The legacy of Richard Nightingale, from personal archive to collective heritage of Porreres

PorreresThe house at number 16 Rector Llompart Street in Porreres has a narrow, unassuming facade. Richard Nightingale Goss settled there in 2003 and died there in early 2023. He left behind an immense library, countless photographs on a collection of recordable CDs, which also contain video and music recordings from bands all over the island. He also left a piano, an organ, cameras, furniture… and his unmistakable bicycle. Tot Pla documented Richard's time in Porreres, his influence across almost the entire island, and his tireless activity in an obituary by Joan Ferrà, a neighbor on the same street, published in August 2023.

Two years after his death, his sister, Elisabeth Goss Kelley, spends a few weeks in Porreres to take charge of Richard's legacy. His belongings, his collections, and everything he accumulated within the walls of a house filled with the silhouettes of a very present absence are the fruit, the legacy of a man who was always everywhere and who leaves behind a mark of incalculable heritage, documentary, and cultural value.

"Even as a child, he had this habit of tidying everything up. In our house, the organized bookshelves covered all the walls, and he also organized his library here," explains Elisabeth, seven years younger than Richard.

Because what no one can explain is how a man who was never home could have been so meticulous and organized.

In his home in Porreres, he also cataloged all the books and recordable CDs using the Dewey Decimal Classification system. His sister recounts that Richard "loved history, music, art, and culture; these were his great passions. He was also fascinated by the Dewey Decimal Classification system. In fact, he had cataloged all the books in his house according to this international code. He had more than eight thousand volumes, each numbered according to this system, as were the records, tapes, and recordings."

Despite knowing Richard's temperament, his sister is surprised by everything he recorded: "The CDs contain very interesting things: some have music, others videos or photographs. Some contain recordings of local groups, others old photos or videos. It's impressive how much he recorded. He has the music of all the groups archived. Incredible."

"When a topic interested him, he became obsessed and talked about it endlessly. He was like a walking encyclopedia," explains Elisabeth. In fact, in Mallorca, people who knew him can attest to this obsession. Richard didn't just look and observe; he became involved in everything he laid eyes on: the Castellers de Mallorca and the Gigantes or the Batukada de Porreres are just a few examples.

Courtesy of the Porreres Town Hall

All these CDs and photographs will become part of the Porreres Town Hall's municipal archive following a donation agreement that also includes Richard's unmistakable bicycle, his second in 20 years, which he used to get around town. It will be used by the Local Police for road safety education. The archive contains unique and exclusive images of Porreres and all of Mallorca, taken before the advent of cameras and social media.

The organ, antique, handcrafted, and preserved in excellent condition, will become the property of the church in Porreres, a place Richard knew well and where he once gave guided tours.

The rest of the objects have been removed by individuals to whom Elisabeth opened her doors and gave away whatever they wanted. The bulk of the immense library of books of all kinds in English will be discarded, with the exception of a few select volumes.

Why Porreres?

Born in Scotland, his family moved to the United States. In 1980, Richard returned to Scotland, where he earned two doctorates. One was from the University of St. Andrews, where he received a PhD in British History, and the other from the University of Edinburgh, in Ethnomusicology. "He studied music, dance, art, and all forms of cultural expression. He also choreographed traditional dances," explains his sister. The question is inevitable: why do you think he chose Porreres to settle in after his retirement? Elisabeth's answer: "I asked him many times. We live in Los Angeles, and there are many people of Hispanic origin there, so we were already familiar with Spanish culture and language. I think this made him feel closer to this place. He also suffered from asthma, and he came for health reasons. It's a very close-knit, very welcoming community. He knows other parts of Mallorca, but none like this."

And she adds: "Here he found a sense of community that didn't exist in the United States: shared life, traditional dances, lived culture. He liked not only to study the culture, but to be a part of it. When a topic sparked his interest, he sought out the people involved and enthusiastically joined in." That's why everyone knew him.

Richard's house is for sale. Elisabeth returns tomorrow—Saturday, November 1st—to Los Angeles. She will close a chapter in which she will have shared throughout Porreres the valuable legacy of an active man, and above all, a respectful and loving man of the culture of this small country called Mallorca. May there be many more like Richard.