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Archiver > CAMPBELL > 1999-11 > 0942877979


From: "Joe McD. Campbell" <>
Subject: Re: Campbell Clan Membership
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:32:59 -0800


Hi All,

At the expense of pouring fuel on the fire, I will try to offer my
explanation of Alastair's comment.

First of all, my qualifications for comment. Alastair is a close friend of
mine who I known over 15 years. Two weeks ago I spent four days with he
and Mary Ann at their home in Taynuilt.

I am a past President of The Clan Campbell Society (North America) and am
noe President of the Clan Campbell Education Association.

Alastair, at one time, was the Chief Executive of Clan Campbell employed by
the Chief of Clan Campbell, MacCailein Mor, the Duke of Argyll. He now is
semi retired and is currently writing the History of the CLan Campbell (Vol
I is to be released in June 2000.) He is also the Unicorn Pursuivant on
the COurt of the Lord Lyon. When Alastair speaks of Clan Membership, he is
more often than not speaking of membership in the hereditary "historic"
clans that existed prior to the early 18th century and not the Clan Society.

In the days of the power of the Clans, there were several ways to become a
member of a clan. First you could be born into it, actually by virtue of
the Position of your father.
Second, if the chief came into possession of the land you were living on,
you would be required to swear fealty to the chief who acquired the land.
Third, if you moved onto the Chief's property, you could request to come
under the chief's protection. He of course would require you to swear
fealty to him.
Fourth, a wife was always became part of the husbands clan.
There are no doubt many more ways that I haven't mentioned, but the are a
couple of things to note here, you do not have to bear the surname of the
chief to be in his clan and the male member of a marriage determined the clan.

That is to say that if your grandmother was a Campbell, her Clan
Affiliation changed when she got married (if she married someone outside of
the Clan.)

By virtue of the dissolution of the Clan System after the '45, these rules
are not so hard and fast. The Clan Campbell is fortunate in that the Chief
of the Clan really cares about his (and our) heritage. (Many Clan chief's
could care less about it) His power exists only through those of us who
revere his position as the chief. He can withhold his support of a
Society, his desires have been made known about septs, tartans, banners,
and logos. He is responsible for providing a coat of arms for the Clan
Society's worldwide (we are the only Clan to have such a set of arms). To
let you know what the Duke of Argyll's position on one matter of Clan
membership, he tells the story of a time when he and the duchess went to
Jamaica. His arrival was covered in a small item in the newspaper. He had
not been there for a day or so when he received a call from a proper
British sounding voice say that his name was Campbell and he wished to make
a call on their Graces. When he arrived, he turned out to be a
well-dressed black man. They chatted for many minutes and the man
explained his lineage back for many genrations - all Campbell's. He
concluded by saying, "I guess though, I am really not a Campbell." The
Duke responded, "On the contrary, you are indeed a clansman."

Suffice it to say, today's rules for Clan Membership are muddled.

As for the Society. THe CCSNA has three categories of membership. The
membership application
(http://www.ccsna.org/newmember/app.htm) call for:

1. Clan Campbell (Campbell descendant/member of a Campbell Sept)
2. Scottish Affiliate (Not a Campbell, but of Scottish descent and
welcome as a Clan Campbell Society member)
3. Affiliate (Not of Scottish descent, but interested in the
heritage, and welcome as a Clan Campbell Society member
All membership destinctions are lost after you become a member.
The CCSNA is not at all concerned with passing the membership down through
the female side of the family. So as far as the CCSNA and I am concerned
you are just as much a member of the Clan Campbell as anyone else.

Yours Aye!

Joe McD. Campbell

>----- Original Message -----
>From: <>
>To: <>
>Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:26 PM
>Subject: Campbell Clan Membership
>
>
>> In the autumn 1999 issue of the Journal of The Clan Campbell Society,
>> Alastair Campbell of Airds, Honorary Chief Executive of Clan Campbell
>states
>> you are not a member of a clan by virtue of a Campbell grandmother. He
>> further states such a person could be recognised as a follower. Truth to
>> this ?????????????/
>>
>>
>

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