Library Special Collections: Papers of Margaret Swain

Abstract

• Margaret Helen Swain (1909-2002) was a historian of embroidery and textiles. The author of several books and numerous articles, she also lectured widely, and her papers reflect these activities. Her early publications were on Ayrshire needlework but she became an expert on embroidery in general and Scottish work in particular. Her books included Historical Needlework (1970), The Needlework of Mary, Queen of Scots (1973) and Scottish Embroidery (1986). Her advice was frequently sought by curators and collectors and she became a consultant to the National Museum of Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. She was asked to help to improve the displays in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which led to the publication in 1988 of her catalogue of the tapestries and textiles there.