Peter Macnair was born in Glasgow on 12 September 1868 , and was educated at Kinnoull School and Perth Academy. He was in business from 1885 until 1899 . In 1899 he was appointed Curator of the Green Branch Museum , Glasgow . In 1901 he was an Assistant in the Fine Art and Historical Section, at the Glasgow International Exhibition . In 1902 he was appointed Curator of Natural History Collections in Glasgow Museums , and Professor of Zoology at Anderson's Medical College , Glasgow . He also held the positions of President of the Glasgow Geological Society and Editor of Transactions; Examiner in Geology at the University of Aberdeen , 1908-1910 ; Examiner in Biology to the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons , Glasgow , for the Triple Qualification of the Scottish Licensing Bodies , 1922 ; Tutor in Geology to the Workers' Educational Association , 1921 ; Consulting Geologist in questions of Mining and Civil Engineering. Peter Macnair died on 28 March 1929 .
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The Building of the Grampians, 1903;
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The Geology of the Rouen Glen, 1906;
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The Intrusive Dolomites in the Neighbourhood of Glasgow, 1907;
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The Geology and Scenery of the Grampians and the Valley of Strathmore, (2 volumes), 1908;
- Partly wrote and edited History of the Geological Society of Glasgow, 1909, second edition, 1921;
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Introduction to the Study of Minerals, 1910;
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Introduction to the Study of Rocks, 1911;
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Perthshire, Argyll and Bute, (Cambridge County Geographies), 1911-1913;
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Introduction to the Study of Fossils, 1912.
Helen Macnair was the daughter of Peter Macnair and Rebecca Mackenzie . She was born on 4 November 1899 in Glasgow . She bagin her studies at the University of Glasgow in 1918 . In her first year she studied Latin and Mathematics. In second year she took Political Economy, Geology and English. And in her third year she studied Logic and Metaphysics and Higher Mathematics. She graduated with an MA in 1920 and went on to become a teacher. She married William Knox and moved to East Lothian in 1930 . In the 1950s she moved to Berwickshire . She died around 1980 .
From the guide to the Papers of Peter Macnair, 1868-1929, museum curator and natural historian and papers of Helena Macnair, 1899-c1980, arts student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1888-1927, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
