Library and Information Services, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Friday 30 September 2011

Special Collections at Stirling University include film materials

Whittaker's nocturnal reading unearthed useful information about the Special Collections at Stirling University:-
Film and Media Studies has long been one of the strengths of the University of Stirling, so it is not surprising that the Library’s collections reflect this. We are fortunate to hold the papers of three filmmakers: Lindsay Anderson, one of the most important film directors of the 20th century; John Grierson, who founded the Documentary Film Movement; and the animator and experimental filmmaker, Norman McLaren.


The Lindsay Anderson collection includes material relating to all of Anderson’s films, including If.... , This Sporting Life , O Lucky Man! and Britannia Hospital, as well as 40 theatre productions directed by Anderson. A large amount of personal material collected and kept by Anderson is also in the collection.


The John Grierson Archive provides a comprehensive account of the career of one of the key figures in the history of documentary filmmaking. The archive contains a wealth of material, including papers relating to the various organisations for which Grierson worked ‐ the Empire Marketing Board, the GPO Film Unit, the Imperial Relations Trust, the National Film Board of Canada, Group 3 Film Company, UNESCO,the Association Internationale des Documentaristes; Films of Scotland Committee and Scottish Television.


Norman McLaren was born in Stirling in April 1914. It was while a student at Glasgow School of Art that he started making short experimental films. His work came to the attention of John Grierson, who offered him a job with the GPO Film Unit. When Grierson moved to Canada in 1939 to set up their National Film Board, he invited McLaren to join him. In Canada Grierson gave McLaren the freedom to experiment.


McLaren's genius was recognised worldwide with a string of awards for his work,including an Oscar in 1953 for his short film Neighbours. Our collection includes material relating to McLaren’s films, as well as his correspondence, press cuttings and photographs.


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