reels (1890-1894?) are now unavailable.

I thought you could search the mitchell catalogue online, but I can't seem to find it.

[HibeeJibee]

NLS database has:

The Scottish umpire [microform].
http://main-cat.nls.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebreco ... 4918&SID=1
1884.
Issued run: Vol. 1, no. 1 (21st Aug. 1884)-v. 1, no. 14 (19th Nov. 1884).
Frequency: Twice weekly

The Scottish umpire and cycling mercury [microform].
http://main-cat.nls.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebreco ... 4918&SID=1
1884-1888.
Issued run: Vol. 1, no. 15 (26th Nov. 1884)-v. 9, no. 220 (Oct. 30, 1888).
Frequency: Twice weekly

Scottish sport [microform].
http://main-cat.nls.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebreco ... 5234&SID=2
1884-1888
Issued run: New ser., no. 1 (6th Nov. 1888)-no. 1514 (Apr. 2, 1900).
Frequency: Twice weekly

Scottish sport illustrated [microform].
http://main-cat.nls.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebreco ... 5549&SID=8
1900.
Issued run: New ser., no. 1 (Apr. 6, 1900)-new ser., no. 31 (Nov. 2, 1900).
Frequency: Weekly

and also 1 edition of the Scottish Athlete publication:

The Scottish athlete.
NLS run: No. 1 (Sept. 8, 1890)
http://main-cat.nls.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebreco ... 5625&SID=9

No results for Scottish Referee. Which ran unbroken from 1888 to 1914.

[Boris57]

Thanks for the info & advice - much appreciated.

I've been in touch with the British Newspaper Library at Colindale in N.London & they advise that they have the full set of the Scottish Referee although the volumes for 1893, 94, 98, 99 & 1901 have been deemed 'unfit' for use. I'll certainly check out the other publications at the NLS & Mitchell as advised but looks like a wee trip to London might be on the cards.

[HibeeJibee]

Out of interest, for anyone with prior experience or who's heard of such a case - how rigid is it when an archive terms something "unfir for use" or "unavailable"? Obviously if the material is available at another repository - particularly if it could be loaned - it's not an issue: but what if no-one has a 'good' copy?

I'd occasionally come across such instances at uni, but always found the material somewhere else.

[Scottish]

the volumes for 1893, 94, 98, 99 & 1901 have been deemed 'unfit' for use.

That's bad. Because I certainly used all of those years - original editions - in the mid-1990s.