The collection contains over 600 books, including pamphlets and albums, and is the residue of the library of the first Labour Prime Minister, the Right Hon James Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937). It includes works on socialism and politics, and books on Scottish history and literature, as well as early school and student books relating to his studies at Lossiemouth and London. There are also works on Scottish history and literature, albums of press cuttings, and some books that belonged to Mrs MacDonald and her family. Most of the books bear MacDonald's signature and his bookplate, and a few are annotated.

Organisation

The books have been catalogued individually and have the shelfmark 'JRM.'.

Acquisition

The collection was presented in 1981 by the children of the Ramsay MacDonald and his wife Margaret Ethel MacDonald (1870-1911).

Related collections

Letters and telegrams of condolence on the death of MacDonald's wife were transferred in 1995 to the manuscript collections and are held at Acc.11180.