The founder and first President of this club was William Freeland, who served from 1876 to 1903. There were 11 original members.

The Glasgow Post Office directory for 1902-1903 gives a good overview of this club and its activities:

‘[…] The club meets during the session (October to May) in the North British Station Hotel, George Square, on the second Saturday of each month, at eight o’clock p.m. Object — The production and friendly criticism of original ballads and poems, and the study of ballads and ballad literature.’

(‘Glasgow Ballad Club’, ‘Artistic, Literary, and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1902-1903… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1902), p. 177)

Date of Existence

11 November 1876-10 October 1987

Source of Information

1. (Newspaper clipping) ‘The Looker-on’, (annotated:) ‘Evening News. 1 May 1899.’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks Vol. 2, p. 90; Glasgow Scrapbooks, Vol. 2, pp. 38-39);

2. (Newspaper clipping:) G.E.T. [George Eyre-Todd], ‘Glasgow Ballad Club’, (annotated:) ‘The Scots Pictorial. 15 Jany. 1902. Geo. Eyre-Todd’) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks Vol. 6, pp. 39-40);

3. ‘Glasgow Ballad Club’, ‘Artistic, Literary, and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1902-1903… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1902), p. 177;

4. (Newspaper clipping:) ‘The Late Robert Ford. Poet and Humorist’, (annotated:) ‘Weekly Herald. 4 Nov. 1905’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 12, p. 5);

5. (Newspaper clipping:) (Death of Robert Ford), (annotated:) ‘Herald. 4 Nov 1905. See pp. 80.81. Vol. 9’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 12, pp. 5-6);

6. (Newspaper clipping, annotated:) ‘Third Volume of Glasgow Ballad Club in the Press […] Herald. 11 Jany. 1908’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 18, p. 20);

7.(Newspaper clipping:) ‘Glasgow Ballad Club. Presentation to Mr Johnston’, (annotated:) ‘Herald. 19 Jany. 1914’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 37, pp. 24-5);

8. (Photograph, annotated:) ‘William Freeland. Poet and Journalist’ (founder of Ballad Club) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 39, p. 74);

9. Hammerton, John Alexander, Literary Glasgow, Past and Present (London: 1904), pp. 638-39; pp.728-31 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 820.9 230247);

10. Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the XXth Century (Glasgow: The Photo-Biographical Publishing Co., [1901]), p. 186 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 920.04 GLA499009)

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

Willliam Young (whose Scrapbooks the Mitchell Library Special Collections holds) was a member of the Glasgow Ballad Club and The Thirteen Club, along with several other societies not considered in this project.

Alexander Lamont (head-master of one of the local schools in the 1880s at least, and published author) was a member of this club, as well as the Wellpark Free Church Literary Society, and the Sir Walter Scott Club.

Caithness is a county in the far north of Scotland. 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.

This society developed out of the Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association (1875?-1961?). At a meeting of the Benevolent Association held on 8 August 1882, a discussion took place regarding the formation of a literary society in connection with the association; a motion was called and passed unanimously. In the ‘Constitution and Rules’ that were subsequently drawn up, the society’s object (i.e. purpose for meeting) was given as being the intellectual improvement of its members.

While this society was based in Glasgow, their records are housed in Caithness Archives in Wick.

Date of Existence

19 September 1882-1931?

Source of Information

1. Glasgow Caithness Literary Association, Minute Books 1-4, 1882-1931 (CAC, P294/2/1-4);

2. (See: Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, Annual Report, 1897-98 (p. 3) (SA, D58/4a/9));

3. (See: Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, Annual Report, 1898-99 (p. 2) (SA, D58/4a/10));

4. (See: Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, Annual Report 1900-01 (p. 2) (SA, D58/1/5));

5. (See: Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, Annual Report 1903-1904 (p. 3) (SA, D58/4a/12));

6. Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association Centenary Souvenir 1836-1936 (CAC, P8/1/5);

7. Portfolio of Portraits. A Souvenir of the Opening Ceremony (CAC, P8/1/4(1-2));

8. (Newspaper clipping:) ‘Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association’, Northern Ensign, 31 January 1905 (CAC, P8/1/1);

9. (Unsigned manuscript poem:) ‘Glasgow Caithness Literary Society’ (CAC, P8/2/1)

Repository

Shetland Archives (SA)

Caithness Archive Centre, now Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives, Wick (CAC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

See Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association

‘Glasgow’s Literary Bonds’ would like to thank Ken Ross for kindly sharing additional information and photos of historic materials of the Glasgow Benevolent Association.

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.

According to club records, this group was founded in 1871 by William Sloan, and its ten original members were dominies (Scots for schoolmasters). Meetings took place on Friday nights on North Street (in the Anderston area, to the west of the city centre). (For more information about this area, see Michael Moss’s article, ‘Industrial Revolution: 1770s to 1830s. Neighbourhoods. Anderston‘ on The Glasgow Story website). Over the years, the venue would change, with meetings being held at various restaurants and hotels across the city. From its beginnings, in addition to their weekly meetings, members met on a number of other occasions during the year for Burns suppers, Christmas suppers, concerts, and for various local and regional excursions during the summer.

Whilst being more informal and primarily social in nature, the meetings were nonetheless well-organised: members took it in turns to read aloud their original compositions on a variety of topics, which the other members then ‘criticised’ the piece (in the sense that they expressed their judgement). The chairman resided over the proceedings. Recruitment of new members was confined to friends of current members who came along to the meetings, and (eventually) a vote would be called to decide if they were to be admitted.

A rather interesting tradition has evolved in the meetings. Included in the club’s possessions is ‘The Green Lady’. This is a small, green, early twentieth-century terracotta suffragette bell that bears the inscription, ‘Votes for Women’. According to the Archivist of the club:

‘[t]he bell is placed on the table during Ours Club meetings. If any member thinks that any speaker is being unduly verbose he places the green lady in front of him. The hint it taken.’

(‘The Green Lady’, D. K. Macaskill,  [Inventory of the Glasgow Philological and Literary Society. Ours Club. Archive — Minutes and Associated Paper], 12 January 2015 (copy of original in possession of club Archivist, D. K. Macaskill)).

The club produced a magazine in 1909 that included original contributions written by the members (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

The group continues to meet at the Glasgow Art Club (185 Bath Street).

Date of Existence

1871-present

Source of Information

1. Minutes and associated papers (includes minutes, club rules, members lists, syllabi, original poems and songs: ‘A Book of Ours’, Burns suppers, Christmas suppers, concerts, photos, 1871-1971 (GCA, TD1896); records from 1971-present are in possession of club Archivist, D. K. Macaskill (Glasgow);

2. ‘A Book of “Ours”‘ (“Ours” Literary and Social Club. A book of “Ours.” Contributions by the members. [Andrew Lyon, Editor] (Glasgow, 1909) (print magazine)

Repository

Glasgow City Archives (GCA) (minutes and associated papers)

University of Glasgow Special Collections (UGSC) (print magazine)

Reference Number

TC1896 (GCA)

Sp Coll Bh11-c.28 (Wylie Collection) (UGSC)

Additional Notes

Thomas Gildard was President of the “Ours” Club from 1882-1893, and was also a member of The Literary and Artistic Society.

See also entry for A Book of “Ours” on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

There is little currently known about this literary committee. To date, the evidence for it consists of four photographs.

A brief description is available on the University of Strathclyde Archives Online Catalogue:

‘Name of creator Glasgow Training College Literary Committee (Established 1907)

Administrative history: The Literary Committee was responsible for producing the Training College Magazine, 1907 – c 1923, and arranging debates and talks on literary subjects’ [accessed 28/01/18]

Date of Existence

1907-c. 1923

Source of Information

Glasgow Training College Literary Committee records, 1907-1914 (4 photographs)

Repository

University of Strathclyde Archives

Reference Number

JCE/23/2

Additional Notes

–

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.

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

From the start, this club was intended to have a small, exclusive membership limited to 13 members. Discussions were to be on literature and art. The first meeting was held on Friday, 15 January 1891 at Moir’s Restaurant on West Nile Street. Attendees at the meeting included A. Mudie, G. Deans, Lou McEwan, David Fulton, George Forbes Dawson, and William Young.

The group appears to have been an informal social club, and there is no evidence for minutes being kept at the meetings, which were held in different restaurants in the city centre where the members met for dinner. Details of the meetings can only be gleaned from the ephemera and newspaper clippings in Young’s Scrapbooks (see below). In addition to the dinners, the club had an outing every year to various sites in the region.

A newspaper clipping from the ‘News’ (presumably the Glasgow Evening News) from 16 January 1904 lists the following members: ‘Bailie [Robert] Sorley; F. T. Barrett, the City librarian; Mr John W. Fraser, formerly of the Baird Trust; the Rev. Alexander Macarthur, of Strone; Mr Neil Munro, the novelist; Mr William Young and Mr David Fulton, artists; three well-known local journalists — Mr Thomas Reid, chief reporter of the “Herald,” Mr Andrew Moodie, and Mr George Deans; Mr D. Thomson, architect; Mr Andrew Wells, art designer; and Dr George Neilson [lawyer and historian].’

(Newspaper clipping, annotated:) (The Thirteen Club) ‘News. 16 Jany. 1904’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 8, p. 34))

William Young (1845-1916), a Glasgow artist, was one of the original members. The numerous scrapbooks in which he collected an eclectic range of materials, particularly on the cultural and social life of Glasgow during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, includes many mementos, ephemera and newspaper clippings on this club.

Date of Existence

20 December 1890-?

Source of Information

1. Dawson, George Forbes Dawson, letter to William Young, 29 December 1890, MS (letter on ‘start of “The Thirteen”‘) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 1, [p. 21 ], 8a);

2. (Newspaper clipping:) ‘The Glasgow Thirteen Club’, (annotated:) ‘Citizen, 14 May 1892.’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 1 (unpaginated, p. 35));

3. (Newspaper clipping:) ‘The Looker-On’, (annotated:) ‘Evening News. 1 May 1899.’ (‘The Looker-on’, Glasgow Evening News, 1 May 1899, p. 2) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks Vol. 2, p. 90; Glasgow Scrapbooks, Vol. 2, pp. 38-39);

4. Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the XXth Century (Glasgow: The Photo-Biographical Publishing Co., [1901]), p. 78 (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 920.04 GLA 499009);

5. (Two newspaper clippings, annotated:) a. (The Thirteen Club) ‘News. 16 Jany. 1904’, and b.(Glasgow 13) ‘Citizen. 16 Jany. 1904’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 8, p. 34);

6. (Newspaper clipping, annotated:) (Thirteen Club) ‘News. 24 Mch. 1904’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 8, p. 65);

7. (Newspaper clipping, annotated:) (Glasgow Thirteen Club) ‘Citizen. 14 Jany. 1905’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 9, p. 75);

8. (Photograph of “The Thirteen”, by William Young, members identified) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 11, p. 7);

9. (Newspaper clipping, annotated:) ‘The “Thirteen” Annual Dinner. […] Citizen. 20 Jany. 1906’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 12, p. 82);

10. (Newspaper clipping, annotated:) ‘”The Thirteen” Annual Excursion, 30 May 1908. […] See p. 60. Citizen. 1 June 1908’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 19, p. 9);

11. (Photograph, annotated:) ‘The Glasgow Thirteen Club at Catrine, 30th May 1908’ (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 19, p. 60);

12. (Note: this is not a complete list: numerous additional newspaper clippings in: MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks (various volumes))

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

Willliam Young (whose Scrapbooks the Mitchell Library Special Collections holds) was a member of the Thirteen Club and the Glasgow Ballad Club, along with several other societies not considered in this project.