Interview with William S. Reid, February 19, 1985

Partial Transcript: I'm William Reid and I was born on the way over from Scotland in 1914 at a storm at sea. Uh, we landed in Pittsburgh--we landed in New York and went on into Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where my father was in construction work.

Segment Synopsis: Reid briefly explains his birth at sea, childhood in the United States, and annual trips to Scotland with his father. Reid discusses the reasons behind his move to Lexington, Kentucky, and the start of Scottish cultural clubs there. Reid tells about the family cottage he owns in Scotland and discusses his specific jobs while employed by IBM.

Keywords: 1914; 1957; Bagpipe bands; Birth at sea; Construction work; Cost engineers; Cottages; Country Dancing; Highland Dancing; Highlands region; International Business Machines Corporation (IBM); Land ownership; New York; New York City (N.Y.); Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh (Pa.); Sutherland County, Scotland; Technicians; Typebar assembly; Typewriter Division; Typewriters; Vacations

Subjects: Childhood; Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; International Business Machines Corporation.; Lexington (Ky.).; Scotland; Scottish Americans--Kentucky--Lexington.; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.

Partial Transcript: Uh, do you have children?

Segment Synopsis: Reid discusses how music has been passed down to his two children, and gives a brief overview of the formation of the Lexington Pipe Band in 1975.

Keywords: Bagpipes; Bands; Bass drums; Bicentennial celebration; Children; The Lexington Pipe Band; Trombones; William Sutherland Reid Pipes and Drums

Subjects: Bagpipe music.; Bagpipers; Families.; Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Pipe bands.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Uh, you told me you got here around 1957, and that it took you about five years to gets things, uh, "Scottish" going.

Segment Synopsis: Reid tells about playing for the Buckskin Pioneer Dancers, and the expansion of Scottish dancing in Lexington, Kentucky.

Keywords: 1962; Buckskin Pioneer Dancers; Country Dancing; Highland Dancing; Lexington Herald-Leader; Scotland; Scottish students; University of Kentucky; Vicky Goodloe

Subjects: Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Uh, there is now, from what I've heard, uh, a rather large celebration that takes place on Robert Burns' birthday. When did that start?

Segment Synopsis: Reid describes Scottish cultural gatherings, such as birthday celebrations and the annual Scottish dinner gathering in Lexington.

Keywords: "Bannock" (Gaelic); "Haggis" (Gaelic); Bagpipes; Birthday parties; Clays Mill Road; Cooking; Cultural events; Cynthiana (Ky.); Dr. Link Fish; Financial issues; Food rituals; Growing pains; Holiday Inn Lexington North; Kentucky Horse Park; Lexington Catholic High School; Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church; Newtown Pike; Owensboro (Ky.); Potluck dinners; Robert Burns (Scottish Poet); Scottish food; Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington

Subjects: Families.; Food habits; Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Rites and ceremonies; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me, uh, what it is in, in your background or the way that you were brought up that keeps you so tied to Scotland?

Segment Synopsis: Reid details the start of his music career and involvement in several military bands in Scotland, Canada, and the United States.

Keywords: 1938; Ancestry; Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Scotland; Army recruiting drive; Bagpipes; Camp Bullis (Tex.); Camp Swift (Tex.); Canada; Canadian Army; Essex-Scottish Highlanders; Family vacations; Fort Sam Houston (Tex.); Heritage; Marriage; Military bands; Military police band; Music; San Antonio (Tex.); United Service Organizations, Incorporated (USO); United States Army

Subjects: Families.; Scotland; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Genealogy.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Now, the, the Pipers here are now ten years old. Can you give me something of the history of the Pipe Band?

Segment Synopsis: Reid talks about the events in Lexington at which his pipe band plays.

Keywords: Bagpipe bands; Bagpipes; Band member turnover; Band members; Band uniforms; Christenings; Entertainment; Fourth of July Parade; Funerals; Music; Parades; Parties; Patriotism; Tates Creek High School; The Lexington Pipe Band; United States Navy; Weather; Weddings

Subjects: Bagpipe music.; Bagpipers; Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Lexington (Ky.).; Pipe bands.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Well, when we were quite small, uh, there was very little construction work up in Pittsburgh during the wintertime, so my father and his father, my grandfather, and my father's brother had a shop over in the Highlands of Scotland.

Segment Synopsis: Reid discusses his childhood trips to Scotland, the nature of his father's work, and his experiences with farm work in the Highlands region. He also describes more general activities in Scotland, such as Scottish whisky brewing. Reid discusses his interest in Scotch whisky, and names some of the brands available.

Keywords: "Aldricci" (Gaelic); Carpentry; Chivas Regal Whisky; Clydesdale Horses; Construction foreman; Construction work; Country life; Family businesses; Farm work; Glenfiddich; Glenlivet; Glenmorangie; Highland cattle; Highlands region; Peat bogs; Pittsburgh (Pa.); Scotch; Scotch brands; Scottish distilleries; Scottish roads; Scottish sheep; Scottish whiskey; Scottish whisky production; Seasonal changes; Summer; Traffic; Undertakers; Whiskey brewing; Winter; Wood shops

Subjects: Childhood; Distillation; Families.; Scotland; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Genealogy.; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.; Whiskey

Partial Transcript: Uh, can you tell me something about the, uh, contests and traveling that, uh, your pipers do?

Segment Synopsis: Reid describes the numerous Scottish games across the United States and the procedures for bagpipe band competition.

Keywords: Bagpipe competitions; Band competitions; Central Bagpipe Band Division; Eastern Bagpipe Band Division; Gatlinburg (Tenn.); Grandfather Mountain (N.C.); Regulations; Rules; Scottish Games history; Scottish bands; Smoky Mountain Highland Games; Western Bagpipe Band Division; Westinghouse Electric Company; Westinghouse Electric Company Bagpipe Band; Wilkinsburg (Pa.)

Subjects: Bagpipe music.; Bagpipers; Pipe bands.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Every country in Europe has a form of bagpipe, but the Scottish bagpipes are the best-known throughout the world...

Segment Synopsis: Reid explains some of the history behind Scottish bagpipes and details variations on the instrument.

Keywords: Ancient bagpipes; Bagpipe designs; Bagpipe parts; History of bagpipes; Irish pipes; Northumberland Small Pipes; Northumbrian pipes; Popularity; Scottish bagpipes; Uilleann bagpipes

Subjects: Bagpipe.; Scotland

Partial Transcript: Uh, can you tell me, in Lexington, are there people who, uh, are involved in Scottish athletic games?

Segment Synopsis: Reid explains how the Scottish Games work and provides examples of these activities.

Keywords: "Heavy competition"; "Kilted mile"; Athletics; Caber toss; Eastern Kentucky University; Richmond (Ky.); Scottish competition; Scottish festivals; Scottish games; Scottish heritage; Sheaf toss

Subjects: Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Societies, etc.; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Uh, I was wondering, uh, do you have brothers and sisters?

Segment Synopsis: Reid talks about his siblings' response to their heritage, and how he continues the Scottish culture in his own home.

Keywords: Culture; Family traditions; Generations; Scottish calendars; Scottish heritage; Scottish newspapers; Siblings

Subjects: Families.; Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Genealogy.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Rites and ceremonies; Scottish Americans.

Partial Transcript: Uh, can you tell me to what extent, uh, religion affects your feelings of ethnicity?

Segment Synopsis: Reid describes how the Scottish culture is expressed through ceremonies at various local churches. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: "Kirking of the Tartans"; England; Episcopal Church; Ethnicity; Good Shepherd Episcopal Church; Presbyterian Church; Scotland

Subjects: Immigrants--Kentucky--Lexington.; Lexington (Ky.).; Religion; Scottish Americans--Ethnic identity.; Scottish Americans--Kentucky; Scottish Americans--Rites and ceremonies; Scottish Americans.