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**Graham** · 25th January 05, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

Throw out your copies of Thompson and take note of Newsome!!

This man writes/talks SUCH sense.

Amen to that!!

**Graham** · 25th January 05, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Kiltedmusiclover

Great article Graham. 8)

I just met Matt this past Saturday at the Burns Dinner put on by the Scottish Tartan Museum.
He gave a great speech on why Robert Burns
should be remembered. I hope to post some photos
by this weekend. As Todd said, Matt has written several books and articles on kilts. I just purchased
his latest book on district tartans. I think I will start another tread on that subject so I don't
highjack this one.

O boy I am jealous!! I would love to talk with the man.
I'm going to order his books.

Is he aware of this forum and the support he has here?

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 25th January 05, 07:15 PM

Graham,

I did invite Matt to visit the site.
I also mentioned that his articles had been quoted
here as well.
He seemed to be generaly interested in the site and our group.

**macwilkin** · 25th January 05, 08:50 PM

Brilliant, Nelson! I hope Matt will decide to join us -- I was planning to e-mail him with an invitation as well, as I needed to ask him a question anyway.

I think he could contribute quite a lot here.

Cheers,

Todd

**Graham** · 26th January 05, 04:21 AM

I hope he joins too Nelson, meanwhile I'm going to read all I can of what he's written.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 26th January 05, 10:42 AM

Hello everyone, and greetings! I want to say thank you to those of you who sent me an invitation to participate in this forum.

Thank you also for those of you who have read and enjoyed my articles. I am very glad that my efforts through the Scottish Banner have been appreciated. For those who might not know, my first article in the Scottish Banner ran in Oct. 2003. It was really nothing more than an over-long "letter to the editor" in reply to another article they ran on tartan that was full of error. If you missed it, you can read it at
http://albanach.org/facts.htm

Just to introduce myself, I'm the curator (and general manager) of the Scottish Tartans Museum, USA extension. There is a Scottish Tartans Museum in Keith, Scotland, and our American branch is in Franklin, NC. I also run the web site.
http://www.scottishtartans.org

In case you haven't heard of us, we are a museum dedicated to the history of Highland Dress (tartan, the kilt, etc.), though we also touch upon other aspects of Scottish culture and history. We have tartan samples in our collection dating back to 1725, and kilts dating back to the late 1790s.

We also have a gift shop (which you can also browse on our web site) that offers a full range of Highland Dress and gift items. I always have to plug our gift shop, because that's the primary way that the museum is funded!

I've been at the museum for 8 years now. I own six tailored kilts at present, and two feilidh-mhors. I wear the kilt just about every day at work (for those who might wonder why I don't wear it on my days off -- how many business men like to wear jacket and tie on their off days?). My goals at the museum are to both educate people about the past of Highland Dress tradition, and ensure that said tradition continues into the future.

I have written two books on the topic of Highland Dress. The first, Early Highland Dress, is a brief volume about Highland Dress in that all-too-often neglected period prior to the eighteenth century. The second work, just released, is the Compendium of District Tartans, which I co-authored with James Bullman. This work is only available on CD-ROM, and includes pictures and thread counts for over 450 district tartans across the globe. You can get either through the museum, or at my own web site:
http://albanach.org

In case this message is beginning to sound like too much self-promotion, let me end it now and just say thanks for the welcome to this forum. I'll be sure to visit the various threads and will likely post from time to time, though my free time comes at a premium lately. (In addition to work at the museum, I volunteer a lot at my church, my wife and I are expecting our third child, and I am working on a Masters degree, so you can well understand....)

Nice meeting you all!
Aye,
Matt Newsome[/i]

**GMan** · 26th January 05, 10:59 AM

Matt,

What a great article (letter to the editor) it was wonderful.

WELCOME

I cannot wait to hear your input on many of the topics that are presented here. It is truly an honor to have you as a member, and congratulations on child number three

**Big Paul** · 26th January 05, 11:13 AM

Welcome to our little corner of the web! I think you will be a great asset to this forum!

**Hamish** · 26th January 05, 11:14 AM

Hi Matt!

As an occasional kilt wearer for over 50 years, and an every-day kilt wearer for the last six, I too should like to add my welcome to this excellent place.

Unfortunately, (and whatever happened to my education?) I have never heard of "The Scottish Banner"! Nor, indeed, do I recall hearing your name until a few days ago. Since then I have read your "Patented Advice for the First Time Kilt Wearer" with great interest, and I have to commend you on your practical and sensible attitude to kilt wearing in this day and age. Our friend, J. Charles Thompson's "So You Are Going to Wear the Kilt!" has, to my British mind, long been outdated and his words mistakenly construed, especially by wannabe kilt wearers in North America, as 'Gospel'. In my opinion, he should now be archived and replaced by your words of truth and common sense.

Attempts have been made in the recent past to persuade me to write a book on modern-day kilt wearing - but, you have already done it! More power to your elbow!