Buchan, Peter, 1790-1854

Peter Buchan (1790-1854) was a Scottish ballad collector, historian, printer, and publisher. He was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, the only son of Janet and Peter Buchan. As a young man he embarked on a number of walking tours of northeast Scotland, collecting a great number of songs and ballads. In 1816 he set-up the first printing shop in Peterhead . He is best known as one of the most important early collectors of folk-songs and folk-tales in Scotland. Two resulting publications from his ballad work were: Gleanings of Scotch, English, and Irish, scarce old ballads (1825) and Ancient ballads and songs of the north of Scotland (2v, 1828).

From the description of Collection, 1823-1900. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 79390405

Peter Buchan (1790-1854) was a Scottish ballad collector, historian, printer, and publisher. He was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, the only son of Janet and Peter Buchan. As a young man he embarked on a number of walking tours of northeast Scotland, collecting a great number of songs and ballads. In 1816 he set-up the first printing shop in Peterhead . He is best known as one of the most important early collectors of folk-songs and folk-tales in Scotland. Two resulting publications from his ballad work were: Gleanings of Scotch, English, and Irish, scarce old ballads (1825) and Ancient ballads and songs of the north of Scotland (2v, 1828).

The transcript in this collection was produced for American philologist and Harvard professor, Francis James Child, for his research for: English and Scottish popular ballads (1882-1898). One-third of the primary 'A' texts in Child's classic Ballads were collected in Aberdeenshire, of which thirty-seven came from Buchan.

From the guide to the Collection, 1823-1900., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)