[7] In 1921, in recognition of his distinguished services as a parochial school teacher, editor of the Kilmarnock Herald,[2] 'Burns Chronicle' editor and Kilmaurs parish historian, Duncan in 1921 was honoured by the University of Glasgow, which conferred upon him an honorary doctorate of law, and by the Burns Federation, which on two occasions presented him with tokens of recognition for services rendered.

Several flags were flown at half-mast and at a local factory the staff was lined up in front of the building as the funeral procession passed.

Little groups of the villagers stood at various points on the route paying homage in respect-full silence to the memory of a well-loved teacher and friend.

The Burns Federation was represented by Sir Robert Bruce, LL.D., President; Mr. Alexander Pollock and Mr. J. Taylor Gibb, Vice-Presidents; Mr. Thomas Amos, Hon.

A gravestone was erected by Duncan McNaught in the Vale of Leven's Bonhill Cemetery near Alexandria to commemorate various members of his family.

His mother, Mary Magraw, Duncan his father, his brothers John and Colin and sisters Agnes and Cecilia are all buried in Bonhill Churchyard.

The memorial is ornately decorated; a shield in the roundel above his father's name bears a monogram with a D, an M, and a small c for "Mc".

"[13] In 1909 Duncan supervised the publication of a photogravure facsimile of an uncut copy in his possession of the 'Kilmarnock Edition' of Robert Burns's poems, printed by D. Brown in Kilmarnock (see illustration).

[2] He had very strong opinions on publications that claimed to contain poems written by Burns and even compiled and printed a list for use by Burnsians.

[19] In 1920 the American businessman and antiquarian collector John Gribbel visited Duncan's house at Benrig, Kilmaurs[16] who had been on the 'Scots Committee' that sought to take legal action to return the Glenriddell Manuscripts to Scotland, a task that became null and void when John Gribbel purchased them and gave them to the Scottish people.

Duncan presided over the presentation and ceremony at Glasgow's Grand Hotel, 27 July 1920, when John Gribbel was able to visit Scotland.

[21] Duncan was acknowledged as one of the world's greatest experts on Robert Burns[8] and had put together what John Gribbel regarded as being the finest and most extensive collection of Burnsiana, artifacts with over 600 publications,[3] owning no less than two copies of the Kilmarnock Edition, an uncut example of his having alone been valued at £1000 in circa 1920.

[16] John said that he would not leave Ayrshire without these items and made Duncan an offer that was accepted, the amount unknown, on the understanding that they would be kept together under the name The McNaught Collection.

[16] Sadly when John Gribbel died in 1936 his estate was broken up and 'The McNaught Collection' sold at auction.

Elizabeth informed her husband of the minister's approaches and reluctantly they both wrote letters asking the Rev Inglis not to call upon them and to desist.

The shocked minister threatened suicide and begged for mercy, eventually signing a letter of resignation.

Duncan and his wife Martha were close friends of the Mackie's and had shared a home on the Isle of Arran for a year.