John Forbes White Collection
18/05/2010
John Forbes White moved to Edinburgh to study medicine and by 1853 was an active photographer, working closely with Thomas Keith. There are some 25 photographs in our collection which date from around 1857. The field of photography was still in its infancy at this time and the negatives and prints we hold are fine examples of an early photographic technique.
Our collection of waxed paper negatives and prints includes images of:
- King’s College, Aberdeen
- Saint Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen
- Brig O’Balgownie, Aberdeen
- Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh
- Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
White gave up his career in medicine to run the family mill in Aberdeen and did not exhibit any of his photographs after 1859. He died in 1904. This collection was initially given to the Edinburgh Photographic Society by Lady Fyfe, the daughter of John Forbes White. The Society, with the approval of Lady Fyfe, deposited the collection with RCAHMS in order to ensure its long-term preservation.
SC 1055857
View from the south of the tower and South transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055858
View from the North East of the choir and North transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055864
View from the North East showing nave and North transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055865
View from the south west of the Bishop's Palace and Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055867
View of the west doors of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney. Posters are visible on both doors.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055917
Close-up view of an arched doorway in Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1056029
View of the tower of the Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall Orkney.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103009
View of tombs of Bishop Dunbar and Principal Jack at Saint Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103011
View of the Great West Doorway, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103012
View of a section of the Great West Doorway, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103015
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103016
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103017
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103018
View of West front and seven-light Gothic window, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103019
View of West door at St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103020
View of South face of Cathedral and South porch, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103045
View of the West window and door, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103047
Detailed view of an arcaded wall, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103049
View of the arcaded west tower, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103050
View of arcading on the west gable wall, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1102999
View of the remains of Harthill Castle. Inscribed "a ruined tower with visitors".
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055857
View from the south of the tower and South transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055858
View from the North East of the choir and North transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055864
View from the North East showing nave and North transept of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055865
View from the south west of the Bishop's Palace and Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055867
View of the west doors of Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney. Posters are visible on both doors.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1055917
Close-up view of an arched doorway in Saint Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1056029
View of the tower of the Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall Orkney.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103009
View of tombs of Bishop Dunbar and Principal Jack at Saint Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103011
View of the Great West Doorway, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103012
View of a section of the Great West Doorway, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103015
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103016
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103017
View of Bishop Dunbar's tomb with unidentified effigy, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103018
View of West front and seven-light Gothic window, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103019
View of West door at St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103020
View of South face of Cathedral and South porch, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103045
View of the West window and door, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103047
Detailed view of an arcaded wall, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103049
View of the arcaded west tower, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1103050
View of arcading on the west gable wall, Holyrood Abbey.
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
SC 1102999
View of the remains of Harthill Castle. Inscribed "a ruined tower with visitors".
© Courtesy of HES (John Forbes White Collection)
