Along with a list of its office bearers, the Glasgow Post Office directory for 1856 to 1857 gives a brief summary of this club:

‘Its objects are to excite in its members (who must be Highlanders) a taste for mutual improvement; to cherish in them a love of History, Literature, and the Sciences, through the medium of meetings, for the delivery of Lectures, reading of Essays, and other communications; and also to form and secure for their behoof a select Gaelic and English Library. Meetings are held weekly in Hope Street Free Church Session House, on Wednesday evenings at 8 o’clock; half-yearly (for the election of directors) on the first Wednesdays of April and October; and annual general on Old New-Year’s-Day.’

(‘Fingalian Club’, ‘Educational and Literary Institutions’, Post-Office Glasgow Directory for 1856, 1857… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1856), p. 85)

Date of Existence

1855-?

Source of Information

‘Fingalian Club’, ‘Educational and Literary Institutions’, Post-Office Glasgow Directory for 1856, 1857… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1856), p. 85

Repository

Mitchell Library

National Library of Scotland

Reference Number

–

Additional Notes

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 Glasgow Post Office directory for 1906-1907 provides a list of this society’s objects, its membership requirements, along with its subscription fees:

‘[…] The objects of the Society are: — The cultivation of the Gaelic Language; the cultivation and development of Celtic Philology, Literature, and Music; the elucidation of Celtic antiquities; and the fostering of a Celtic spirit among the Highlanders of Glasgow. Persons of Celtic extraction, or such as take an interest in its objects, are eligible to become members. The Subscriptions of Members to the Funds of the Society are: — Life Members, one payment of £1 1s.; Honorary Members, annually, Ladies 3s., Gentlemen 7s. 6d; Ordinary Members, annually — Ladies 1s., Gentlemen 2s. The Society meets in the Religious Institution Rooms, Buchanan Street, on the last Tuesday of each Month, from October to April.’

(‘Gaelic Society of Glasgow’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1906-1907… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1906), p. 171)

At meetings, papers were read on various subjects, but all of these were linked to Gaelic, Celtic or Highland life and culture, which included  literature that was often read aloud. For example, at the meeting held on 31 January 1888, one or two excepts from “Caraid nan Gael” (Norman Macleod (Caraid nan Gaidheal?)) were read.

Date of Existence

26 October 1887-1974?

Source of Information

1. Gaelic Society of Glasgow, Cash Book, 1888-1935 (1 vol.); Minute Books, 1887-1909, 1924-48, 1948-74 (3 vols.) (MLSC, 891237);

2. Gaelic Society of Glasgow, Transactions, 1887-1894; 1956/7 (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 941.15006041443 GAE 155056);

3. Gaelic Society of Glasgow, Jubilee brochure, 1887-1937 (1937) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 367 767302);

4. Maclean, Magnus, Skye bards: paper read before the Gaelic Society of Glasgow (1892) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 200826);

5. ‘Gaelic Society of Glasgow’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1906-1907… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1906), p. 171;

6.  Gaelic Society of Glasgow, Centenary brochure, [1987](MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 941.15006041443 GAE)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

–

Arbroath is a town in Angus, and is northeast of Dundee. (For more information on the town, see ‘Arbroath‘ on Undiscovered Scotland website.) 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.

There is little information currently known about this group. The details that we have come from the Glasgow Post Office directory, which lists its objects, patrons and Office Bearers:

‘The objects of this Association are — To assist natives of Arbroath in obtaining lodgings or situations in Glasgow; to relieve temporarily, by pecuniary or other aid, deserving and necessitous Arbroathians, resident in or passing through Glasgow; to promote the intellectual improvement of the members, and to cultivate social and friendly intercourse, by literary and other meetings. Patrons — D. Corsar, Esq., J.P., The Elms, Arbroath; John Tullis, Esq., Inchcape, Dennistoun. Hon. Presidents — J. Wylie Guild, Esq., C.A.; J. Stephen, Esq., Wm. Jolly, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.G.S., D. S. Salmond, Esq., J. M. M’Bain, Esq. Hon Secretary — Thos. Mason. President — J. Winton Mackie. Vice-presidents — A. W. Anderson and W. R. Calder. Directors — J. L. Brewster, James Burnett, H. Croall, W. M. Brown, D. Knowles, Arthur Hovell, J. Carragher, H. M’Bain, D. P. Taylor, Jas. R M. Smith, John A. Peebles, David Simpson. Treasurer — G. B. Croall. Secretary — G.D. Ferguson, 10 Mauldslie Pl., Partick.’

(‘Glasgow Arbroath Association’, ‘Religious and Friendly Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1886-1887…(Glasgow: William MacKenzie, 1886), p. 110)

Date of Existence

1877-?

Source of Information

‘Glasgow Arbroath Association’, ‘Religious and Friendly Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1886-1887…(Glasgow: William MacKenzie, 1886), p. 110

Repository

Mitchell Library

National Library of Scotland

Reference Number

–

Additional Notes

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

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.

The details that we have about this society come from a magazine that was produced by its members in manuscript (see ‘Additional Notes’ below). From this, we know that the society was associated with the Glasgow Border Counties Association. The President was D. Paton, Vice-President was D. Moffat, and Secretary was R. W. Carrie. The Editor of the magazine was John Wallace.

The ‘Editorial’ for the volume sets out the society’s objects, which were to provide a place where Borderers could meet and discuss ideas — with the implication that this would lead to ‘improvement’ — and to share their memories for their former homes.

Date of Existence

1885-1887?

Source of Information

Glasgow Border Counties’ Literary Society’s Manuscript Magazine, 1885-87

Repository

Scottish Borders Archive and Local History Centre, Heritage Hub, Hawick

Reference Number

GB1097/SC/M/28

Additional Notes

Volumes I and II are bound together.

See also entry for Glasgow Border Counties’ Literary Society’s Manuscript Magazine on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

Bute, or the Isle of Bute, is an island in the Firth of Clyde. Bute is also a county that comprises this island and number of surrounding islands. 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.

The information on this society comes from their First Annual Report for their 1876-1877 session (October through March). There are 39 members listed on the roll. Membership was open to young men from the Isle of Bute who had moved to Glasgow. A meeting was held at Aitken’s Temperance Hotel, Argyle Street, on 20 March 1876 to discuss the formation of a new society.

According to this report, members met weekly on Tuesday evenings from October until March at 8pm at the Washington Temperance Hotel (located on Sauchiehall Street) for the purpose of encouraging study and self-education.

Date of Existence

3 October 1876-?

Source of Information

First Annual Report of the Glasgow Bute Literary Institute [1876-77] (Glasgow: K. & R. Davidson, Printers, 1877)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Mitchell (GC) 806 26180

Additional Notes

–

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 name for this society refers to Cowal, a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, thus its members were almost certainly from the Highlands.

This group 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.

The Glasgow Post Office directory for 1903-1904 lists this society’s objects:

‘Its objects are (1) the intellectual and social improvement of the members, and (2) the relief of decayed and indigent individuals who are natives of the district of Cowal, and families or widows of natives resident within a circuit of five miles of Royal Exchange [in the city centre].’

(‘Glasgow Cowal Society’, ‘Charitable and Friendly Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1903-1904… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1903), p. 173)

Date of Existence

1865-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Twentieth Annual Report of the Glasgow Cowal Society’, 24 April 1885 (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 193);

2. Glasgow Cowal Society, ‘Syllabus, 1885-86’, with Office Bearers for same (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 194);

3. ‘The Natives of Cowal’, Glasgow Herald, 17 February 1866, p. 6;

4. Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the XXth Century (Glasgow: The Photo-Biographical Publishing Co., [1901]), p. 196 (ML, Mitchell (GC) 920.04 GLA 499009);

5. ‘Glasgow Cowal Society’, ‘Charitable and Friendly Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1903-1904… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1903), p. 173

Repository

Mitchell Library (ML)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

National Library of Scotland

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

The Glasgow Herald is available at the Mitchell Library and the National Library of Scotland in both hard copy and microfilm (check libraries for availability in both formats). Digitised issues are also available through the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

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.

There is little currently known about this society. The information we have comes from the Glasgow Post Office Directory for 1875-1876, which only provides a list of office bearers and the address of the association’s office in the city centre:

‘President, John A. Thomson, 8 Morris Place; vice-president, John Bowers, City Chambers; secretary, Frank Y. Henderson, 28 Renfield Street; office of the association, 28 Renfield Street.’

(‘Glasgow Dundee Association for Literary and Social Purposes’, ‘Literary and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1875-1876… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1875) p. 111)

Date of Existence

1875?-?

Source of Information

‘Glasgow Dundee Association for Literary and Social Purposes’, ‘Literary and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1875-1876… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1875) p. 111

Repository

Mitchell Library

National Library of Scotland

Reference Number

–

Additional Notes

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 members of this group and/or their parents were originally from Orkney 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.

There is little information currently known about this society, which further research will help to rectify. The group is mentioned in the ‘Ninth Annual Report of the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association’ (1871). The report states that there was some discussion during the session to amalgamate the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association,  Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Benevolent Society, and the Glasgow Orcadian Literary and Scientific Society, to form a Benevolent Literary and Scientific Association. There were various difficulties with this for the Benevolent Society, but regardless, the Glasgow Orcadian Literary and Scientific Society was clearly against the idea.

Date of Existence

1870?-?

Source of Information

1. (Mentioned in the Ninth Annual Report of the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, given 2 May 1872, 1870-71 session, in Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific Association, Minute Book No. 2, 8 March 1867-15 April 1878, p. 199 (SA, D58/1/2);

2. [Prospectus], Glasgow Orcadian Literary and Scientific Society, Session 1872-3 [includes list of Office-Bearers, 1872-3 and Syllabus] (OLA, ‘Papers – Literary societies: miscellaneous’, 800YZ);

3. [Prospectus], Glasgow Orcadian Literary and Scientific Society, Session 1873-74 (OLA, ‘Papers – Literary societies: miscellaneous’, 800 YZ)

Repository

Orkney Library & Archive (OLA)

Shetland Archives (SA)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

See Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary and Scientific 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.