This group had its own Club Rooms, which were located at 93 Douglas Street (just off St. Vincent Street, and to the west of the city centre). Later, it had its own library.

The ‘Club Notes’ of the 1905 Annual Burns Chronicle and Club Directory proudly announced the opening of the newly-rented rooms to its members:

‘NATIONAL BURNS CLUB.
The persistent efforts of Burns enthusiasts in Glasgow, aided by such well-known admirers of the poet as J. Jeffrey Hunger, Jas. Ballantyne, D. C. Wardrop, and others, to form a first-class institution as a permanent rallying place and centre, have been crowned with success. A large flat of commodious rooms were rented on the 11th November, 1904, and over twenty pounds expended on papering and painting.
Mr Joseph Martin, the honorary treasurer, was most indefatigable in adding to the list of membership, and when the lease was signed over a hundred members were on the roll and numerous additions promised.
The printed rules declare that the objects of the club are (1) the promotion of the study of Burns’s works, and Scottish literature generally; (2) the collecting of books, prints, and pamphlets connected therewith; and (3) social intercourse and recreation.
Already a copy of the first edition of Currie’s Life of Burns has been gifted, and other donations of prints or books will be gladly received by the honorary secretary,
D. C. Waldrop.
65 Oswald Street, Glasgow’

(‘Club Notes’, in Annual Burns Chronicle and Club Directory, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIV (Kilmarnock: The Burns Federation, January 1905), p. 103)

This was a place where members — both town and country — paid entry money and then a yearly subscription. They could also own shares in the club. They could play billiards, buy magazines, use the telephone, buy liquor and tobacco, and generally hang out in the club rooms any day of the week except Sunday.

Date of Existence

1904-1932? Federated 1904

Source of Information

1. ‘Club Notes’, and ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1905’, in BC,  ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIV (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1905), p. 103, p. 160;

2. ‘Club Notes’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XV (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1906), pp. 123-24;

3. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1907’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XVI (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1907), p. 171;

4. ‘Club Notes’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XVIII (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1909), pp. 135-36;

5. ‘Club Notes’, ‘Obituary’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIX (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1910), p. 12;

6. ‘Club Notes’ in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIX (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1910), pp. 131-32;

7. ‘Club Notes’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XX (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1911), pp. 130-31;

8. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1912’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XXI (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1912), p. 175;

9. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1914′, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XXIII (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1914), p. 2168;

10. (9 MS vols of minutes, cash, & visitors books, receipts, etc.; Annual Summaries, share ledger, minute, cash, letter and visitors’ books, 1909-1932 (MLSC, 891022)

The National Home Reading Union was formed in 1889 by John Brown Paton, and was based on the popular Chautauqua movement in North America. Its object was to provide a guided reading programme for all classes, but particularly artisans and young people. (For more information on the history of the National Home Reading Union, see Robert Snape, ‘The National Home Reading Union’, Journal of Victorian Culture, 7 (2002), 86-110).

Oatlands is an area in the south side of Glasgow and is part of the Gorbals. (For more information on this area, see the entry for ‘Gorbals, Glasgow. Origins & History‘ on the ScotCities website). Oatlands Public School was located on Caledonia Road.

According to the prospectus for this school, in addition to the ‘Evening Classes for Lads, Girls, Young Men and Women’, also on offer were ‘Commercial Classes’, which included a class in English literature. This class was to be a branch of the National Home Reading Union.

Date of Existence

1908-?

Source of Information

Departmental Records; Further Education; Evening Classes, Continuation Classes and Further Education; Prospectuses 1908-1909

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

D-ED 6/2/2

Additional Notes

–

The formation of this new group is discussed in an article published in 1824 that also included a summary of a number of different Glasgow literary societies. The foundations of New Literary and Philosophical Society were laid out at an introductory meeting held in early January 1824. A society was to be formed for the polite discussion of all topics, particularly science and literature, but avoiding politics and religion. The article also provides an extract of a report that was to be read at the next meeting, which includes the ‘objects’ of the new group (i.e. the purpose for meeting). These included the promotion of discussion on literature and philosophy, and to develop the members’ rhetorical skills particularly extempore speaking. The group also aspired to form its own library.

The first meeting of the New Literary and Philosophical Society is reported to have been on 13 January 1824 at the Black Bull Inn, Trongate. (For more information on this inn, see ‘Black Bull Inn‘ on the Old Glasgow Pubs website.) Meetings were to be held every Wednesday. Three Wednesdays of the month were to be on pre-selected topics chosen by the Committee, and the fourth to the reading of essays and translations.

The article closes by predicting a successful future for this group, and suggests that it was likely to be similar to the Speculative Society of Edinburgh.

Date of Existence

13 January 1824-?

Source of Information

‘Glasgow Literary & Scientific Institutions’, The Western Luminary, or Glasgow Literary & Scientific Gazette, Vol. I, No. 3, 17 January 1824, pp. 19-20

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Mitchell (AL) 310427

Additional Notes

The full title of this periodical 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 on this magazine:

‘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].

This group is an interesting example of a literary society whose history was not straight-forward, being the result of alliances made and broken — societies being formed, amalgamated with other societies, dissolved and/or re-formed as new clubs — over the course of its history.

There are varying accounts on the origin and history of this club and the Holyrood Literary Society, their histories being intertwined over the years. Further research on these clubs may help to untangle them. As we currently understand it, The New Literary Club was formed in 1892. In 1896, it became the Literary Twenty-one Club. Even later, it amalgamated with the Holyrood Literary Society and took its name on 24 September 1897, changing its name to The New Holyrood Literary Club. Later it was simply known as The Holyrood Club.

In the 1892 to 1893 session, there were 17 members on the roll (including three Honorary Members). The first meeting of the group was held at 34 Glasgow Street (the residence of the club Secretary, Philip H. Tod). The club determined to meet fortnightly on Saturday evenings at 5pm at Tod’s house (for the time being). The meetings were to alternate between essays and debates, with no games being allowed (as per the norm in some other literary societies during this period).

The club grew to 29 members by the 1895-96 session, just prior to becoming the Literary Twenty-One Club, the name being taken from the number of members it was limited to.

The annual subscription of the Literary Twenty-One Club was 1/6, which was cheaper than the average for other literary societies during this period (2s 6d). Members met at 196 West Regent Street every other Tuesday evening at 8pm. In 1896, the group started its own magazine written by and for its members (see ‘Additional Notes’).

Dates of Existence

9 September 1892 – 21 April 1896; 21 April 1896 – 24 September 1897 (as Literary Twenty-One Club); on 24 September 1897 it amalgamated with the Holyrood Literary Society and took its name; on 3 October 1899, it changed to the Holyrood Literary Club; the club dissolved and a new club formed: the New Holyrood Club (later it was known simply as the Holyrood Club). The Holyrood Literary Society formed in 1894 and (inclusive of its later incarnations) was running up until 1946(?).

Source of Information

1. New Literary Club, New Literary Club Magazine, January 1893; [February?] 1893; [March?] 1893; October 1893; November 1893; December 1893; January 1894; Summer 1894; Spring 1895 [10 issues in 4 bound volumes] (MLSC, 891047);

2. Literary Twenty-one Club, Minute Book No. II, 2 February 1897-28 April 1902 (MLSC, 891047);

3. [The Literary Twenty-one Club Magazine], [Autumn?] 1896 (MLSC, 891047)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See records of the Holyrood Club (MLSC, 891047))

Additional Notes

The records for this club are housed together with records of the Holyrood Club.

See Holyrood Literary Society (New Holyrood Literary  Club) and Round Table Club, with whom this club held joint meetings.

See also entry for New Literary Club Magazine and The Literary Twenty-One Club Magazine our sister website, Literary Bonds.

This literary society was based at the Newton Place United Presbyterian Church on Dumbarton Road, Partick, in the West End of Glasgow. (For more information on this church, see ‘Newton Place United Presbyterian Church‘ on The Glasgow Story website.)

The group was initially made up of young men from the congregation of the Newton Place Church, with others from outside the church being elected by general vote. The ‘Constitution’ lists the society’s object as its members’ moral and intellectual improvement.

Members met every other Friday at 8pm from October to April. The subscription fee was only one shilling, which was cheaper than the average for other literary societies during this period (2s 6d). This probably means that most of the members were from the working classes. In society’s first year, there were 31 members. By the 1886-87 session, there were 69 members. This number included 12 ladies, women being allowed to join in the 1885-86 session.

Date of Existence

(revived in 1881) 1881-?

Source of Information

Glasgow, Newton Place United Presbyterian Church, UF, and Church of Scotland, Literary Society Minutes, 1881-89

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

CH3/1004/25

Additional Notes

–