The People's Friend? Recovering Scottish Popular Magazine Culture

This PhD project explores the rich and little-known archive of Scottish popular magazines, centred on the period between the founding of the People's Friend (1869) and WWII. Investigating how these magazines constructed a specifically Scottish sense of identity and culture, this PhD thesis will show their lasting influence and significance within wider British and international publishing contexts. Through this partnership, the student will also receive training in digitization practices, theories and techniques, and act as an adviser on the selection and implementation of digitization projects in relation to Scottish magazines. Besides reconsidering a vital aspect of Scotland's literary heritage, the PhD will also include a reflective final chapter on questions of 'recovery' and digitization, considering how this archive connects to reading communities today.