He became a prominent figure in the intellectual and cultural life of the city, frequently contributing letters and articles to the Glasgow Herald, often anonymously.

[1] Rait's research generally maintained a Scottish focus, with particular reference to the politics of pre-Union Scotland and its relationship with England.

One of his most noted works, Thoughts on the Union between England and Scotland (1920), was written with leading constitutional theorist A. V. Dicey, former Vinerian Professor of English Law at the University of Oxford.

He returned to teaching in 1961 as emeritus professor, served again as dean of faculties from 1961 to 1964, and published a short History of Scotland in 1964.

Pryde had come to Glasgow as an assistant in the Scottish History Department in 1927, having studied at St Andrews (MA 1922, PhD 1926) and Yale (on a Commonwealth Fund fellowship) Universities.

[6] He was Clerk of Senate (an office with status equivalent to a vice-principal) from 1978 to 1983, retired in 1993 becoming emeritus professor, and was dean of faculties from 1998 until 2000.