Birds, Baskets, and the SWRI: The Collecting Activity of Dr. Evelyn Baxter and Miss Leonora Rintoul

Dr. Ailsa Hutton, Curator of Modern and Rural History at National Museums Scotland, presented Birds, Baskets, and the SWRI: The Collecting Activity of Dr. Evelyn Baxter and Miss Leonora Rintoul. The paper explored the lives and diverse interests these two prominent ornithologists from Largo, Fife, known for their extensive studies on bird migration across Scotland. Their notable work, The Birds of Scotland (1953), is a testament to their contributions to ornithology. Beyond their ornithological achievements, Baxter and Rintoul had a keen interest in collecting, particularly baskets from across Scotland. In 1961, after their deaths, a collection of these baskets was donated to National Museums Scotland, significantly enriching the museum's rural and craft collections. The paper examined how their basket collection, gathered during their ornithological fieldwork and influenced by Evelyn’s involvement with the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute, reflects their broader interests and collecting practices. Dr. Hutton’s research delved into how Baxter and Rintoul’s passions for ornithology, travel, and traditional Scottish crafts intersected, offering a comprehensive view of their collecting methods and objectives.