Peter John Anderson was born in Inverness on 16 Sep 1852. He attended Inverness Academy and graduated from Aberdeen University, MA 1872, and Edinburgh University LL B 1876. His working life was spent almost wholly in the University of Aberdeen, first as University assistant in Natural Philosophy, 1873 - 1879; and subsequently, Examiner, 1880 - 1883; Assistant Registrar, 1883 - 1889; Rector's Assessor on the University Court, 1890 - 1893; University Librarian, 1894 - 1926; Clerk of the General Council, 1907 - 1926; and Registrar, 1918 - 1926. From 1880 - 1893 he also lectured at the Church of Scotland Training College, Aberdeen.
He was secretary of the New Spalding Club from 1894 - 1926, for whom he wrote and edited several publications, including Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis: Selections from the Records of the Marischal College and University, MDXCIII - MDCCCLX, 3 vols (Aberdeen: New Spalding Club, 1889 - 1898), Officers and Graduates of the University and King's College, Aberdeen, MVD - MDCCCLX (Aberdeen: New Spalding Club, 1893); and Records of the Scots Colleges at Douai, Rome, Madrid, Valladolid and Ratisbon. Vol. 1: Registers of Students (Aberdeen: New Spalding Club, 1906). The activities of the Club ceased after his death in 1926, though it was not formally wound up until 20 Apr 1928, when the Third Spalding Club was formed, and all assets and liabilities of the New Spalding Club passed thereto. Other notable works include Records of the Arts Class 1868-1872, (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1882); Roll of Alumni in Arts of the University and King's College of Aberdeen, 1596-1860, Aberdeen University Studies, 1, (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University, 1900); Studies in the History and Development of the University of Aberdeen: a Quatercentenary tribute paid by certain of her professors and of her devoted sons, Aberdeen University Studies, 19, (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1906); Aberdeen Friars, Red, Black, White, Grey: Preliminary Calendar of Illustrative Documents, Aberdeen University Studies, 40 (Aberdeen: His Majesty's Printers, 1909); Major Alpin's Ancestors and Descendants (Aberdeen: Privately printed, 1904); and Notes on Academic Theses; with Bibliography of Duncan Liddel, Aberdeen University Studies, 58 (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1912). For a bibliography of his printed works, which number more than 60, see George Henderson, The Late Mr P.J. Anderson: Tribute by a Student of 1874 - 75, and [H. Alexander] A Bibliography of Mr Anderson's Work, Aberdeen University Review 14 (1926 - 1927), 56 - 59.
Through his dual roles as University Librarian and Secretary of the New Spalding Club, he secured the deposit in the University Library of many significant local manuscript and printed papers. After his death, on 12 May 1926, a memorial subscription was raised in the University, and a P.J. Anderson Memorial Lecture was founded in 1932. For appreciations of his life and works see Aberdeen University Review, 13 (1925 - 1926), 88, 168, 193, 260; Aberdeen University Review, 14 (1926 - 1927), 56, 184. and Colin A. McLaren, .P.J. Anderson and the History of the University, P.J. Anderson Memorial Lecture, 1983 Aberdeen University Review 51 (1985-86), 83-101.
From the guide to the Papers of Peter John Anderson, librarian, University of Aberdeen, 19th century - 20th century, (University of Aberdeen)
