Hope MacDougall

Margaret Hope Garnons MacDougall (Athlone, 21 January 1913 - Oban, 22 December 1998) was an Irish historian, photographer and collector; the youngest daughter of Colina MacDougall and Alexander James MacDougall, chief of the Clan MacDougall at Dunollie. She was aunt to three successive chiefs of the Clan MacDougall, who curated an expansive family collection of notable historical artefacts and records with her sisters, Jena and Coline.

Transforming her spacious residence into a museum in Ganavan, near Oban, she curated a remarkable assortment of objects that showcased endangered skills and crafts. After her passing in 1998, Hope MacDougall's extensive collection found a new home at Dunollie. Today, a curated selection of artefacts is exhibited in the 1745 house museum, while numerous others are meticulously preserved in the archive.

Hope MacDougall Collection
In the latter part of the 20th century, Hope embarked on a mission to document and preserve the way of life in Argyllshire, the Western Isles, and the Highlands. Her collection efforts commenced in the 1950s, accumulating thousands of items before her passing. She focused on capturing the everyday working and domestic experiences of the people in Scotland.

Hope's extensive collection encompasses diverse traditional crafts, skills, and professions. These include but are not limited to agricultural practices, early distilling, beekeeping, dairying, shoe making, travellers' camps, laundry, knitting, and more.

Each item within the collection is accompanied by meticulous documentation detailing its origin, often stemming from Miss Hope MacDougall's dedicated research, providing valuable insights into the rich cultural heritage of Scotland.

Her collection is nowadays exhibited in the Dunollie Castle museum and grounds run by the MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust.

The Dunollie Preservation Trust (DPT)
The Dunollie Preservation Trust, established in 1998 by Morag MacDougall. Nowadays, the DPT is responsible for the preservation of numerous listed buildings and monuments, such as Dunollie Castle in Oban, Gylen Castle on Kerrera, and the 1745 House Museum. Additionally, the trust oversees the maintenance of nationally significant archives and a collection comprising over 10,000 objects.