Members of this society were  part of the congregation of St. Peter’s Free Church, located at 53 Mains Street (now Blythswood Street), off Argyle Street in the city centre. (For more information on this church, see John Goodwin’s History of Free St Peter’s Church (1886) — Goodwin was a former President of the Association; see also ‘Glasgow — St. Peter’s‘ on the Ecclegen website.)

The Young Men’s Association had a relatively good-sized number of members in 1850: from Goodwin’s history of the church, we know that there were at least 48 members in that year. The group met weekly at the church session house from September to May to read and discuss papers written by members of the society.  Interestingly, the Geological Society of Glasgow developed out of this young men’s association.

A motion to start a manuscript magazine in connection with the society was raised in 1858. It is currently unknown if a magazine was ever founded at this early date. A magazine was started by the later Young Men’s Literary Society — instituted circa 1860 — and was produced until at least 1883 (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

This group was one of 12 societies that made up the Glasgow Free Church Literary Union in 1853 (at least) (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

Date of Existence

1843-1886?

Source of Information

1. Fergusson, Alex. A., St. Rollox, Glasgow, [Diaries], 1851-53, 1854-56 (MLSC, Mitchell (AL), 891398-99);

2. Glasgow Free Church Literary Union’, ‘Local Institutions’, Glasgow Post-Office Annual Directory for 1853-1854… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1853), p. 79;

3. Free St. Peter’s Young Men’s Literary Society, Behind the Scenes, A Special New Year’s Number of Blythswood Holm M. S. Magazine, January 1871 (MLSC, 321129, GO52 BLY);

4. Free St Peter’s Literary Society magazine. 1883 (Dunn & Wright, [1883?]) (UGSC, Sp Coll Robertson Bf68-b.23);

5. Goodwin, John, History of Free St Peter’s Church, Glasgow: with personal reminiscences, from origin till jubilee (Glasgow: Printed by James C. Erskine, 1886) (ML, Mitchell (GC) CD285.241443 STP 761767)

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

University of Glasgow Special Collections (UGSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

This society was part of the Glasgow Free Church Literary Union, which is listed separately.

Free St Peter’s Literary Society magazine. 1883, is housed at the University of Glasgow Special Collections and is item 8 of 9 in the bound collection of materials.

See also entry for Blythswood Holm M.S. Magazine, ‘Behind the Scenes’, A special New Year’s Number; later Free St Peter’s Literary Society Magazine on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

The information on this society comes from two issues of The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine. The May 7th issue for 1825 provides a good overview of this group:

‘The Gas Workmen’s Institution. – Out of these public associations has arisen one upon a more confined but most useful plan, applicable to every large manufactory. The Gas Light Company’s men, between 60 and 70 in number, have formed themselves, on the suggestion of Mr. J. Neilson the manager, into a society for mutual instruction; laying by a small sum monthly, they have collected about 300 volumes, and the Company giving them a library room, which they light and heat, the men meet every other evening, to converse upon literary and scientific subjects, and once a week to lecture; any one who chooses, giving a fortnight’s notice that he will treat on some subject which he has been studying. The books are of all kinds, with the exception of theology, which, from the various sects the men belong to, is of necessity excluded […]’.

(‘History of Mechanics’ Institutions. Glasgow. The Gas Workmen’s Institution’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. III, No. LXXII, 7 May 1825, pp. 216-7)

Date of Existence

1825-?

Source of Information

1.‘History of Mechanics’ Institutions. Glasgow. The Gas Workmen’s Institution’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. III, No. LXXII, 7 May 1825, pp. 216-7;

2. ‘Glasgow Gas Workman’s Institution. Re-opened for the Season. Introductory Address’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. IV, No. XCVII, 29 October 1825, pp. 169-72

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Mitchell (AL) 19 GLA 52873

Additional Notes

See also University Printing Office Literary & Scientific Institution. The staff at the University Printing Office of the University of Glasgow followed the model set by the Gas Workmen’s Institution (1825-?) in setting up their own institution.

For full holdings of The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine, apply to staff at Mitchell Library Special Collections.

The Union was formed in 1850, seven years after the Disruption, when the Presbyterian church split in two. Its institution occurred during a period of active church building—and apparently society founding—by the newly-established Free Church.

In 1853, this group was composed of 12 literary societies that had formed in Free Church congregations across Glasgow (see ‘Additional Notes’ below). Societies elected representatives from amongst their own members to act as delegates to the Union meetings.

In addition to their own meetings that included lectures, readings, debates and social evenings, Free Church literary societies held joint meetings and debates with other members of the Glasgow Free Church Literary Union.

Date of Existence

1850-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Glasgow Free Church Literary Union’, ‘Local Institutions’, Glasgow Post-Office Annual Directory for 1853-1854… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1853), p. 79;

2. Goodwin, John, History of Free St. Peter’s Church, Glasgow: with Personal Reminiscences, from Origin till Jubilee (Glasgow: Printed by James C. Erskine, 1886), pp. 38+ (ML, Mitchell (GC) 285.241443 STP 761767);

3. ‘Free Church Literary Union’, The Scottish Guardian, 23, 25 April 1854, p. 1

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

National Library of Scotland

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

This Union is made up of 12 literary societies. Each of these societies is listed separately.

See also: Free Anderston Church Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society; Free East Campbell Literary Society; Free Gorbals Literary Society; Free Renfield Literary Society; Free St. David’s Literary Society; Free St. George’s Literary Association; Free St. John’s Literary Society; Free St. Luke’s Literary Society; Free St. Mark’s Literary Society; Free St. Matthew’s Literary Society; Free St. Peter’s Young Men’s Association; and Free Tron Literary Society.

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 Scottish Guardian is available through the British Newspaper Archive <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/>)

This ‘literary forum’ was primarily a debating society that posed one question at each meeting which its members then discussed. In 1823, gentlemen were allowed to introduce a lady to the meetings.

Included in the earliest minute book is ‘A List of Questions for the Literary Forum’. Here are a couple of examples from the list: ‘Is Knowledge and Happiness one [sic] the increase through the World?’; ‘Will a period ever arrive when War shall sease [sic]and peace become permanent of the Earth?’. In addition, they debated the emancipation of slaves in the West Indies, the working class right to vote, the pros and cons of English and Scottish poor laws, and the profanation of the Sabbath. The 1837-1840 Minute Book shows that this literary club also discussed literature.

Questions discussed in these later years included current issues like the Corn Laws (20 January 1838), a debate whether ‘suffrage [was] to be extended’ (27 January 1838), and ‘Is the diffusion of general literature through the medium of the Press favourable to Theatrical Entertainments?’ (17 February 1838). Essays were also read (as of 1 June 1838). These later meetings took place in Begg & Stenhouses’s Tavern on Hutcheson Street, in the heart of the city centre.

Date of Existence

1822?-1840?

Source of Information

1. Minute Books, 1822-25; 1837-40 (later minute book becomes minute book for cricket club);

2. Houston, William, Account of the origin, progress and present state of the Glasgow Public Literary Forum… (Glasgow, 1824)

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

Mitchell (GC), CD378.24 HOU 51071 (ML) (Account of the origin…)

56245, 327348 (MLSC) (Minute Books)

Additional Notes

–

The members of this group (and/or their parents) were originally from Orkney and Shetland, and had since settled in Glasgow. This society is a type of nineteenth-century county association. In the stricter sense, county associations were groups whose members (or whose parents) were former residents of counties across Scotland who had moved to Glasgow. This type of group incorporated elements of a benevolent society in that they could offer a combination of accommodation, advice, referrals, and general assistance to newcomers in the city when they arrived, while also offering aid to widows, unemployed members, or members undergoing financial hardship. In addition, they might offer to provide for the education of their members’ children, or money to support their higher education.

Formed in 1862, the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Association (to use its current title) is still running. This is an uncommon case of a literary society founded in the nineteenth century that continues to meet (a number of Burns clubs have survived, but they are, arguably a special type of  literary society). In addition, it has the further distinction of having the largest known and most complete collection of materials available on any nineteenth-century Glasgow literary society that we have come across. In 2015, the records and the majority of the books from the association’s library were deposited in the Shetland Archives in Lerwick, where they are currently housed.

The history of the Association has already been the subject of a book by Jerry Eunson and Olivia D. Scott. The book provides an overview of the history of the Association, and covers the years from its founding until 1962, when the authors discuss its then current state and reflect on the Association’s centenary. A more in-depth case study was done on this society by Lauren Weiss in 2017. It also covers the association’s history, but focuses on the group’s ‘literary’ history, that is, the role of reading, and the production and consumption of their own manuscript magazines in the fulfilment of its objects and aims. Only the records between 1862 and 1914 were covered.

Date of Existence

9 November 1862-present

Source of Information

1. Papers of Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association (almost complete records and remaining library books from association library; includes minutes, manuscript magazines, typescript magazines, copies of papers given to society, financial records, membership records, annual reports, printed year books, scrapbook, and photographs) (SA, D58);

2. Eunson, Jerry and Scott, Olivia D., The Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, 1862-1962 ([Glasgow]: [The Association], 1962) (ML, Mitchell (GC) 367 EUN);

3. Glasgow Orkney & Shetland Literary & Scientific Association Year Book. 1942-1966 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 367 669976) (for full holdings, apply to staff);

4. Smith, Brian, ‘Significant archive donation’, Unkans, The newsletter of the Shetland Heritage and Culture Community, 48 (February 2015), 2 <http://www.shetland-museum.org.uk/downloads/data/unkans/Unkans_no48.pdf> [accessed 7 May 2015].;

5. Weiss, Lauren, ‘The Literary Clubs and Societies of Glasgow during the Long Nineteenth Century: A City’s History of Reading through its Communal Reading Practices and Productions’ (unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Stirling, 2017): The Literary Clubs and Societies of Glasgow during the Long Nineteenth Century

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Shetland Archives (SA)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

See Glasgow Orcadian Literary and Scientific Society.

See also entry for Ultima Thule; later changed to The Manuscript Magazines of the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association; later changed to The Pole Star on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

Members of this association were most likely part of the congregation of the Kelvinside United Free Church (earlier known as the Kelvinside Free Church) which was located at the corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road in the West End of the city (now ÒranMór, an arts and entertainment venue). (For more information on this church, see ‘Glasgow — Kelvinside‘ on the Ecclegen website.) The group met in the Session House of the church.

In D. S. Riddoch’s Kelvinside United Free Church Glasgow: A Record of Fifty Years, 1859-1909, there is a brief history of this association from its founding until its jubilee in 1909. The group had two breaks in its history, but Riddoch nonetheless counted its 44 years of more-or-less continued existence as a marker of the long-standing, established nature of this association in the city. According to Riddoch, the group provided companionship and guidance for young men in regards to citizenship. While ladies were admitted to the meetings as early as the 1873-1874 session, it was only in 1890 that membership was opened up to them. (Interestingly, if ladies did attend, their names are not recorded in the minutes.) In 1907, the fortnightly meetings were changed to monthly ones. The group changed its name in the same year to ‘The Young People’s At Home’.

In 1873, a proposal was put forward to start a society magazine, and the topic was discussed at two subsequent meetings. It is currently unknown if the magazine was ever started (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

Date of Existence

1865-(at least 1909)

Source of Information

1. Glasgow, Kelvinside, Free Church, U.F., Congregational committee minutes, 1867-8 (GCA, CH3/1012/9);

2. (Handwritten copy of syllabus for 1870-71, author unknown) (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 21, p. 159);

3. Glasgow, Kelvinside, Free Church, U.F., Literary association minutes, 1871-84 (GCA, CH3/1012/11);

4. Kelvinside United Free Church Year Book 1904; Report and Financial Statement 1903; Lists of Office-Bearers and Agencies, Lists of Members and Adherents (Glasgow: Printed at the University Press by Robert MacLehose and Co. Ltd., 1904), p. 12; pp. 28-9 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 285.241443 KEL 272765);

5. Kelvinside United Free Church Glasgow: A Record of Fifty Years, 1859-1909, ed. by D. S. Riddoch (Glasgow: Printed at the University Press, 1909), pp. 58-60 (MLSC, Mitchell (GC), 285.241443 KEL 499011)

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Glasgow City Archives (GCA)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

This society is not to be confused with Kelvinside Parish Church Literary Society, which is a Church of Scotland society.

See also Glasgow Western Literary Union.

See also entry for Kelvinside Literary Association magazine (currently unknown if ever produced) on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

The congregation of this church was known as the Southern Reformed Presbyterian Congregation and their church was located on Salisbury Street, located in the south side of the city in the Laurieston area. (For more information on this area, see ‘Gorbals, Glasgow. Laurieston Guide‘ on the ScotCities website). The City Union Railway bought the building in 1868 and a new church was built on nearby Cumberland Street. Eight years later they joined the Free Church. (For more information on the history of this congregation, see ‘Glasgow — Renwick‘ on the Ecclegen website.)

The 1885-1888 minute book records the first meeting and the admission of this group of young men as a branch of the Glasgow United Young Men’s Christian Association (G.U.Y.M.C.A.). A Literary Association was already running in the First Southern Section of the  G.U.Y.M.C.A. (‘Boundaries – On the North, the River Clyde. On the West, Eglinton Street’) since 1877 at least. This larger group met in the Class Room on 67 Cumberland Street (the G.U.Y.M.C.A. had sectional rooms at this address), just down the street from Renwick Free Church (27 Cumberland Street).

The group met weekly on Sunday evenings from September until the end of June to hear essays read, which were discussed afterwards. The meetings were closed with prayer and a collection was taken. In the late nineteenth century, there were about 50 members, which fell to 11 members in 1914. At a meeting held in September 1914, it was agreed to suspend the society for a year due to the fall in attendance. It does not appear that it was ever revived.

Interestingly, this society had a Strangers’ Committee as well as a Canvassing Scheme from at least 1887 that were started to induce the young men in the congregation to come to the meetings. Their efforts were reported to be very successful.

The association also had its own library. In the December 1887, it was reported that there were at least 150 volumes in the collection.

About the same time that the Renwick Free Church Branch was in operation, a Youths Reading and Recreation Club club was also running under the auspices of the Glasgow Foundry Boys Religious Society, South Cumberland Street Branch, which also met at the Renwick Free Church.

The decision to form the Renwick Free Church Literary Association (9 November 1889 – 1913?) was raised at a meeting of the Renwick Y.M.C.A. held on 20 October 1889 (‘Proceedings relative to formation of Renwick Free Church Literary Association, Saturday Evening 26th Octr. 1889’, Renwick Free Church Literary Association, Literary Association minutes, 1889-1892, p. 1).

Date of Existence

4 October 1885-7 September 1914

Source of Information

1. Renwick Church of Scotland, Glasgow United Young Men’s Christian Associations, Renwick Branch, minutes, 1885-88, 1888-90, 1890-93, 1895-97, 1897-1914 (GCA, TD396/35/1-5);

2. Robertson, John Macmillan, The rise and progress of the Southern Reformed Presbyterian Congregation: now called the Renwick Free Church; two lectures (Glasgow: James C. Erskine, 1887) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 285.241443 REN 159322)

Repository

Glasgow City Archives (GCA)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

See also Glasgow United Young Men’s Christian Association and the Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society, Wellington Palace Branch.

This was a fairly large Burns club, with 94 members on the roll in 1893, and it nearly doubled its size in 1902, with 180 members reported. The group met from September until April on Tuesdays at 8pm (later at 7.45pm). In 1914, this was changed to monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month. The venue for the meetings also changed over the years: in 1892, the club met at the Bath Hotel (8 Hope Street, just to the west of the city centre); in 1895 at the Cobden Hotel (87 Argyle Street); in 1903 at the Bank Restaurant (Queen Street); in 1905 at the Alexandra Hotel (Bath Street); in 1908 at the Prince of Wales Restaurant (Ferguson & Forrester, Limited) (Buchanan Street); then back to the Alexandra Hotel from 1911 until 1914 (at least).

The club met to hear lectures during the winter on Scottish literature, and, of course, to celebrate the works of the Bard on Burns night with a supper. In addition, it held junior and senior competitions in singing and reciting Scottish songs and poems for children and young adults. The group was keen to emphasise the ‘seriousness’ of its endeavours: in the ‘Club Notes’ of the Annual Burns Chronicle and Directory issued in 1905, following a report of that year’s competition, Mr Pollock, the president, wrote:

‘”I am glad to see that some other Clubs are following the example of the Rosebery. To my mind, if a Club can only organize a dinner on the 25th and a smoking concert or two, when drinking is the main food, intellectually and physically, of the guests, it had better not have been born. To foster the preservation of Scottish dialect in literature and song is a worthy task for a Burns Club. When Bacchanalians, who miscall themselves Burnsites, meet merely to eat and drink, they disgrace the name they profess to worship.”’

(‘Club Notes’, ‘Rosebery Burns Club, Glasgow’, in Annual Burns Chronicle and Club Directory, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIV (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1905), pp. 107-110 (p. 110))

The club published the lectures that were given to the club from at least 1898, copies of which were available from ‘Messrs Holmes & Co., Booksellers, Dunlop Street, Glasgow; and others’. In 1906, it published a history of the group. In 1913, in association with the Carlton Burns Club, the Rosebery club announced it would be producing six volumes  of Burns’s poems in braille which were to be sold for £1 for the set.

Around 1902, the group began to host ‘inter-visitation[s] of brother Burns Clubs’. During the 1913-14 session, the invited visitors included members of the Albany, Bridgeton, Carlton, Greenock, and Sandyford Clubs (see ‘Additional Notes’).

In 1913, life membership was £30, which: ‘entitle[d] Members to all the advantages of the Club, including the privilege of bringing two friends to the Lectures and Musical Evenings of the Club’ (‘Club Notes’, ‘Rosebery Burns Club’, in Annual Burns Chronicle and Club Directory, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XXII (Kilmarnock: The Burns Federation, January 1913), p. 145).

Date of Existence

1885-1913? Federated 1887

Source of Information

1. Anniversary meeting in the Bath Hotel on Wednesday, 25th Jan. 93, at 6.45p. m., Rosebery Burns Club (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 557560);

2. Rosebery Burns Club, Minutes, 27 November 1894-1905 (MLSC, 907884);

3. Opening of session 1897-98 (1898) (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 13 ROS 154844);

4. Address given to the Rosebery Burns Club, Glasgow: with special reference to the centenary Burns of W. E. Henley: January 25, 1898 (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 6 BEG 209616);

5. Begg, F. Faithfull, Rosebery Burns Club, Glasgow, January 25th, 1898: speech…in proposing the toast of Caledonia and Caledonia’s bard (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 6 BEG 907881a);

6. Poems [Rosebery Burns Club] (1898) (ML, Mitchell (GC) 154844);

7. Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the XXth Century (Glasgow: The Photo-Biographical Publishing Co., [1901]), p. 159 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 920.04 GLA 499009);

8. Muir, Pearson M’Adam, Robert Burns : his genius and influence: address delivered to the Rosebery Burns Club, 24th January, 1902 (ML, Mitchell (AL) 6 MUI 209662);

9. (Newspaper clipping:) ‘Rosebery Burns Club’, (annotated:) ‘Citizen. 15 March 1905’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 1, [p. 32]);

10. Cross, Alexander, The Immortal Memory: a speech to the members of the Rosebery Burns Club, January 24, 1906 (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 15 CRO 889859);

11. Angus, James, The Rosebery Burns Club, Glasgow: a short sketch of its origin and growth (Glasgow: W.&R. Holmes; Stirling: E. Mackay, 1906) (NLS, General Reading Room, 1958.22);

12. ‘Rosebery Burns Club. Gold Medal Competition for Amateurs’, 28 March 1907 (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 217);

13. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies for 1893’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. II (Kilmarnock: D. Brown & Co., Glasgow and Edinburgh: J. Menzies & Co., January 1893), p. 190;

14. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1894’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. III (Kilmarnock: D. Brown & Co., February 1894), p. 194;

15. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1895’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. IV (Kilmarnock: D. Brown & Co., January 1895), p. 176;

16. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1896’, in BC,ed. by D. M’Naught, No. V (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1896), p. 132;

17. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1897’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. VI (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1897), p. 151;

18. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1898′, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. VII (Kilmarnock: Burn Federation, January 1898), p. 138;

19. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1902’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XI (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1902), p. 136;

20. ‘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), pp. 107-110, p. 149;

21. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1908′, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XIX (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1908), p. 132;

22. ‘Directory of Burns Clubs and Scottish Societies on the Roll of the Burns Federation, 1911’, in BC, ed. by D. M’Naught, No. XX (Kilmarnock: Burns Federation, January 1911), p. 161;

This group began as the Glasgow Philosophical Society and later became the Philosophical Society of Glasgow. A Royal Charter was granted in 1901. The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow’s website offers an excellent summary of the long history of this group:

‘A short history of the Society
On 9th Nov. 1802, in response to an invitation, twenty-two citizens met in the Prince of Wales Tavern, Glasgow where they set up a committee to outline the principles for a Society ‘for the improvement of the Arts and Sciences’ in Glasgow. An important consideration was the establishment of a select library of scientific books. A week later a meeting was held in the Assembly Rooms at which sixty persons subscribed to the setting up of the Glasgow Philosophical Society. On 8th Dec the Regulations were approved and a Council was elected. The first President was a Professor of Astronomy and the Vice-President was an ironfounder, thus representing the joint interests of science and industry. From the beginning it was intended that meetings would be held weekly in the winter and fortnightly in the summer and that the members would present papers on experiments and exhibit models or artefacts.

[…] The Society has had many eminent members and became a Royal Society in 1901 when Lord Blythswood was President.’

(‘History’, ‘A Short History of the Society’, The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow <http://royalphil.org/history/> [accessed 31 March 2018])

For a more complete history, see No Mean Society, 1802-2002: 200 years of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow (2003).

Date of Existence

29 November 1802-present

Source of Information

1. Papers of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, 1802-2000 (UGSC, MS Gen 1756) (From the University of Glasgow Special Collections online catalogue: ‘Content: Records created by the Society, including Minutes, publications and photographs, illustrating the Society’s founding, growth and activities.’)

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

3. ‘Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow’, ‘Educational and Scientific Institutions’, Glasgow Post-Office Annual Directory for 1854-1855… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1854), p. 132;

4. (See also various Glasgow Post Office directories from 1855 onwards);

5. Terry, Charles Sanford, A Catalogue of the Publications of Scottish Historical and Kindred Clubs and Societies…1780-1908 (Glasgow: James MacLehose and Sons, 1909) (UGSC, History Bibliog DV300 1909-T 1780-1908);

6. No Mean Society, 1802-2002: 200 years of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow (Glasgow:  Royal Philosopical Society of Glasgow, 2003) (available as a downloadable PDF on The Royal Philosophical Society website on its ‘History’ page: http://royalphil.org/history/)

7. The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow Homepage: http://royalphil.org/

Repository

Mitchell Library (Glasgow Post Office directories)

National Library of Scotland (Glasgow Post Office directories)

University of Glasgow Special Collections (UGSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

The full title for 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 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].

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

Members of this society were most likely members of the congregation of St. Ninian’s Episcopal Church, which is located in Pollokshields, an area in the south side of Glasgow. (For more information about the area, see ‘Pollokshields, Glasgow. Origins & History‘ on the ScotCities website, and for a brief history of the church, see ‘St Ninian’s Church‘ on The Glasgow Story website. The church also has its own website with details on its twenty-first-century congregation and is available here.)

The People of St. Ninian’s 1872-1972 (1972) offers a good overview of the church’s historic literary society from its formation in 1899 until 1934. Among the group’s activities were debates, socials, dances, drama performances and concerts. In addition, the society had its own library, and games were on offer.

Date of Existence

1899-1934?

Source of Information

1. (Mentioned in: Dell, Richard F., The People of St. Ninian’s 1872-1972: A Centenary Essay on a Congregation of the Episcopal Church, Glasgow ([Glasgow]: [The Church], 1972, pp. 8-10) (ML, Mitchell (GC) 283.41443 STN);

2. St. Ninian’s Episcopal Church, ‘Debating and Literary Society’, Monthly Magazine, Vol. XI, No. 2, February 1921 (Note: this magazine is found inside back cover of following material at Heritage Hub, Hawick: Melrose Literary Society, Melrose Literary and Debating Society Manuscript Magazine, Vol. 12, 1917-20 (HH, D/54/8/3))

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Heritage Hub, Hawick (HH)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

This society should not be confused with the Literary Society of St. Ninian’s Parish Church (1890?-?).