All Armstrongs, Croziers, Fairbairns, Groziers and Nixons, regardless of spelling, and their descendants, are eligible for full membership in The Society. All others interested in furthering the goals of The Society may become associate members. In the United States and Canada, dues are $25 per year, including two adults and all minor children. In all other countries dues are $35 per year, payable in US funds.

You can click here to download a membership application in PDF format and view more membership information. Any questions? Email Peter Armstrong at parmstrong2@sc.rr.com or mail to Peter A. Armstrong 128 Essex Dr Summerville, SC 29485

Lord Lyon, King of Arms, Recognizes an Honorable Company

On September 24, 1984 the Lord Lyon, King of Arms granted warrant to the Lyon clerk to matriculate in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in the name of Armstrong Clan Society, Inc. "acting world-wide and in particular within the United States of America" to further the interests of the Armstrong family. Matriculated in the 8th day of February 1985 in the 110th page of the 62nd volume of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.

Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games

By John L. Fairbairn
ACS Upper Midwest District Representative

     On Saturday, May 17, 2008 we attended the Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games at Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington MN, USA. This is a one-day annual event and it is heavily attended, with more than 10,000 paid attendees this year. We were blessed with a beautiful day, sunny, with light and puffy clouds for an occasional break of the warmth. Overall, the event was an unqualified success. Your District Representative met and spoke with a large number of people, providing education about the Scottish people, answering questions about Clans and membership, and enjoying himself immensely.
     All Clan and Scottish organizations present on the field are subject to judging for presentation and participation. This year there were 48 groups involved. The judging criteria are strict and rigorous, and the results kept impartial by having a panel of five judges, each of whom registers votes for their picks. Our Clan achieved a signal honor this day. Clan Armstrong was awarded Second Place for the Best Clan Tent and Presentation.
     As an example of the events of the day, The Minnesota Scottish Fair features a mid-day Parade of Tartan and Calling of the Clans. The picture is of the front rank at the Calling of the Clans. If you look carefully, the auld monnie in the foreground wearing the Prince Charlie is none other than your Upper Midwest District Representative.                                                                                                   Return to the ACS homepage

     For information about the Minnesota Scottish Fair, please use the link or enter the URL http://www.mnscottishfair.org/ into your browser. If you look at the Clans tab, you will see another image of me during the Calling of the Clans.
     For those who might have an interest, the sword I wore is one I purchased some years back. The scabbard was made by a local firm. However, the rest of the baldric is of my own making. It is composed of leather material and metal parts obtained from a local farm supply store and colored after shaping by a shoe repair shop. Total cost for it was less than $20 US. The dagger and its sheath was purchased at a local Renaissance festival. These arms were part of a fairly sizable display of armaments on the back wall of our tent, one that I am pleased to say engendered a great deal of interest. Of course, all arms were Peace Tied (secured with some form of strap), and none of them was allowed to be handled except under rigorous supervision.
     One of the major interests at any Scottish gathering is the vendor market. At the MnSF&HG we were able to sample a wide variety of vendors, all selected to provide the very best in wares. In addition, the vendor area was the location of the Clan Tartan organization. At each event where they attend, they set up a small village that includes active displays of dying, spinning, weaving, lace-making, and small blacksmithing, leather-working, weapons-crafting, musical instrument crafting, and other Medieval skills. These are very educational, and they always have a large attendance.                                                                                 Return to the ACS homepage

Above is a photo of me and the President of the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans. It is not my best pose, nor is it a really good representation of the tent, but here it is for what it is worth. The displayed portion of my armory is all blades.

     From left to right: Behind the gentleman with whom I am speaking hangs my hand-and-a-half broadsword, dagger, and baldric. I did not mention it earlier, but I had some difficulties with that at one time. You see, I travel a good deal as a Regional Rep, and sometimes must go by air. For some inexplicable reason   ;-)   the National Transportation Safety Board has a problem with having me bring my sword with me. I resolved that issue by purchasing a used and abandoned large electronic keyboard case from a local music shop. This I lined with several layers of foam rubber that are spray-glued together, the topmost layer being cut out to form receiving pockets for my sword, dagger, and sgian dubh. The baldric and scabbards lay on top. I close that case with the latches provided, but do not lock it since the NTSB reserves the right to break locks to examine contents. Instead I secure it around the middle with an old belt. The total cost for the case including all materials was under $40. This works fine for shipping it in the cargo area of a plane as baggage, and as long as I declare the contents at the ticket counter I have not had any issue. However, I have not yet tried an international flight with it.
     In the left rear corner is my son's claymore, a 7.5 lb blade. Next across is a miniature of the claymore, that being broadsword size, also belonging to my son. The next sword to the right, partially obscured by the pennant, is a basket-hilt saber belonging to my son. The last blade is not visible, as it is in the right-rear corner of the tent. That one is another basket-hilt saber which belongs to my daughter, this one of Toledo steel in a baldric and scabbard made by me. All the weapons are of usable and serviceable construction, not toys or display-only imitations.
     You might care to know that beginning at age 13, my now 6' 3" 200 lb. son James developed a fair part of the muscles in his arms by practicing with that claymore. His arms and wrists now are so strong that he can wield it single-handed with complete ease. I have seen him slice the blade through a 5" pine log with only one hand. There is a picture of this strong yet gentle giant attached, in which he is holding his saber. My daughter Jennifer also has done many years of practice with swords, and I have attached a picture of this lithe, lovely, graceful, and incredibly strong young 5' 3" 100 lb. Scottish lassie posed with one. Frankly, I would not care to face either of them in a fight, as they are formidably fast in motion and both of them are ambidextrous with hand weapons. By the way, both also ride and are completely at home with horses.                                Return to the ACS homepage

     On the table but hidden is a dagger of pseudo-Gothic design, one to which my daughter took a fancy at a Scottish Fair. Finally, I am wearing a very simple ebony-handled sgian dubh that was far more typical of that class of knife than the ornate, imitation-bone handled stuff now sold. At events such as this I actually make use of it for eating and other routine chores. I never cease to be amazed at the number of children who ask why I eat with a knife. It provides a wonderful opportunity to educate on the simplicity of life in the latter part of the Renaissance. My son also wears one that is simple, that being made from the tip of a broken antique sword blade and using an antique brass bedknob-finial as the hilt. He too uses it as it was intended.
     Books on the table include I Remain Unvanquished, Clans and Tartans of Scotland, Black's, Scottish Clans and Families by Means and Way, as well as a good Latin dictionary and several other Clan reference texts. Upstanding is a volume I found at a local bookseller on clearance, A Man on the Moon.
     You might also have some curiosity about the framed placard that is on the tripod. That is a photo image of a Fairbairn coat of Arms, one painted by my mother on a serving tray, which I also have. The motto is different (Semper Eadem), there is no Chief's badge, and the supporters of the crest are different from that of the Armstrongs. However, I believe the design on the shield is the same. This Coat of Arms is registered in the Lord Lyon's listings and as I understand, it has been so for more than 500 years. I repeated the shield design on the banner over the tent, which is one that I made.
     The name tag I wear is one that I had made. Among other things on it, there is an image of the Armstrong Clan Badge that was produced by a person in Scotland with whom I have connections. It is a 1" diameter, round plastic lens that is self-adhesive, and is a very good production of the Clan Badge.

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New 20 Jul 2008