Richard's legacy, from personal archive to collective heritage

PalmThe 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 that also contain video recordings and music from bands all over the island. He also left a piano, an organ, cameras, furniture… and his unmistakable bicycle.

Todo Pla documented Richard's time in Porreres, his influence across almost the entire island, and his tireless activity.an obituaryby Joan Ferrà, neighbor of the same street, published in August 2023 which you can read at the end of this article.

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. It is the fruit, the legacy of a man who was always striving for everything and leaves behind a mark of incalculable heritage, documentary, and cultural value.

"Even as a child, he had this habit of organizing everything. In our house, the organized bookshelves covered all the walls, and here he also organized his library," 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 house in Porreres, he also cataloged all the books and recordable CDs using the Dewey Decimal Classification. His sister says that Richard "loved history, music, art, and culture; these were his great passions. He was also fascinated by the classification system."Dewey DecimalIn 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 bands, others old photos or videos. It's impressive how much he recorded. He has archived the music of all the town's bands, the records, the demos... Everything. It's incredible."

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

All these compact discs and photographs will become part of the Porreres Town Hall's municipal archive following a donation agreement that also includes Richard's distinctive 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 antique, handcrafted organ, preserved in excellent condition, will become the property of the Porreres church, a place Richard knew well and where he once gave guided tours. The remaining items have been removed by private individuals. To whom Elisabeth has opened her doors and given everything they wanted. The bulk of the immense library of books of all kinds in English will be thrown out, with the exception of a few select copies.

Why in Porreres?

Born in Scotland, his family moved to the United States. In 1980 Richard returned to Scotland, where he earned two doctorates. One was in the He earned a doctorate in British History at the University of St. Andrews and another in Ethnomusicology at the University of Edinburgh. "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've asked myself that many times. We lived 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 here for a quiet place and for health reasons. We're very close-knit, very welcoming. He knows other parts of Mallorca, but none like this one."

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 in it. Everyone: many remember him from events in Palma or cultural gatherings."

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.