A selection of 1,372 volumes, this is a general collection of mainly 18th- and 19th-century works, comprising books, pamphlets, and maps from the library at Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire. Subjects covered include history, philosophy, religion, geography, travel and topography, science and medicine, children's books and school textbooks. The collection contains a selection of classical and modern literature; the latter is mostly English-language and consisting of standard works, as well as popular novels published in the late 19th century such as examples of Gaboriau's sensational novels.

Castle Fraser was built in the 16th and 17th centuries as the home of the Frasers of Muchalls, later Frasers of Castle Fraser. The castle was passed down through the Lords Fraser, the Frasers of Inverallochy and then the Mackenzie family who took the name Mackenzie Fraser. In 1921 the castle was sold to Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray and in 1947 the estate was passed to his granddaughter, Mrs Lavinia Smiley (1919-1991) who, with her husband, Major Michael Smiley, continued the restoration of the Castle. In 1976, the Castle was given to the National Trust for Scotland.

Organisation

The books have been catalogued individually and have the shelfmark 'C.Fras.'.

Acquisition

The collection was donated in 1982 by Mrs Lavinia Smiley.

Related collections

The papers of the Fraser family of Castle Fraser and Inverallochy were purchased by the University of Aberdeen in 1995 and are part of Aberdeen University Library's Special Collections.