The Digital Exhibit
Duart Castle
What to Expect from this Exhibit
This digital exhibit showcases the University of Guelph’s collection of medieval Scottish charters. Our extensive collection of historical Scottish materials is the largest archival repository outside of the United Kingdom. The charters featured in this exhibit are documents that the Campells of Monzie and the Menzies families used to record land transfers, and represent some of the oldest items in our archives. We are proud to study and share these valuable manuscripts with the public.
During and following the Scottish Wars of Independence, charters symbolized the legitimacy of the land transactions made between medieval Scottish nobles. They were used to record land grants, quitclaims, transactions, and orders between the noble families. Charters were also used to forge and reinforce the political interests and alliances of the nobles. Over time, they became an indispensable political tool. As objects, they tell us about the world in which they existed and about the people who used them. Browse through our digital exhibit and our interactive Neatline map to learn more about the medieval Scots and how they made and used the charters.