FRANK MILLER, F.S.A.Scot.*
On 16th January, 1944, there passed away Frank Miller, who may he fittingly described as Father of the Society. He became a member in 1886, shortly after he had joined the staff of the Annan Branch of the Bank of Scotland. Best known to the public as the author of The Poets of Dumfriesshire, his contributions to our Transactions were numerous and valuable. He spared no pains to make them authoritative, and soon became recognised as one of the small scholarly band who helped the late Professor Child to bring to fruition his great work on Ballad Literature. This contact brought him into active co-operation with such outstanding figures as Dr. George Neilson and William M'Math, and he soon established for himself a definite niche amongst those who could speak with authority on Border Ballads. Most of his contributions to our Transactions were on this subject, and his work on Kinmont Willie was reprinted in Germany. One of his most useful works was a Bibliography of Annan. He had been founder of, and for 50 years secretary of, the Annan Literary Society, and when he retired was given a presentation and a public dinner, at which the then President of this Society paid a fitting tribute to his work. Gentle, unassuming, and modest in character, he sought nothing for himself, and when he was offered the Presidency of our Society only agreed under pressure to accept office for the year 1929-30. He bequeathed his library, his bookcases, and a legacy to the Society.
Bibliography
Series
Vol.
p.
The Oak and other Trees II
5
56
Annan: Its Historical and Literary Associations II
6
240
Annan in the Eighteenth Century II
7
108
Lag's Elegy and other Chap Books II
17
203
Annan in the last Four Decades of the 18th Century II
20
163
The Ballad of Kinmont Willie II
23
292
The Blacklock Manuscripts at Annan II
24
155
Andrew Crosbie, Advocate, a Reputed Original of Paulus Pleydell in 'Guy Mannering' III
7
11
Allan Cunningham's Contribution to Cromek's 'Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song' III
8
40
A Plague at Annan in the Twelfth Century III
8
55
A Biliography of the Parish of Annan III
10
119
The Macmath Song and Ballad MS. III
12
88
The Laird of Coul's Ghost; A Galloway Chap-Book III
14
259
Old Collection of Songs and Poems III
16
10
Unpublished Letters of the Ettrick Shepherd to a Dumfriesshire Laird III
17
11
The Mansfield Manuscript: An old Edinburgh Collection of Songs and Ballads. III
19
54
* Obituary from Transactions Series III, Vol. XXIII, p. 239