Henry Duncan believed that the press was a powerful tool for enlightening the public and influencing social change.
As a result of those beliefs he established several local newspapers, including the Dumfries and Galloway Courier and the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, to promote discussion on religion, politics, education and more. He authored a series of popular essays called The Cottage Fireside; wrote a well-received work in four volumes, The Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons; and presented a paper on the Ruthwell Cross, which he had restored, to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Dr. Duncan came from a family that cherished literature and philosophy, and he maintained contact with many of the prominent thinkers and writers of his time. He was the first to publish Thomas Carlyle’s works in his newspaper.
You can discover early editions of his papers in the museum.
