Illustration from scrolls showing the history of the Gikeiki c1710 from the Henry Dyer Collection
Henry Dyer Collection

 

Unique Japanese scrolls and albums acquired by Glasgow engineer and educationalist, Henry Dyer.
Henry Dyer (1848 – 1918)


Ignored in Britain and forgotten for generations in Japan, Henry Dyer -  engineer, educationalist and author of two monumental volumes on Japan at the turn of the twentieth century - played a crucial part in laying the foundations for Japan’s spectacular industrial and economic achievements in the twentieth century.

 

At the age of 24, even before he had taken his final exams at Glasgow University, Dyer was appointed principal of Japan’s first engineering college, the Kobu-Daigakko or Imperial College of Engineering (ICE). 

 

His remit was to set up a world-class engineering institution that would deliver engineers with the technical know-how and expertise to build the New Japan. It proved to be a master stroke by Ito Hirobumi, then Vice Minister of Public Works and a member of the Japanese Embassy in London.

 

In the ten years he was in Japan – unfettered by ancient academic traditions and protocols – Dyer formulated an approach to engineering education that enabled the ICE to become the most advanced institution of its kind in the world.

 

Dyer remained ten years in Japan, seeing the college firmly established and nominating his successor, before returning to Glasgow. As a mark of appreciation he received from the Emperor the Order of the Rising Sun (Third Class), at the time the highest honour to be handed to a foreign employee, and was made Honorary Principal of the College.

 

 

Illustration of Miramoto no Tameyoshi from series of paintings entitled 'Japanese Generals in notable Civil Wars before 1600' in the Henry Dyer Collection Illustration of Japanese warrior Taira no Noritsune, from series of paintings entitled 'Japanese Generals in notable Civil Wars before 1600' held in the Henry Dyer Collection Illustration of Japanese warrior Taira no Kiyomori from series of paintings entitled 'Japanese Generals in notable Civil Wars before 1600', in the Henry Dyer Collection

 

Illustrations from a series of paintings entitled 'Japanese Generals in notable Civil Wars before 1600', n.d.

 

On his return to Glasgow, Dyer was closely associated with various colleges of further education and in 1914 he was elected as chairman of the School Board of Glasgow - fitting recognition for 30 years of public service.  He also received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Glasgow.

 

The Henry Dyer Bequest was presented to the Mitchell Library in the 1920s by the Dyer family.  Most of the 6000 items (covering many subjects, but with special emphasis on Glasgow, Scotland and all aspects of Japanese life) have now been catalogued and added to the general stock of the library. The Japanese scrolls and albums were seen as being especially unique and have been kept together to form a special collection in their own right.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Archives and Special Collections
The Mitchell
North Street
Glasgow
G3  7DN
Phone: 0141 287 2910 or 2988
Fax: 0141 287 2815
E-mail: lil@csglasgow.org