From the archives: New national library; 11 July 1950

These were the dates that had been given them, said the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, when he presided at a meeting of the Board of Trustees in Parliament House. It was 25 years since the Faculty of Advocates handed over to the nation their world-famous library, he said. It was 22 years since that princely gift was matched by Sir Alexander Grant in supplying money for a building worthy  of that great library, and  worthy of Scotland. “The  skeleton of that building has too long remained,” added  Lord Crawford. “But viewed as a commentary of the way our lords and masters accept a most generous and famous gift, I hope it may not be considered as a symbol of the way they treat, or wish to treat, all questions of scholarship of mind, research, and art.”  • archive.scotsman.com