University established

The Abertay Historical Society’s annual contribution to the Dundee Afternoon Lecture series takes place on February 8. To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the University of Dundee, this year’s speaker Dr Kenneth Baxter will deliver a lecture entitled Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow: The Story of the University of Dundee.

This lecture will explore how the now renowned university came to be established, tracing the fascinating story from the Victorian era to the official granting of university status in 1967.

Kenneth says: “The campaign to establish a university in Dundee can be traced back into the mid-19th Century. While a popular idea with many, it was one which had to overcome many hurdles to become a reality.”

The Abertay Historical Society has strong links with the University of Dundee, being founded in 1947 at what was then University College by Principal D. N. Wimberley and history lecturer F. T. Wainwright. Indeed Kenneth says: “Principal Wimberley was keen to build town and gown links and the foundation of the Abertay Historical Society can be seen as part of this process.”

Kenneth Baxter was born in and educated in Dundee. He obtained a first class honours degree in History from the University of Dundee in 2003 and a PhD in 2008. He is a tutor in the School of Humanities at the university and also works for the Archive Services.

The lecture takes place at 2.15pm in the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, University of Dundee. There is a £2 charge for admission.