On the 30th of November 2024, St Andrews Day, the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland took place. At this event, two further members of the Chief’s Council were voted on by the membership and accepted as Fellows of the Society with all the rights and privileges this entails. This takes our total to seven of our Society, who have been given this great honour. A photograph was taken of all new Fellows present, and the Society was represented bt Dr George Haig, Esq FSAScot
The current Fellows in our ranks include two of our clan armigers. These are our former Convenor and current Shennachie to the Chief, Dr George Carruthers FSAScot and also Gary John Carruthers, FSAScot, former Commissioner for Australasia, a Clan Genealogist and Advisor to the Chief. We also are privileged to have three other officers of our Society carrying the FSAScot post nominals, namely Dana Caruthers Norton, FSAScot, Clan Genealogist and former Commissioner for the USA, Laurie Carruthers Caron, FSAScot, Clan Genealogist and Regional Secretary (Canada), and Dr Liz Monument, FSAScot, Regional Secretary (Australasia).
The latest however, to attain Fellowship of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland after successful applications and sponsorship, are Craig Carrothers Monument, FSAScot, Regional Commissioner (Australasia) and our representative at the meeting, Dr George Haig Esq, FSAScot, Armiger, former Society Treasurer and current Advisor to the Chief.
Fundamental to being accepted as a candidate for election to Fellowship is an interest or involvement in Scotland’s past, as such all named above have been recognised for their work covering our own family history, genealogy and cultural research and publications. All of which have helped to further the Carruthers name world-wide, in an honest and factual manner.
Having attained the honour of Fellowship, and if they so choose, they can now wear the tartan of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland as recognised Fellows. This tartan was specially commissioned and registered on the celebration of its 240th anniversary in 2020. The restrictions of its use are exclusive to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland itself and its Fellows (FSAScot).
Anniversary Meeting and Fellowship Election, St Andrews Day, 30th November 2024, Edinburgh.
To ensure the process is transparent and fair, each Fellow is voted on by all other Fellows circulated through a ballot paper conforming with Law 4 of the Society. This has upon it the name of the candidate and their sponsors and is sent a minimum of 10 days prior to the meeting in which the ballot is held. The ballot paper options allow for a box to be ticked to vote for all candidates, but also allows the crossing out of names for those voting against an individual. Abstention is also an option.
This years St Andrews Meeting also offered other important items on the agenda pertinent to the Society, which included the re-election of Council Members and a talk on Dirleton Castle Revisited by Dr Morvern French. Dt French is a late medievalist by education and publication who works as the Properties Historian for Historic Environment Scotland.
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has been supporting research and innovation into Scotland’s past, advocating as an independent voice for Scottish heritage and sharing knowledge for over 240 years. They are committed to ensuring equality and accessibility for all in the Scottish heritage sector.
Founded by the 11th Earl of Buchan in 1780 with the 3rd Earl of Bute, a former UK Prime-minister under George III, being elected the first President of the Society, it was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1783. Its role was to investigate both antiquities and natural and civil history in general, with the intention that the talents of mankind were cultivated and that the study of natural and useful sciences pertaining to Scotland should be promoted. Its Fellows carry the post nominals FSAScot, with great pride.
The Society continues to direct its attention to matters of relevance to the historic environment of Scotland, although with varying levels of ferocity as required for each issue.
It promotes the research, understanding and conservation of the historic environment of Scotland – for the benefit of all – and always advocates good practice, accuracy and transparency at all times. As an organisation, they respond to Government and other relevant consultations, produce position statements and chair seminars and meetings to discuss pertinent issues.
As the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, it is housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, Edinburgh. It is famous for its ongoing research and of course its peer-reviewed Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (PSAS) which covers Scottish history and archaeology, published annually since 1855. The PSAS has also included works pertinent to us as a family. These include submissions by John J Reid mentioned here, father of RC Reid co-author of the ‘Records of the Carruthers Family‘ in 1889 and again further works by Arthur Stanley Carruthers, the other co-author of the ‘Records‘, covering the history of country dance in 1925 and the involvement of the Carruthers of Holmains.
Both these submissions and inclusions in the PSAS, are covered previously in blogs on our own website.
So once again, a huge congratulations from our own clan and family Society to both Craig Monument Carrothers in Australia and Dr George Haig here in Scotland on this wonderful accolade and on behalf of us all, thank you for all the hard work you do and have done behind the scenes.
What terrific news, and many congratulations to the two new Fellows!
Great news. Congratulations to George and Craig on their Fellowship!