Overview Clifton is an area just to the west of Charing Cross. Not a great deal is currently known about this society, which was composed of both men and women. However, their (members’?) location near the West End, along with Read More …
Type of Society/Group: Mixed-gender
Dowanhill Society of Belles Lettres
Overview Dowanhill is an area in the West End of Glasgow. (For a brief summary of its history, see ‘History of Byres Road. The birth of the West End‘ on the Visit West End website). This literary society was composed Read More …
Eastpark Literary Society (currently unknown if this is same society as Park Literary Institution)
Overview Eastpark is located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, in the northwest of the city. The information on this society comes from a brochure advertising an upcoming opening talk. This is inserted into a press cuttings book (see below for Read More …
Gaelic Society of Glasgow (not same as Gaelic Club)
Overview 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 Read More …
Glasgow Dickens Society
Overview The Glasgow Post Office directory for 1908-1909 provides an overview of this society: ‘The objects and aims of the Society are: — (1) To knit together in a common bond of friendship lovers of that great master of humour Read More …
Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society, Wellington Palace Branch
Overview The Glasgow Foundry Boys Religious Society was instituted in 1865, two years before the founding of the Wellington Palace Branch. According to the ‘Plan of Tea Tables and Names of Branches’ in the 1900 ‘Souvenir Programme’ for the annual Read More …
Glasgow Literary Forum (aka Glasgow Public Literary Forum)
Overview 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 Read More …
Glasgow Montefiore Literary and Musical Society
Overview The only information we currently have on this society comes from the 1885-1886 Glasgow Post Office directory, which lists the group’s object, admissions policy, subscription rate, and office bearers: ‘The object of this society is to give a course Read More …
Irving Club (aka Irving Literary and Dramatic Club)
Overview The listing for this club in the 1886 t0 1887 Glasgow Post Office directory gives a good summary of the group and its activities: ‘[…] This Club, which is under the direct patronage of Mr. Henry Irving, devotes its Read More …
Kelvinside Literary Association (Kelvinside United Free Church) (later becomes The Young People’s At Home)
Overview 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 Read More …
Kelvinside Parish Church Literary Society
Overview Kelvinside is an area in the West End of Glasgow. The information on this group comes from a magazine founded by and for its own members. This was a Church of Scotland society comprised of both young men and Read More …
Newton Place Literary Society, Partick
Overview 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 Read More …
Pollokshields Literary and Art Circle
Overview Pollokshields is an area in the south side of Glasgow. (For more information on this area, see the entry for ‘Pollokshields, Glasgow. Origins & History‘ on the ScotCities website). The information that we currently have on this society comes solely from the Read More …
Provand’s Lordship Literary Club
Overview The Provand’s Lordship Literary Club was set up for the preservation of one of the very few medieval buildings left in Glasgow. The group was founded in 1906 and met in this house, and through subscriptions and various fundraising activities, Read More …
Reading Circle (associated with Camden Street Public School (School Board of Glasgow) Continuation Classes)
Overview Camden Street Public School was located on Florence Street, which is located just south of the River Clyde in the Gorbals area. (For more information on this school, see ‘Ballater Occupational Centre‘ on The Glasgow Story website. For information on the Read More …
Renwick Free Church Literary Association (not the same as Renwick Book Club, but part of same Church)
Overview The congregation of this church was known as the Southern Reformed Presbyterian Congregation and their church was located on Salisbury Street, in the south side of the city in the Laurieston area. (For more information on this area, see Read More …
Scottish Society of Literature and Art
Overview The Glasgow Post Office directory for 1887-1888 provides a good summary of this society and its activities. Along with the society’s object — ‘[t]he cultivation of literature, music, elocution, and art generally, by the holding of meetings for the Read More …
The British Empire Shakespeare Society
Overview This society was the Glasgow branch of the larger British Empire Shakespeare Society that was founded by Greta Morritt (actress) in 1901. According to The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare, she founded the society ‘to promote Shakespeare’s works throughout the Empire Read More …
Wellington United Presbyterian Church Literary Association
Overview A good summary of the history of the Wellington Church can be found on the Discover Glasgow website: ‘The Wellington United Presbyterian Church congregation gained its name from their original church that was located on Wellington Street in the city Read More …