McManus 168
The Albert Institute (now the McManus, Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum) was established in 1867 as the first civic museum and art gallery in Dundee. It was funded entirely through public subscription with 261 subscribers pledging £15,770 in 1863. By February 1865 the number of subscribers had increased to 327 and share capital totalled £21,470. Read more...
This project was set up by the McManus 168 Group (Supporters of The McManus) to mark the 150th anniversary of The McManus and to shed new light on Dundee’s history and heritage by discovering more about the men and women that gave so generously.
One of the Original Subscribers
James B Nicoll gave £10 towards the building of The Albert Institute. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, James Brydon Nicoll established a thriving wine and spirit business in Nethergate, Dundee.
Search the Archive
Browse or Search our archive of 253 names or go straight in with a random search.
ABOUT
From June 2017 to June 2018, the project brought together all the heritage groups in Dundee supported by an expert project planning team with academics, genealogists, archivists, the library service and Leisure and Culture Dundee, project managers and history enthusiasts.
We recruited 30 expert lead researchers and a further 75 novice researchers, ranging in age from 16 to 84 and from right across Dundee. Together they collected information on the subscribers among which were, manufacturers, nautical instrument makers, grocers, hecklers, waiters, ship’s chandlers, dyers, bleachers, and flax spinners. View in the Subscriber Archive....
Watch interviews with McManus168 researchers and find out more about the project...
Reform mug
One of many commemorative mugs to celebrate the Reform Act of 1832. This one features a portrait of political reformer and Dundee’s first MP George Kinloch. Born in Dundee in 1775, George Kinloch was heavily involved in Politics and pushed to increase the rights of ordinary people.
Courtesy of The McManus Collections. Copyright: Dundee City Council (Dundee's Art Galleries and Museums)
Project Articles
The making of modern Dundee. The platform for today’s V&A Museum
The Albert Institute was the centrepiece of an unprecedented programme of urban refurbishment. What lead to the establishment of one of Dundee's finest buildings?
Getting our subscriber numbers right
By February 1865 the number of subscribers to The Albert Institute was 327. So why did we initially think there were 168?
The Subscribers
The subscribers to the Albert Institute were a cross section of the (male) ‘middling sort’ and those above them in the economic hierarchy of the town. Read about the mix of men and a few women that helped establish The Albert Institute.