Scottish documentary photography and the archive : George M. Cowie, Franki Raffles and Document Scotland in the University of St Andrews Photographic Collection

Abstract

Scottish documentary photography has a significant historical connection with St Andrews. The St Andrews Photographic Collection upholds this link by preserving historic and contemporary collections. This thesis investigates how the collection’s acquisitions of photographic work place the photographer within the tradition of Scottish documentary photography. Three case studies are examined, the George M. Cowie collection of photojournalism, the Franki Raffles collection, and the collection of the photographic collective, Document Scotland. The ways in which the archive preserves and promotes this material are examined in a number of ways. Firstly, how the organisation of the material affects the sense of the photographers’ working practice and authorship of the material. Secondly, how the materiality of the collections is used in a way that further informs the photographers’ body of work. Thirdly, how the archive’s presentation of this material can be utilised by researchers and institutions to promote and re-interpret this work. Finally, these aspects are considered in terms of positioning the discussed photographers within the legacy of Scottish documentary photography.