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The Records of the Clan MacLeod Society of America

Historical Sketch

The origins of the Clan MacLeod can be traced to Leod, who was born about 1200, the son of Olaf the Black, King of Man and the Isles. Leod married the daughter of MacRaild Armuinn about the year 1220. The seat of MacRaild Armuinn was located where Dunvegan Castle stands now. The stronghold of the MacLeods has remained Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye for the last 800 years. Throughout the centuries MacLeods have been known for their devotion to their chief, the tenacity with which they have maintained Dunvegan Castle, their appreciation for music and Gaelic Lore, their outstanding record in the professions, and their loyalty to one another. But perhaps they are best known for the symbolic motto and crest Hold Fast.

The family of the MacLeod Chiefs of Dunvegan was closely associated with the clan member societies from the very beginning. Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, the 27th Chief, and Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, the 28th Chief, were Presidents of the Society. Beginning in 1951, Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, the 28th Chief of the Clan MacLeod, undertook a number of tours worldwide, in particular visiting countries known to have clansfolk whose ancestors, relatives or themselves had emigrated from Great Britain.

The Clan MacLeod Society, U.S.A., Inc. was founded in 1954 in Chicago, Illinois as a result of the tremendous surge of interest stirred by Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod's visits to the United States in 1952 and 1953. The purpose of the organization was to establish a foundation for charitable, historical and educational pursuits for USA Clan MacLeod members. The objective of that meeting continues to this day. The Society strengthens fellowship among USA MacLeod people and encourages the study of the Clan MacLeod history and genealogy. The Society also promote Scottish arts which include music, piping and dancing while preserving historical places of interest of Clan MacLeod around the world.

Today, there are Society members in all 50 states, organized into geographical Regions, each with a regional Vice President. A national Council of officers provides general administrative direction. A general meeting is held annually in various regions within the United States. Every four years a North American Gathering is held jointly by Canada and the United States, with the site alternating between the two nations.

The Society is affiliated with the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, headquartered in Edinburgh. In the late 19th century Clan MacLeod Societies were founded in both Edinburgh and Glasgow in common with many other Highland Clan and Area Associations. Today’s Clan MacLeod Societies stem from the Society formed in Edinburgh and inaugurated in 1891. With the founding of the Glengarry Society (Canada) in 1936 and the London Branch (England) in 1937, the Clan MacLeod Society of Scotland became the parent society of what had become a worldwide organization. Today, there are nine national Clan MacLeod Societies in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United States of America. The Associated Clan MacLeod Societies is the international coordinating agency for the nine national MacLeod Societies and publishes the Clan MacLeod Magazine. Once every four years, a gathering of all national Clan MacLeod Society members, called a Parliament, occurs at Dunvegan Castle, Scotland.

The fairy flag

Presidents of the Clan MacLeod Society of the United States, Inc.

2003-2006       William C. MacLeod
2001-2003       Donald B. MacLeod
1996-1999
1993-1996
1990-1993
1987-1990
1984-1987       Colonel William A. MacLeod
1983-1984       Raymond J. McCabe
1980-1983       James S. McLeod
1977-1980       Dr. Alexander C. McLeod
1972-1977       Milton K. McLeod
1970-1972       Charles Anderson McLeod
1966-1970       Anthony M. MacLeod
1964-1966       Dr. Norman W. MacLeod
1962-1964       Lamar W. McLeod
1960-1962       Richard H. McLeod
1958-1960       Sayre MacLeod
1956-1958       Angus McLeod
1954-1956       John H. MacLeod

Chairmen of the Dunvegan Foundation

2005     John B. MacLeod

Presidents of the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies

1998 –Dr. Alexander MacLeod
1990-1998       Major Angus MacLeod
1986-1990       Norman MacLeod of Suardal
1980-1986       Major Loudon MacLeod, Royal Marines, retired
1977-1980       Alice, Mrs. MacNab of MacNab
1968-1977       Colonel Colin MacLeod of Glendale
1961-1968       Brigadier Torquil MacLeod
 
MacLeod Chiefs of Harris and Dunvegan           

30th Chief        Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod (2007-Present) 
29th Chief        John MacLeod of MacLeod (1976-2007)       
28th Chief        Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod (1935-1976)        
27th Chief        Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod (1929-1935)
26th Chief        Norman Magnus MacLeod, 1895-1929
25th Chief        Norman MacLeod, 1835-1895.
24th Chief        John Norman MacLeod, 1801-1835. 
23rd Chief        Norman MacLeod (The General), 1772-1801.
22nd Chief        Norman MacLeod (The Red Man), 1706-1772.
21st Chief         John, 1706-1706.
20th Chief        Norman MacLeod, 1699-1706.
19th Chief        Roderick MacLeod (Ruairidh Og), 1693-1699.
18th Chief        Norman MacLeod (Iain Breac – Speckled John, probably freckled or pitted 
by smallpox) , 1664-1693.
17th Chief        Roderick MacLeod, 1649-1664.
16th Chief        John MacLeod (Iain Mor – Big John), 1626-1649
15th Chief        Sir Roderick (Ruairidh Mor), 1595-1626.
14th Chief        John MacLeod, 1590-1595.
13th Chief        William MacLeod, 1585-1590.
12th Chief        Norman MacLeod, 1559-1585.
11th Chief        Donald MacLeod, 1556-1557.
10th Chief        Mary MacLeod (The Heiress), 1552-1556.
9th Chief          William MacLeod, 1541-1551.
8th Chief          Alexander MacLeod (Alaisdair Crotach – Alexander the Humpback), 1500-1541.
   According to Martha Norris McLeod, Martha Norris in MacLeod: Heritage and Ancestry, he established the piping college at Borreraig on the opposite side of Loch Dunvegan from Dunvegan Castle.
7th Chief          William Dubh MacLeod, 1442-1500.
6th Chief          John MacLeod (Iain Borb – John the Turbulent), 1402-1442.
5th Chief          William Cleireach MacLeod (William the Clerk), 1392-1402.
4th Chief          John MacLeod (Iain Ciar), 1370-1392.
3rd Chief          Malcolm MacLeod (built Dunvegan Castle), 1320-1370.
2nd Chief          Norman (Tormod), 1280- c.1320.
1st Chief           Leod, c. 1266 – 1280.
 

Footnotes:

McLeod, Martha Norris. MacLeod: Heritage and Ancestry. (MN: Preferred Press, 1988): 40.

McLeod, Martha, 41.

Information regarding presidents from 1954-1987 was located in the Clan MacLeod Society Member’s Handbook, revised edition, page 10.

McLeod, Martha, xi-xii.

Dates following chief names will be those dates under which a particular chief served as the clan chief. Birth and death dates, as well as historical and genealogical information may be found in McLeod, Martha Norris. MacLeod: Heritage and Ancestry. (MN: Preferred Press, 1988).

McLeod, Martha, 61.

McLeod, Martha, 47.

Scope and Contents:

 
Series Listings:

This collection is broken down into the following series: I. Administrative; II. Correspondence; III. Dunvegan Foundation; IV. Cultural and Educational Resources; V. Publications; VI. Affiliates, Groups, and Regional Societies; VII. Events; VIII. Photographs; IX. Electronic Media; X. Artifacts; and XI: Miscellaneous. 

Series I: Administrative.  This series is divided into nineteen sub-series of administrative documents.  Sub-series A: Annual General Meeting; B: Committees; C: Constitution, By-Laws, and Articles of Incorporation; D: Council Meetings; E: Financial and Legal; F: Manuals and Handbooks; G: Membership; H: Minutes and Agendas; I: North American Gathering; J: Old Dominion University and Archives; K: Parliaments; L: President; M: Projects; N: Records; O: Reports; P: Reports – Membership Secretary; Q: Reports – Migration Project; R: Reports – Secretary; S: Reports – Treasury.

Sub-series A: Annual General Meeting Sub-series B: Committees

Sub-series C: Constitution, By-Laws, and Incorporation

Sub-series D: Council Meetings

Sub-series E: Financial and Legal

Sub-series F: Manuals and Handbooks

Sub-series G: Membership

Sub-series H: Minutes and AgendasSub-series I: North American Gathering

Sub-series J: Old Dominion University and Archives

Sub-series K: Parliaments

Sub-series L: President

Sub-series M: Projects

Sub-series N: RecordsSub-series O: Reports- AnnualSub-series P: Reports – Membership SecretarySub-series Q: Reports-Migration Project

Sub-series R: Reports-Secretary

Sub-series S: Reports - Treasury

 
Series II: Correspondence.  This series is divided into five sub-series of correspondence documents. Sub-series A: General; B: Magazine and Newsletter; C: Memorandums; D: Memorandums – Presidential; and E: Individuals.

Sub-series A: General

Sub-series B: Magazine and Newsletter

Sub-series C: Memorandums

Sub-series D:Memorandums – Presidential

Sub-series E: Individuals

Series III: Dunvegan Foundation. This series is divided into thirty-two sub-series of Dunvegan Foundation documents. Sub-series A: Annual Giving; B: Board of Trustees; C: Canadian Foundation; D: Clan Centre-Iona Project; E: Committees; F: Committees: Advisory; G: Committees: Executive; H: Committees: Nominating; I:  Committees: Planning Review; J: Committees: Projects and Grants; K: Committees: Steering; L: Corporate Documents; M: Correspondence; N: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod Memorial Trust; O: Dunvegan Castle Foundation; P: Expenses; Q: Financial and Legal Documents; R: Financial and Legal Documents: Banking; S: Financial and Legal Documents: Budget; T: Financial and Legal Documents: Internal Revenue Service; U: Financial and Legal Documents: Statement of Accounts; V: Financial and Legal Documents: Tax Returns; W: Financial and Legal Documents: Trusts; X: Grants and Scholarships; Y: Heritage Trust; Z: Hold Fast Club; AA: Migration Project; AB: Old Dominion University and Archives; AC: Reports; AD: Requests; AE: Workshops; and AF: Miscellaneous.

Sub-series A: Annual Giving
Sub-series B: Board of Trustees
Sub-series C: Canadian Foundation
Sub-series D: Clan Centre-Iona Project
Sub-series E: Committees
Sub-series F: Committees: Advisory
Sub-series G: Committees: Executive
Sub-series H: Committees: Nominating
Sub-series I:  Committees: Planning Review
Sub-series J: Committees: Projects and Grants
Sub-series K: Committees: Steering
Sub-series L: Corporate Documents
Sub-series M: Correspondence
Sub-series N: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod Memorial Trust
Sub-series O: Dunvegan Castle Foundation 
Sub-series P: Expenses
Sub-series Q: Financial and Legal Documents
Sub-series R: Financial and Legal Documents: Banking
Sub-series S: Financial and Legal Documents: Budget
Sub-series T: Financial and Legal Documents: Internal Revenue Service
Sub-series U: Financial and Legal Documents: Statement of Accounts
Sub-series V: Financial and Legal Documents: Tax Returns
Sub-series W: Financial and Legal Documents: Trusts
Sub-series X: Grants and Scholarships
Sub-series Y: Heritage Trust
Sub-series Z: Hold Fast Club
Sub-series AA: Migration Project
Sub-series AB: Old Dominion University and Archives
Sub-series AC: Reports
Sub-series AD: Requests
Sub-series AE: Workshops
Sub-series AF: Miscellaneous

Series IV: Cultural and Educational Resources.  This series is divided into five sub-series. Sub-series A: The Arts; B: Clan MacLeod of the USA, Inc. Awards; C: Exhibits; D: Travel; and E: Miscellaneous.

Sub-series A: The Arts
Sub-series B: Clan MacLeod of the USA, Inc. Awards
Sub-series C:  Exhibits
Sub-series D: Travel
Sub-series E:  Miscellaneous.

Series V: Publications.  This series is divided into nine sub-series of publications.   Sub-series A: Brochures, Bulletins, and Cards; B: Histories: Clan MacLeod; C: Histories: Individual/Family; D:  Histories: Scotland; E:  Magazine: The Clan MacLeod Magazine; F: Newsletter: The Clan MacLeod Newsletter; H: Proclamations; and I: Miscellaneous.

Sub-series A: Brochures, Bulletins, and Cards

Sub-series B: Histories: Clan MacLeod

Sub-series C: Histories: Individual/Family

Sub-series D:  Histories: Scotland

Sub-series E:  Magazine: The Clan MacLeod Magazine 

Sub-series F: Newsletter: The Clan MacLeod Newsletter

Sub-series H: Proclamations

Sub-series I: Miscellaneous

Series VI: Affiliates, Groups, and Regional Societies.  This series is divided into twenty-seven sub-series of materials.  Sub-series A: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies; B: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Australia; C: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Canada; D: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: England; E: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: France; F: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Germany; G: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: New Zealand; H: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Scotland; I: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: South Africa; J: Regional Societies; K: Regional Societies: Carolinas (NC, SC); L: Regional Societies: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH); M: Regional Societies: Gulf Central (AL, KY, MS, TN); N: Regional Societies: Mid-Atlantic (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV); O: Regional Societies: Missouri Valley (MO, IA, KS, NE); P: Regional Societies: New England (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT); Q: Regional Societies: Northeast (CT, NJ, NY); R: Regional Societies: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA); S: Regional Societies: Pacific (CA, HI, NV); T: Regional Societies: Southcentral (AR, LA, OK, TX); U: Regional Societies: Southeast (FL, GA); V: Regional Societies: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, UT); W: Regional Societies: Upper Midwest (MN, WI, ND, SD); X: The American-Scottish Foundation; Y: The Caledonian Foundation; Z: The Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Inc.; AA: Magazines and Newsletters

Sub-series A: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies

Sub-series B: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Australia

Sub-series C: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Canada

Sub-series D: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: England  

Sub-series E: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: France

Sub-series F: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Germany

Sub-series G: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: New Zealand

Sub-series H: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: Scotland

Sub-series I: Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: South Africa

Sub-series J: Regional Societies

Sub-series K: Regional Societies: Carolinas (NC, SC)

Sub-series L: Regional Societies: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Sub-series M: Regional Societies: Gulf Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)

Sub-series N: Regional Societies: Mid-Atlantic (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)

Sub-series O: Regional Societies: Missouri Valley (MO, IA, KS, NE)

Sub-series P: Regional Societies: New England (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)

Sub-series Q: Regional Societies: Northeast (CT, NJ, NY)

Sub-series R: Regional Societies: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA)

Sub-series S: Regional Societies: Pacific (CA, HI, NV)

Sub-series T: Regional Societies: Southcentral (AR, LA, OK, TX)

Sub-series U: Regional Societies: Southeast (FL, GA)

Sub-series V: Regional Societies: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, UT)

Sub-series W: Regional Societies: Upper Midwest (MN, WI, ND, SD)

Sub-series X: The American-Scottish Foundation

Sub-series Y: The Caledonian Foundation

Sub-series Z: The Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Inc.

Sub-series AA: Magazines and Newsletters

Series VII: Events.  This series is divided into eight sub-series of materials.  Sub-series A: Games; B: Gatherings; C: Publicity; D: Visits; E: Visits – Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod; F: Workshops; G: Miscellaneous, and H: Miscellaneous - Scotland.

Sub-series A: Chief’s Coming of Age (1956)

Sub-series B: Dame Flora’s Death

Sub-series C: Games

Sub-series D: Gatherings

 Sub-series E: Publicity

Sub-series F: Visits

Sub-series G: Visits: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod

Sub-series H: Visits: Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Dunvegan Castle (1956)

Sub-series I: Workshops

Sub-series J: Miscellaneous

Sub-series K: Miscellaneous - Scotland

Series VIII: Photographs. This series is divided into seven sub-series of materials.  Sub-series A: Annual General Meeting; B: Dunvegan Castle; C: Events; D: Parliaments; E: Portraits; F: Portraits: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod; G: Unknown Events

Sub-series A: Annual General Meetings
Sub-series B: Dunvegan Castle
Sub-series C: Events
Sub-series D: Parliaments
Sub-series E: Portraits
Sub-series F: Portraits: Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod
Sub-series G: Unknown Events

 Series IX: Electronic Media. This series is divided into four sub-series, based on media type of materials. Sub-series A: Audiocassettes and Audio Reels; B: Diskettes; C: Films; D: Microfiche.

Sub-series A: Audiocassettes and Audio Reels
Sub-series B: Diskettes
Sub-series C: Films
Sub-series D: Microfiche

 Series X: Artifacts

Series XI: Miscellaneous.

Provenance:

Access:

Open to researchers without restriction. Questions on copyright should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], The Papers of the Clan MacLeod Society of the United States of America, [Box number], [folder number], Special Collections, J. Douglas and Patricia W. Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

Size:

Processed: 113 Hollinger Cases, two photo boxes, two media boxes, one artifacts box, and six oversize boxes.
Unprocessed: 38 boxes

Collection Number:

MG 41

Container List

I. Administrative
II. Correspondence
III. Dunvegan Foundation
IV. Cultural and Educational Resources
V. Publications
VI. Affiliates, Groups, and Regional Societies
VII. Events and VIII. Photographs
IX. Electronic Media, X. Artifacts and XI. Miscellaneous 

Genealogical Material

Revised: 4/28/2008