Arthur Mathieson (1926-1995)
Collector of books on the first nations of North America
Throughout his adult life Arthur Mathieson of Galashiels had an enduring interest in the history and culture of the native North American Indians (as he thought of them). After his death his family presented his collection of 150 volumes on North American Indians to Edinburgh University Library. They have been recorded in the online catalogue, given a special bookplate which records the gift in Mr Mathieson's memory, and added to the Library's open-shelf collections.
Arthur Mathieson was born and lived most of his life in Galashiels, where he worked in the tweed mills. In later years he moved to London where he worked with the GPO Sorting Office. A bachelor, he retired in 1987, returning to Scotland to live with his widowed sister.
His interest in the first nations of North America began while watching Western movies at the cinema. His sympathy lay with the Indians rather than with the cowboys, and he refused to accept the stock representation of the Indians as savages, when clearly they were not. He began reading about their culture and history, and his general interest led to an anthropological understanding of the people. He collected books widely, from booksellers in England and America as well Scotland. The more he read about the Indians, the richer, more diverse and fascinating he found their world.