Isaac Black Collection of Local History Material
To enquire about this item(s) please contact us archives@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
TitleIsaac Black Collection of Local History Material
ReferenceGD63
Date1872-c1970
Archive creatorIsaac Black
Scope and ContentPhotographs of Kirkintilloch, c1880-1950; Photographs of Canal and Shipbuilding, c1905-1912; Papers and Photographs re. Local Railways, 1960-1970; Photographs re. Famous Local People, c1950-c1970; Postcards and Printing Block for Kirkintilloch Pavement Dispute, 1904; Newscuttings, 1907-1970; 'Local Knowledge Queries' from the Kirkintilloch Herald, 1928-1940; Local Poetry and Songs, c1900-c1970; Notes on Local Subjects, c1950-c1970; Scrapbook, 1872-1897.
Extent0.06m
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyDonated by Isaac Black's daughter Margaret.
Level of descriptionfonds
Admin history/BiographyIsaac Black was born in Auchinstarry in 1886, the second youngest in a family of ten. When he was still an infant the family moved to the Meiklehill area where his father was employed as an underground fireman at the colliery. Two years later the family moved to Tintock.
Educated at Townhead and Gartconner schools, at the age of fourteen he went to work as a collier at Meiklehill, first as a 'backner', shovelling coal. He worked in many different capacities in the mine, becaming a drawer, stripper, roadsman, fireman and shanker. After a brief spell of delivering milk at Kelvinside, Glasgow, he returned to mining at the St Flannan Coliery. Between c1908 and c1913 he worked as a barman at the Waterloo Inn in Hillhead, but when the business changed hands he moved to Auchenreoch Colliery, moving to Wester Gartshore in 1926, and finally Gartshore, where he worked until 1958, for the last twenty years as an oversman. During the First World War he spent two years in the army. He died in 1977 at the age of 91.
Isaac Black was a keen local historian and joined the Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries in 1936, serving on committee from 1946 and being installed as honorary vice-president in 1971. For fifteen years he campaigned to ensure against the neglect of important monuments at the Old Aisle Cemetery, and was successful in placing some of these memorials in the care of the Council in perpetuity, notably that of Alexander Bain.
Educated at Townhead and Gartconner schools, at the age of fourteen he went to work as a collier at Meiklehill, first as a 'backner', shovelling coal. He worked in many different capacities in the mine, becaming a drawer, stripper, roadsman, fireman and shanker. After a brief spell of delivering milk at Kelvinside, Glasgow, he returned to mining at the St Flannan Coliery. Between c1908 and c1913 he worked as a barman at the Waterloo Inn in Hillhead, but when the business changed hands he moved to Auchenreoch Colliery, moving to Wester Gartshore in 1926, and finally Gartshore, where he worked until 1958, for the last twenty years as an oversman. During the First World War he spent two years in the army. He died in 1977 at the age of 91.
Isaac Black was a keen local historian and joined the Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries in 1936, serving on committee from 1946 and being installed as honorary vice-president in 1971. For fifteen years he campaigned to ensure against the neglect of important monuments at the Old Aisle Cemetery, and was successful in placing some of these memorials in the care of the Council in perpetuity, notably that of Alexander Bain.
Repository nameEast Dunbartonshire Archives - Kirkintilloch