19/10/2026
Ahead of our Anniversary Collections Conference on 13th November, we are using this week to 'Meet the Speakers' who will be giving talks on the day. First up is Jennifer Morag Henderson, who will be speaking on, "The Gin Heiress and the Maharajah: Inverness Museum's Jacobite Collections".
Tell us about yourself.
I am a writer. My main interest is in history and biography, and my most recent book is "Jofrid Gunn", which looks (in a slightly unusual way!) at the story of a woman who came from the Faroe Islands to Scotland in the time of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Describe a career highlight.
My first book was "Josephine Tey: A Life", a biography of Inverness writer Tey - I was told it would be impossible to research and write, so I was delighted when it was finally published, and was made a 'Book of the Year' in the Observer, Telegraph and Independent, and reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, TLS and many other places.
What is your favourite object in the collections?
One of my favourite objects in IMAG is Isabella Mactavish Fraser's tartan wedding dress - I love the story of how it has been worn by generations of women in the same family, and I've followed some fascinating research where the dress has been used as a starting point to talk about all sorts of things, from fashion to textile industries to politics.
What is your favourite place in the Highlands?
I always enjoy going north, and especially like exploring the area around Sinclair-Girnigoe castle, where much of the action in my second biography "Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary, Queen of Scots" took place.
You can find more from Jennifer at on Instagram and her website ā see the link in the comments!