ABOUT US
Sunday February 6, 1977. The front page of the Art & Leisure section of The Florida Times Union read “GREAT SCOTS! Tartan Ties Threadbare – Until Now” with a nice large color photo of 3 kilted men marching in time to the pipes. They were A. H. (Al) McDonald, Percy Hamilton, & Frannsaidh (Frank) MacLachlan. The full page article was about Scottish culture and trying to start a Scottish American society and Scottish Games in Jacksonville. Persons of Scottish descent (or those who believed they might be of Scottish descent) were invited to write to A. H. McDonald or call or write Frannsaidh MacLachlan. If you would like to see that Jacksonville Times-Union Article, please click here.
Frank emigrated from Scotland in 1946 he played and taught the bagpipes. He and wife Madge taught Gaelic at the Jacksonville Library downtown and started the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band and the Duval Celtic Society. Neither of which had lasted in the Jacksonville area. But now with some of the members from those groups, and Darlene Tye’s leadership skills, things were heading the right way.
The calls and letters came pouring in, all total 255 charter members. Rob & EJ Taylor, EJ’s sisters Ann Reilly, & Bobbie Sutton and Bobbie’s husband John, Betty McDonald, Kinlock McCollum, Chase & Mary Sheddon, Rhys Pollock, Herman & Louise Ibach, Doug & Shuri Speed, to name a few.
In March the members voted unanimously on the name St. Andrew’s Society Of Jacksonville. A steering committee was formed under the leadership of Darlene Tye & Chairman Kinloch McCollum to develop a charter & by-laws.
On June 1st members Al & Freda McDonald, Darlene Tye, Frank MacLachlan and daughter Mairi Katriona MacLachlan met with Mayor Hans Tanzler as he signed a proclamation making June 6th-12 Scottish Week.
On June 11th we hosted the !st Annual Jacksonville Highland Games at Church of Our Saviour with Kirking of the Tartans the following day.
By July the by-laws & Articles of Incorporation had been approved.
On August 18, 1977 we were formally chartered and officers had been elected.
On September 10, 1977 our first meeting under the new charter was held at Valle’s Restaurant in order to properly celebrate the inaugural installation banquet for the 255 charter members, officers and managers.
The first President John Sutherland, Vice President Kinloch McCollum, Secretary Madge MacLachlan, and Treasurer Betty McDonald were sworn in.
The Taylor’s donated the first flags to the society. We use that St. Andrews Cross to this day.
If you would like to see the original Articles of Incorporation, please click here.
If you would like to see the Society By Laws, please click here.
The Official Printing Company of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Jacksonville
Snap 2 Ship, Etc. At Snap2, we treat customers as real individuals so that you’ll come back again and again. From mailing services to Shredding sales, our business philosphy is to offer you personalized service, the best pricing and overall more service for the money… Our location is at 9802 Baymeadows Road, Suite 12, Jacksonville, FL 32256, Phone: 904-645-9301, Fax: 904-645-930.
Places
Culhane’s Irish Pub is a place of camaraderie where old friends meet new friends. It exemplifies the best of Irish hospitality, where we are devoted to excellent food, service, and great european pints..all the while enjoying true Irish ambiance. The Culhane Sisters were born and raised in county Limerick, Ireland. It is our hope that we have brought to America a piece of Ireland that will make our public house part of your life and community. We look forward to your visit at the pub.
Research Resources
The Scottish Tartans Museum was founded by The Scottish Tartans Society (STS), to encourage research into Highland Dress, and to provide a design service for new tartans. Currently the STS no longer maintains an active membership or a tartan database, but the Scottish Tartans Museum continues in its work to promote Scottish Highland dress and educate the public about tartan.
The Scottish Register of Tartans (the Register) is a national repository of tartan designs. It is an on-line website database facility maintained by the National Archives of Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Tartans Authority is a Scottish charity with the major objective of promoting a deeper knowledge of Scottish Tartans, their origins, manufacture, use, history and development. They study, record and stimulate research on the subject.
Scottish Ancestors is a Scottish genealogy company researching for over 20 years into Scottish ancestry. Based in Central Scotland, they conduct all research out of New Register House in Edinburgh. Different packages are offered to suit specific needs and budgets.
Merchants
D C Dalgleish Kilts can weave almost any tartan ever recorded… or imaginable! From this site you can search official tartans in the Scottish Tartans Register. They can further advise based on the thousands more specimen shade variants in our historic samples library. You can send us your sample (or image) to match. Or you can even design your own tartan!
The Celtic Croft has a complete line of Kilts and tartans! Kilts to fit any period or budget! Six different styles to choose from, from ancient to modern. Whether you’re looking for the “Braveheart” look, a classic Great Kilt, or a modern formal or Casual Kilt, we’ve got a kilt for you! We have Scottish Kilts, Irish Kilts, Welsh Kilts, and many other tartans to choose from!
The Scottish Tartans Museum Giftshop stocks a wide selection of Highland apparel, tartan accessories, books, DVDs, and Scottish foods. All purchases made through the gift shop go to support the museum.
Cultural Resources
Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival are celebrating 20 years of bringing a “wee bit o Scotland” to the Northeast Florida area. Each year residents of Northeast Florida and the surrounding areas gather and enjoy the athletics, music, food and fun of the games. The Games continue to grow and reflect the deep connections and effects the Scots and their descendants have had on the United States as well as Northeast Florida in particular. As always the event will be held the last Saturday of February.
St Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival Find the CELT in YOU as you take in the sights, sounds and tastes of centuries of European history in the Nations Oldest City, founded by SPANISH CELTS. Celtic Clans show their ancestral pride, Highland Games athletes demonstrate their mind-boggling strength, vendors offer up Celtic cuisine and hand-made crafts, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches through the streets of the Ancient City’s Historic District.
First Coast Highlanders Organized in 2009, The First Coast Highlanders is a Highland Bagpipe Band based in Clay County Florida. Pipe bands have a rich heritage and have long been associated with Police, Fire Departments and Military Units throughout the world. FCH is a performance and entertainment pipe band, a teaching organization and a cultural group. They are a community based band and promote Celtic culture through music. Their goal is to encourage and support the Celtic culture in our community by providing instruction to anyone interested in learning the Highland Bagpipes and Drums.
Hawkins School of Highland Dance. Hawkins School of Highland Dance is a Scottish dance studio located in Jacksonville, Florida. At our studio, dancers will not only learn coordination and self-confidence, but will gain an understanding of Scottish culture and tradition. Each dancer receives specialized attention through small class sizes and highly trained instructors. http://www.hawkinshighlanddance.com
Whether you want to compete, perform, or just dance for fun and exercise, you have found the right place!
Jacksonville Pipes and Drums Inc. Organized in 1984, Jacksonville Pipes and Drums Inc. is a Florida not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting greater public recognition and appreciation of the history, traditions, contributions, sacrifices, roles and missions of the men and women of Celtic Heritage. They strive to do this through various public and private activities including memorial services, military balls, highland games, patriotic / military parades, public ceremonies, public concerts, and private performances.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Pipes and Drums The JFRD Pipes & Drums is a Highland Bagpipe Band based in Jacksonville, Florida. Pipe bands have a rich heritage and have long been associated with fire departments, police, and military groups throughout the world. We originally formed as the North Florida Emerald Society, (NFES) in October 2011 but shortly after partnered with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to form the JFRD Pipes & Drums in February 2012. The band started with both experienced and novice members as a not-for-profit organization, 501(c)(3), supporting the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the JFRD Honor Guard. We are a band consisting of career firefighters, police officers, nurses, retirees and other volunteers who work in many different businesses in the private sector.
North American Scottish Games Athletics NASGA was founded in 1976 and is dedicated to the promotion and understanding of Scottish Heavy Events competition in North America and to inform athletes, judges, officials, and all other interested persons of news and results of Scottish Highland Games held throughout North America.
The Scottish American Military Society (SAMS) is a non-profit organization which preserves and promotes Scottish and American Armed Forces customs, traditions, and heritage. The Society was founded as a veterans organization. The membership is composed primarily of veterans of Scottish ancestry who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and the Commonwealth. If you support the purposes shown above, we would welcome your membership if you qualify. Membership is open to honorably discharged veterans or active duty or reserve military persons who have served or are serving with any branch of the United States or Commonwealth Armed Forces.
Scottish Highland Dance Classes in Jacksonville! Contact Kasey Hawkins at hawkinshighlanddance@gmail.com. No experience is required.
Scottish Country Dance Thursday Evenings 7:00-9:00pm Contact Anne Hueser at annehueser@comcast.net.
Contact Us
To contact us, you may write to:
The St. Andrew’s Society of Jacksonville is a 501 (c) 3. Non-Profit Organization. Contributions to the Society, including membership dues, are tax deductible. 100% of the funds contributed go to the regular business of the organization including but not limited to storage and transport of educational materials; presenting and supporting Scottish cultural and educational events; and scholarships to dancers, pipers, and students of Scottish history and culture. Contributions may be earmarked to the scholarship fund if desired.
Donation of goods to be sold at auction to benefit the Society are tax deductible on the basis of the actual cost of the item donated. Donors who purchase items at a charity auction may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the excess of the purchase price paid for an item over its fair market value.
Fee charged for attendance at events sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Jacksonville, including Burns’ suppers, are not tax deductible, being reimbursement for goods and services acquired by the Society on behalf of the attendee.