Alexander Anderson (1845-1909)

The poet Alexander Anderson (1845-1909) was a Librarian of Edinburgh University.

Early Life

Anderson was born on 30th April 1845 at Kirkconnel, Dumfries and Galloway. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to nearby Crocketford where his father James worked as a gardener at Brooklands House, Crocketford. Anderson attended Crocketford school and later assisted his father in his gardening work.

As Surfaceman

The family returned to Kirkconnel when Alexander was sixteen. He worked for two years in the flagstone quarry at Old Kello, before beginning work as a surfaceman or platelayer for the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company. At the age of 19, he began writing poetry, publishing under the pseudonym of 'surfaceman'. In 1870 his verse began to appear in the Dundee journal The People's Friend, and in 1873 the Dundee Advertiser published his first book A Song of Labour and other Poems in a run of 1000 which sold out in a fortnight. Three further volumes followed: Two Angels (1875), Songs of the Rail (1878), and Ballads and Sonnets (1879).

As Librarian

Anderson was a committed autodidact, spending all his spare time on self-culture and mastering several languages. In 1880 he was persuaded to apply for the post of Assistant Librarian of Edinburgh University Library. Despite never having entered a library before his interview, he was selected. His commitment to his new post soon won him the affection of colleagues, students and academics. He briefly left the Library in 1885 when he was appointed Secretary to the Philosophical Institution, a role brought him into contact with many prominent literary figures. He soon became dissatisfied with the work, however, desiring more contact with ordinary readers. In 1888 he resigned and returned to his Library position. In 1890 he was appointed Chief Librarian, remaining in post until his death in 1909.

Sources

• Crocketford Community Initiative [[1], accessed 17 November 2014]