Langside is an area in the south side of Glasgow. (For more information about this area, see Gerald Blaikie’s article, ‘Langside & Battlefield. Illustrated Guide‘ on the ScotCities website.) Members of this society were most likely part of the congregation of the Langside Hill United Free Church. (For more information about this church, see ‘Langside Hill Church‘ on The Glasgow Story website).

There is little currently known about this society. The only evidence we have to date comes from the syllabus of another literary group, the Queen’s Park U. P. Church Young Men’s Institute, which lists the date on which the Langside Hill U.P Church Literary Institute was scheduled to participate in a joint debate with them (see below).

Date of Existence

1901?-?

Source of Information

(Listed as having a joint debate with the Queen’s Park U. P. Church Young Men’s Institute on 25 November 1901: ‘Syllabus’, 1901-1902, Queen’s Park U. P. Church Young Men’s Literary Institute (Glasgow City Archives, Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Queen’s Park, St. George’s UP, UF Church, Literary Institute syllabus, 1875-1912)

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

Langside is an area in the south side of Glasgow. (For more information on this area, see the entry for ‘Langside‘ on TheGlasgowStory website, and  ‘Langside & Battlefield. Illustrated Guide‘ on the ScotCities website).

There is little currently known about this society. It may have been connected with the Langside Free Church. (For more information on this church, see ‘Glasgow — Langside‘ on the Ecclegen website.)

The only information we currently have comes from another society, the Wellington Free Church Literary Association. Its 1901 report records that there were two joint meetings organised with the group, one being a mock Parliamentary Election. The second was a debate between the two societies. This, however, was cancelled due to the death of Queen Victoria.

Date of Existence

1901?-?

Source of Information

(Mentioned in Wellington, U.F. Church, printed report: ‘Report of Wellington United Free Church, Glasgow, for the Year Ended 30th September, 1901’, ‘Report of the Literary Association’, [pp. 39-40])

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

CH3/1238/1

Additional Notes

See also Wellington United Presbyterian Church Literary Association, which had joint meetings with this Society.

Lansdowne is an area in the West End of Glasgow. There is little currently known about this society. The only information we have comes from the minute book of the Kelvinside Literary Association. In the minute entry for 19 March 1872, at the Annual Social Meeting of the Kelvinside Literary Association held at the Kelvinside Free Church Session House, a deputation from the Lansdowne Literary Association is mentioned as visiting that evening having been invited to attend. At that meeting, it was suggested that the two societies hold joint debates together in the coming session.

Date of Existence

1872?-?

Source of Information

(Deputation from this society mentioned as attending social of the Kelvinside Literary Association, 19 March 1872: Minute entry, 19 March 1872, Glasgow, Kelvinside, Free Church, U.F., Literary association minutes, 1871-84)

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

CH3/1012/11

Additional Notes

See Kelvinside Literary Association.

This group met in the early 1890s (at least) at Lansdowne United Presbyterian Church in the more affluent West End of Glasgow. (For more information on this church, see ‘Lansdowne UP Church‘ on TheGlasgowStory website.)  The association was one branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.), an organisation with connections all across Glasgow (and beyond).

The evidence that we have for this association comes from the seven extant issues of a magazine that the society members produced in manuscript. This includes one issue that was produced as an ‘Art Supplement’ (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

We don’t know the number of members, or even their names, but from the photo (see ‘Additional Notes’ below), it appears that the group that produced and/or contributed to the magazine — and possibly the group itself — included both men and women, which was not unusual for the late nineteenth century. The Lansdowne magazine does not include lists of readers in any of the issues, and, with very few exceptions and outwith the Editors themselves, the contributors are anonymous, or they use a pen-name, or an initial or initials (presumably so that they could be identified).

Date of Existence

1890?-1892?

Source of Information

Lansdowne Young Men’s Christian Association, Our Magazine. L.Y.M.C.A. A Monthly Journal of Literature & Art (Part 1 (Nov. 1890); Part 2 (Dec. 1890); No. 3, Vol. I (25 Feb. 1891); No. 4, Vol. I (25 Apr. 1891); Part 1, Art Supplement to Our Magazine (Nov. 1891); No. II (Dec. 1891); Vol. II (Apr. 1892)

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

TD864/2/1-7

Additional Notes

In the ‘Art Supplement to Our Magazine’ (December 1891), there is a picture of the group with the caption ‘Our Noble Selves’.

See also entry for Our Magazine. L.Y.M.C.A. A Monthly Journal of Literature & Art on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

The Glasgow Literary Society was founded in 1752 and changed its name at the beginning of the nineteenth century to the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow. They changed premises as well, moving from the University of Glasgow (at its address on the east side on High Street), to an unnamed apartment in the city centre.

Atkinson’s ‘Sketch’ offers a good summary of the society. According to him, prior to the start of the nineteenth century, the group was engaged in ‘mutual instruction and improvement’, and was made up primarily of university professors and students. The newly-renamed society not only changed premises, but also changed the nature of its proceedings, and extended its membership to many of the commercial men of the city.

The changing nature of the Literary and Commercial Society membership and the emphasis on business was directly reflected in the scope and content of the essays and discussions, but literature was also included. The subject areas of the essays read between 1806 and 1830 feature social history, politics, economics, and medicine, with literature among the minority of other subjects discussed.

Date of Existence

circa 1800 (1806?)-1856?

Source of Information

1. Laws and regulations of the Glasgow Literary and Commercial Society ([Glasgow]: [s.n.], [s.d.]) (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu22-a);

2. Bannatyne, Dugald, Observations on the principles which enter into the commerce in grain, and into the measures for supplying food to the people: being the substance of an essay read to the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow (Glasgow: Printed by James Hedderwick, 1816) (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu54-e.35);

3. Wardlaw, Ralph, An essay on benevolent associations for the relief of the poor: of which the substance was read to the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow, April 1817 (Glasgow: Printed by Young, Gallie and Co, 1818) (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu18-d.25);

4. ‘Glasgow Literary & Scientific Institutions’, The Western Luminary, Vol. I, No. 3, 17 January 1824, p. 19 (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu60-f.31, Sp Coll Bh12-e.12)

5. List of essays read by the members of the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow, from session 1806 to session 1830 (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu22-a.8);

6. Atkinson, Thomas, Sketch of the origin and progress of the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow, with … plans for the publication of a portion of its transactions; being the substance of an essay read before it in January, 1831 (Glasgow: [?], 1831) (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu22-b.25);

7. Watson, James, Remarks on the opening of the British trade with China, and the means of its extension: being the substance of a paper read to the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow (Glasgow: John Smith & Son; Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood & Sons, 1843) (UGSC, Sp Coll Robertson Bf66-d.18);

8. Watson, James, A paper on the present railway crisis: read at the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow held on the 26th March 1846 (Glasgow: W. Lang, 1846) (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu22-c.6);

9. ‘Glasgow Literary and Commercial Society’, ‘Educational and Literary Institutions’, Post-Office Glasgow Directory for 1856, 1857… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1856), p. 85; (ML, NLS)

10. Kilpatrick, James A., Literary Landmarks of Glasgow (Glasgow: Saint Mungo Press, 1893), p. 28 (UGSC, Sp Coll Mu24-a.34);

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

National Library of Scotland (NLS)

University of Glasgow Special Collections (UGSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

The full title of The Western Luminary is as follows: The western luminary, or, Glasgow literary and scientific gazette, embracing, Reviews of all new and interesting publications — Discussions of all important matters connected with the West of Scotland — Biographical memoirs of such living and dead individuals as possess peculiar claims on our sympathy or regard — Original essays upon men and manners, institutions and priciples — Poetry, written and selected for the work — Anecdotes and extracts — Arts and science — Truth and fiction, conducted by the Writers of the Free Press, and other literary gentlemen of Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

From the Mitchell Library online catalogue:

‘Notes: Additional information: 1 v (208p.); 28cm[,] Bound with: Select views of Glasgow and its environs / engraved by Joseph Swan … Glasgow : Joseph Swan, 1828, in a volume with spine title The western luminary, Andrew Bain Memorial, Lacks nos. 14-16, no.18’ [accessed 31 January 2018].

The Glasgow Post Office directories are available at the Mitchell Library and the National Library of Scotland. Digitised copies are available through the NLS website: https://www.nls.uk/family-history/directories/post-office/index.cfm?place=Glasgow

The information that we have on this society comes from the magazine that was produced by the group members (see ‘Additional Notes’ below). In the three issues that were produced, there is no mention of how often the group met, where they held their meetings, nor how many members it had, but we do know that it was exclusively composed of young men.

According to the preface of the December 1846 issue, the society’s object (i.e. the purpose for meeting) was its members’ intellectual improvement, which was to be facilitated through a series of organised debates. On the last page of the January 1846 issue, there is a list of the society’s debates that were to be held that month.

Date of Existence

1845?-1846?

Source of Information

The Literary Magazine, ed. by members of the Literary Debating Society, No. 1 (Glasgow: Printed by George Richardson, 1845); The Literary Magazine, ed. by members of the Literary Debating Society, Dec. 1845-Feb. 1846 (Glasgow: George Richardson 1846)

Repository

University of Glasgow Special Collections

Reference Number

Sp Coll Mu1-d.13; Sp Coll RB 3049

[Note: the University of Glasgow Special Collections holds two copies]

Additional Notes

From the University of Glasgow online catalogue: ‘Library holds: No. 1-3, 1 Dec. 1845-13 Feb. 1846. Copy at Mu1-d.13 has front and back covers of no.1 & 2, and front cover of no. 3, bound in. Copy at RB 3049 is item 1 of 5 bound together’ [accessed 31 January 2018].

See also entry for The Literary Magazine on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

There is little currently known about this association. The article in the Northern Star mentions that there were  three Chartist churches in Glasgow at the time (‘Chartist Intelligence. Glasgow’, Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser, 31 July 1841, p. 2). To date, it is unknown which church the group was associated with. (For a brief summary of the Chartist movement, see Glenn Everett’s article, ‘Chartism or The Chartist Movement‘ on The Victorian Web.)

Date of Existence

at least 1841-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Chartist Intelligence. Glasgow’, Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser, 31 July 1841, p. 2;

2. Scottish Patriot, 30 January 1841

(Note: both of these references are from Fraser, W. Hamish, Chartism in Scotland (Pontypool, Wales: Merlin Press, 2010), p. 256)

Repository

–

Reference Number

–

Additional Notes

The Northern Star and the Scottish Patriot are available through the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/.

Members of this society were most likely part of the congregation of St. Ninian’s Parish Church, located at 429 Crown Street, in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. (For more information on this area, see the entry for ‘Gorbals, Glasgow. Origins & History‘ on ScotCities website).

There is little currently  known about this society. The information we have comes from an annotated newspaper clipping which is only identified as being from the Citizen (it is currently unknown if this is the Glasgow Citizen, or the Evening Citizen). The article reports on a debate entitled ‘Should an Eight Hours Bill be passed?’ that was held between a member of this society and a member from the Renwick Free Church (the vote was close but was won for the negative).

Date of Existence

1890?-?

Source of Information

(Newspaper clipping, annotated:) ‘Citizen 2/12/90’, in Minute Book of the Renwick Free Church Literary Association: Minute entry, 29 November 1890, Renwick Free Church Literary Association, 1889-1892, p. 58 [reverse side]

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

TD 396/30/1

Additional Notes

This society should not be confused with The Debating and Literary Society, St. Ninian’s Episcopal Church, Glasgow (1899-1934?).

See also Renwick Free Church Literary Association, with whom this society had a joint debate on 1 December 1890.

The information that we have on this group comes mostly from an article written (anonymously) by Thomas Gildard that was published in May 1892 in The Bailie, a Glasgow weekly magazine. The article itself was transcribed by William Young (Glasgow artist, 1845-1916), who attributed it to Gildard. The transcription was then placed in one of Young’s many volumes of scrapbooks (see Young’s Scrapbooks, Mitchell Library Special Collections).

Gildard was apparently a member of the group, and in the article, he gives a colourful description of its history. The group was made up of about 40 to 50 members who met at ‘Messrs Smith’s, presumably a pub, located at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street. This was where an eclectic mix of artists, journalists, architects, artisans and a couple ‘men of science’ met every day except on Sundays. It seems to have been an informal, social group with no rigid membership rules nor strict order of business in running its meetings. The purpose was primarily for socialising and conviviality, the topics of discussion being varied but excluded religion and politics. Occasionally, on Saturday evenings, papers would be read. The group lasted for about 15 years.

Date of Existence

1859?-1874?

Source of Information

1. (For The Literary and Artistic Club see: Ballantine, James, Chronicle of the Hundredth Birthday of Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: A. Fullarton & Co., 1859), pp. 81-88) (MLSC, Edwin Morgan Library, Robert Burns Collection, Mitchell (AL) 14B BAL 907845);

2. ‘Literary and Artistic Society of Glasgow’, Evening Citizen, 8 August 1864, p. 3;

3. (Transcription of newspaper article:) ”The Bailie’, Wednesday, May 18th. 1892′ (‘Monday Gossip’, The Bailie, 18 May 1892, p. 12) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 10, p. 50);

4. Gildard, Thomas, ‘Miscellanea’ (MLSC, Mitchell (GC), 828 214964, pp. 34-45);

5. (Annotated newspaper clipping:) [Evening] ‘News. 4 Sep. 1909’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 25, p. 61)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

Thomas Gildard was also President of the “Ours” Club from 1882-1893. See Glasgow Philological and Literary Club (aka This Club of Ours, or ‘Ours’ Club), and see also A Book of “Ours” (“Ours” Literary and Social Club. A book of “Ours.”), details of which are available on our sister website, Literary Bonds, which has a photograph of Gildard.

Copies of the Evening Citizen are available at the Mitchell Library and the National Library of Scotland. For digitised copies, see the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/