Thomas Muirhead Flett and his wife Joan were prolific collectors of traditional dance, beginning in the Western Isles in 1953, they systematically covered large parts of Scotland and subsequently also worked in the north of England. Tom’s habit was to make notes immediately following a visit to an informant, although on occasion he must have jotted down notes in their presence. These are listed as original notes below. He followed this by writing expanded fair copy note a short time later. The following represents a straightforward listing of his collection. These are listed as written up notes below. We follow, where possible, the groupings of notes which Tom himself used.
Occasionally, for whatever reason, he never wrote up visits to some dancers, or if he did these notes do not survive.
On some of these research trips Frank Rhodes was also present and his notes are also included when they are available.
The accession of the Flett MSS onto the website is a major project. Material will be added in sections, beginning with information collected in England. The handlists will follow below but will thus be very skeletal for some time. In order to facilitate research in the meantime, we have uploaded a handlist of the written up versions of the Scottish material. PDFs of the notes are available via the same page.
If you use this material for your research please use the citation specifics for the citation style you are using. Please cite both the webpage/s and the pdf volume/s you are using. Please recognise the work by Tom and Joan Flett and Frank Rhodes as appropriate.
Scotland – Hebrides 1953 and 1956 with Frank Rhodes:
1-3 Neil MacNeill, Isle of Barra, Scotland, 9th April 1953
3 John MacLean, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, Scotland, 10 April 1953
3 Neil MacDonald, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, Scotland, 10 April 1953
3 Barman, Scarinish Hotel, Isle of Tiree, 9 April 1953
4-5 Rachel MacLeod, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, Scotland, 9 April 1953
6-13 Angus John MacLellan, Hacklett, Benbecula, Scotland, 11 April 1953
14-17 Mrs Monk, Craegorry, Benbecula, Scotland, 11 April 1953
18-19 Angus MacMillan, Griminish, Benbecula, Scotland 12 April 1953
20 Archie MacDougall, Liniclett, Benbecula, Scotland, 12 April 1953
20 Calum MacCormack, Nunton, Benbecula, Scotland, 12 April 1953
21 Mrs MacCormack, Hacklatt, Benbecula, Scotland, 12 April 1953
21 Donald MacEachen, Airdveg, Benbecula, Scotland, 13 April 1953
22-24 John MacLeod, Iochdar, South Uist, Scotland, 5 April 1953
25-27 Peter MacKay, Kilaulay, South Uist, Scotland, 12 April 1953
27 Ronald MacDonald, Ardnamonie South Uist, Scotland, 12 April 1953
27 Donald MacPhee, Nunton, Benbecula, Scotland, 13 April 1953
28 Roderick MacPherson, Liniclett, Benbecula, Scotland, 13 April 1953
29 Calum MacPherson & Mrs Smith, Iochdar, South Uist, Scotland 14 April 1953
30-41 Hugh MacKinnon, Cliadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 18 April 1953
42-43 Flora MacLellan, Cliadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 18 April 1953
44-45 Neil MacDonald, Cliadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 18 April 1953
46 Lachlan Campbell, Cliadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 18 April 1953
47 Mr and Mrs Donald MacKay, Cliadale, Isle of Eigg, Scotland, 18 April 1953
48-65 Tom Flett correspondence – various 1953
- Letter from J. L. MacLean, 2 October 1953
- Dannsa Mor music and words
- Letter from Angus Matheson, Lecturer in Celtic, University of Glasgow, 19 March 1953 : Caileach an Dudain
- Letter from Angus Matheson, Lecturer in Celtic, University of Glasgow, 11 May 1953 : Caileach an Dudain
- Letter from Angus Matheson, Lecturer in Celtic, University of Glasgow, 10 July 1953 : Eigg War Dance + An Dannsa Mor
- An Dannsa Mor (words)
- Various Gaelic songs
66 Alexander Campbell, 1815 extract
67 Father Allan MacDonald, Oban, Scotland, 1953
68-76 Tom Flett correspondence – various 1953
- Letter from John Lorne Campbell, 5 May 1953
- Letter from Kenneth Grant, Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, Bishop’s House, Oban, 4 June 1953
- Letter from L W Sharp, Librarian, University of Edinburgh, 21 May 1953
- Letter from Annie G Gilchrist, 19 January 1953
- Letter from Mrs Bassin, Edinburgh, 6 February 1953
77-79 Mrs Wood, Clekiminn near Jedburgh
Frank Rhodes visit to South Uist and Benbecula, 25-29 April 1956.
- Old man at Loch Awe 23/4/1956
- Murdu Murray, Tolsta, Lewis 25/4/1956
- Mgr. MacKellaig, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Dr. MacLean, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- John MacIsaac, Eriskay, Donald Walker, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Archie Monrowe, Lochboisdale, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Angus MacLean, Smerclett, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Donald MacDonald, Garrynamonie, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Donald Allan Morrison, Greybridge, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Patrick Steel, North Boisdale, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Mrs Donald MacDonald, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Kate Morrison, Greybridge, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Donald Walker, Daliburgh, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Roderick MacPherson, Liniclett Muir, South Uist, 26/4/1956
- Angus John MacLellan, Hacklett, Benbecula, 27/4/1956
- Roderick MacLean, Kilauley, Iochdar, South Uist, 28/4/1956
- Mrs Monk, Craegorry, Benbecula, 28/4/1956
- Angus John MacLellan (2nd visit), Hacklett, Benbecula, 28/4/1956
- Roderick MacPherson (2nd visit), Liniclett Muir, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Mrs Campbell, (with Mr and Mrs Archie MacDonald) Garryheillie, Daliburgh, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Mrs MacLeod, Ormaclett, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Neil Walker, Bornish, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Kate Morrison (2nd visit), Greybridge, Daliburgh, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Donald Walker (2nd visit), Daliburgh, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Miss Harriet MacDonald, Daliburgh, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Mgr MacKellaig, Daliburgh, South Uist, 29/4/1956
- Dr MacLean, South Uist, 29/4/1956
Tom Flett and Frank Rhodes visit to Morar and Moidart, 5-11 April 1956
- Info on Ewen MacLachlan
- Miss Walker, Bracara, Scotland, 5/4/1956
- Father MacNeil, Bracara, Scotland, 5/4/1956
- Ronald MacLean, Cumusdarrach, Scotland, 6/4/1956
- S. Cameron-Head, Inverailort Castle, Scotland, 7/4/1956
- Mr MacRae, Inverailort, Scotland, 7/4/1956
- Angus MacPherson & Mrs MacDonald, Rose Cottage, Samalaman, Glen Uig, Scotland, 7-8/4/1956
- Sandy Gillies (Smirisary) / Mrs Kate MacLean, Glen Uig, Scotland, 7/4/1956
- Christina Kennedy, Glen Uig, Scotland, 8/4/1956
- Mrs Flora MacDonald (nee MacLean), Glen Uig, Scotland, 8/4/1956
- Mr John MacLean, Glen Uig, Scotland, 8/4/1956
- Mrs Ronald MacDonald (South Uist), Glen Uig, Scotland, 8-9/4/1956
- Donald Kennedy, Eilean Shona, Scotland, 9/4/1956
- Mrs MacLellan, Eilean Shona, Scotland, 9/4/1956
- Father Campbell, Scotland, 9/4/1956
- Donald Cameron, Post Office, Acharacle, Scotland, 9/4/1956
- Sandy Allan MacDonald, Dalnabrech, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Miss Jean MacPherson, Post Office, Salen, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Mr and Mrs Gordon Menzies, Salen, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- John (Blain) MacDonald, Cliff, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Mrs MacLean, Acharacle, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Miss Jean MacInnes, Acharacle, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Willie Harrison, Acharacle, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Archie MacKellaig, Glenfinnan, Scotland, 10/4/1956
- Donald MacDonald, Fort William, Scotland 10-11/4/1956
- Mrs Angus MacIsaac (nee Annie MacDonald), Banavie, Fort William, Scotland 10/4/1956
- Mr MacIsaac (Fort William / Glen Uig), Scotland 10/4/1956
- Mr Hugh MacDonald, Banavie, Fort William, Scotland 10/4/1956
- Mrs Fergusson, Salen / For William, Scotland 10/4/1956
Frank Rhodes visit to South Uist and Benbecula, 7-11 July 1956
- Mrs Kate Morrison, Greybridge, Daliburgh, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Archie Monrowe, Lochboisdale, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Donald Steel, Stome Kilpheder, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Donald Walker, Daliburgh, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Mrs Annie MacDonald, Daliburgh, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Mr Alex MacIntosh, Daliburgh, Scotland, 7/7/1956
- Mrs Margaret MacAskill, South Boisdale, Scotland, 8/7/1956
- Mrs Mary Smith, South Boisdale, Scotland, 8/7/1956
- Angus James MacIntyre, Loch Eynort, Scotland, 8/7/1956
- Miss Harriet MacDonald, Daliburgh, Scotland, 8/7/1956
- Angus John MacLellan, Benbecula, Scotland, 9/7/1956
- Angus O’Henley, Lochboisdale, Scotland, 11/7/1956
- Donald Allen Morrison, Kilpheder, Scotland, 10/7/1956
- Neil MacLellen, Lochboisdale, Scotland, 11/7/1956
- Dr MacLean, Daliburgh, Scotland, 11/7/1956
- Mgr MacKellaig, Daliburgh, Scotland, 11/7/1956