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 the press notices on the opening address for the session — being a ticketed formal dinner in the Queen’s Rooms (Buchanan Street) — suggests that this society was probably a middle-class group with at least a moderately-sized number of members.

Date of Existence

1861?-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Clifton Literary Society’, Glasgow Herald, 19 October 1864, p. 2;

2. ‘Clifton Literary Society’, Glasgow Herald, 22 October 1864, p. 8;

3. Clifton Literary Society, The third annual feed of the Clifton Literary Society … 15th April, 1864 ([Glasgow], [1864]) (UGSC)

Repository

Mitchell Library (Glasgow Herald)

National Library of Scotland (Glasgow Herald)

University of Glasgow Special Collections (UGSC)

Reference Number

Sp Coll Mu22-f.2 (UGSC)

Additional Notes

The Mitchell Library and National Library of Scotland have copies of the Glasgow Herald on microfilm as well as hard copies (consult online catalogues for further details). Digitised copies are available through the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/.

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 of young men and women from the area, or ‘adherents of Dowanhill Church’, which was located on Hyndland Street. (For a brief history of the church, see ‘Dowanhill UP Church‘ on The Glasgow Story website). The subscription fee was one shilling for the year, which was cheaper than the average for literary societies during this period (2s 6d).

The group met on the last Monday of each month to discuss three pre-selected books (members were only required to read one of these, or even part of one), and a paper was given on each book. It had very strict rules for reading: each member was to read (at least) half-an-hour a day, or three hours a week in total, the Sabbath excluded. In fact, a fee was incurred for not reading for this prescribed amount of time.

Date of Existence

1898-?

Source of Information

(Society brochure with ‘Objects’ and ‘Rules’)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 234

Additional Notes

Also includes a list of office bearers and committee members.

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 reference). The lecture, entitled, ‘The Art of Forgetting’, was given by John Adams, Esq., M.A., B.Sc., Rector of the United Free Church Training College. It was held at 8pm at the Eastpark United Free Church, Gower Street, North Kelvinside, on Monday, 28 October 1901.

On the back of the brochure is an advertisement for the Eastpark Literary Association, which was then recently revived. Members of this group were to be formed of young men and women of the congregation of Eastpark United Free Church, with membership open to the young people in the district. The subscription fee was one shilling and six pence, which was cheaper than other societies at this time. Meetings were held in the church hall every other Monday in the evening. In addition to monthly lectures, they planned ‘to have a number of debates and musical evenings’.

Date of Existence

1898?-?

Source of Information

(Loose flyer advertisement for lecture, in presscuttings book between p. 94 and p. 95 (Lord Provost’s Office, Records of Public Events in Glasgow, Presscutting Book, General (Y.M.C.A. and other clubs, etc.) 15 Sep. 1898-4 Oct. 1901))

Repository

Glasgow City Archives

Reference Number

G2/3/7

Additional Notes

–

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

–

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 and pathos, Charles Dickens, and to encourage a more general study of his works; (2) To spread the love of humanity and to help in every possible direction the cause of the poor and the oppressed which is the key note of all his works. Life Membership subscription, £1 1s.; annual subscription, 2s. 6d. […].’

(‘The Glasgow Dickens Society’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1908-1909… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1908), p. 1778)

Among the charitable works of this society was the raising of money for the annual dinner, or ‘The Annual Treat’, in order to give children of the poor a Christmas meal.

According to an article in the Glasgow Herald in 1909,  the Honorary President reported there were 100 members when the society was founded, and the number had since grown to 450.

Date of Existence

1906 (newspaper article give 7 February 1907) -1950?

Source of Information

1. ‘The Glasgow Dickens Society’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1908-1909… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1908), p. 1778;

3.  ‘Dickens Anniversary. Glasgow Celebration’, Glasgow Herald, 11 February 1909, p. 12;

3. (Printed advertising circular, with subscription request form:) ‘The Annual Treat of the Glasgow Dickens Society to A Thousand Poor Children of Glasgow’, 21 December 1921 (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 230);

4. ‘Jane Mitchell’, in Breakthrough: Autobiographical Accounts of the Education of Some Socially Disadvantaged Children, ed. by Ronald Goldman, Vol. 212 (London and New York: Routledge, 1968), pp. 124-41 (pp. 135-6)

Repository

Mitchell Library (Glasgow Post Office directory)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC) (Glasgow Scrapbooks)

National Library of Scotland (Glasgow Post Office directory)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

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 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/

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 social dinner, there were (at least) 25 branches of the Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society in the city  at that time. They were as follows:

Anderston Hall; St James’ Hall; City Hall; Rutherglen; Renwick Hall; Gordon Hall; Clyde Street Port Dundas; Victoria Hall; Christian Institute; Spoutmouth; St Andrew’s; Crossmyloof; Blackfriars; Possilpark; Church Branch; Portman Street; National Halls; St George’s; Finnieston Street; Osborne Halls; Cathcart; Lorne Hall; Shettleston; Church Place; and Doncaster Street.

It is currently unknown if there were also 25 literary societies attached to those groups.

The Glasgow Post Office directories for the early years of the twentieth century show that the Glasgow Foundry Boys Religious Society was a huge organisation whose quickly growing membership only began to decline at the start First World War. In 1902, it had on its rolls ‘16,861 lads and girls, and 1848 voluntary workers’ (‘Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society’, ‘Religious and Moral Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1902-1903… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1902), p. 151). The number of young men and women members rose to almost 18,000 in 1906, but by 1914, it had ‘14,652 lads and girls, and 1561 voluntary workers […] [with] 83 branches in the city and suburbs’ (‘Glasgow Foundry Boys Religious Society’, ‘Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1914-1915… (Glasgow: Aird & Coghill, 1914), p. 1793).

Wellington Palace was a public hall located at 11 Commercial Road, just south of the River Clyde (it would later be used as a music hall, and even later as a cinema; see ‘Wellington Palace‘ on the Scottish Cinemas and Theatres Project website). The information on the Wellington Palace Branch comes primarily from the society magazine, The Foundry Boy (see ‘Additional Notes’ below), which was written and produced by the members.

Date of Existence

1867-1914?

Source of Information

1. ‘Glasgow Foundry Boy’s Religious Society’, Glasgow Herald, 21 July 1866, p. 6;

2. ‘Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society — Hallow E’en Gathering’, Glasgow Herald, 3 November 1866, p. 2;

3. Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society, Scripture text book, 1870-1876 (Glasgow: [The Society], [1876?]) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC), 206 437839);

4. Annual Report, Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society (Glasgow: [The Society], 1880) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC), 206 46801);

5. Glasgow Foundry Boys’ Religious Society, The Foundry Boy, the Monthly Magazine of the Wellington Palace Branch (January-December 1886) (Glasgow: [The Society], 1886) (MLSC, Mitchell (GC) 206 98783);

6. ‘Souvenir Programme’ for Glasgow Foundry Boys Religious Society Annual Conversazione of Workers and Friends. In the City Hall, Enter By Albion Street, On Thursday Evening, 15th Nov., 1900′ (MLSC, Glasgow Scrapbooks, No. 23, p. 212);

7. (Newspaper clipping on annual social meeting of the office-bearers and monitors) (MLSC, Young’s Scrapbooks, No. 9, p. 150-51);

8. (Numerous articles in Glasgow Herald on this and its parent society, see the British Newspaper Archive)

Repository

Mitchell Library (Glasgow Herald)

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

National Library of Scotland (Glasgow Herald)

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/

See also entry for The Foundry Boy on our sister website, Literary Bonds.

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 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 of literary and musical evenings during the winter months. The entertainments to be provided as far as possible from amongst the subscribers and the proceeds to be devoted to charitable institutions. Amateurs (ladies or gentlemen) of literary or musical talent joining this society, and approved of by the committee, are enabled to take part in the entertainments during the session. Annual subscription, 7s. 6d. President, Rev. E. P. Phillips, vice-president, Councillor M. Simons, ; hon. treasurer, Isidor Morris, 7 Somerset Place; hon. secretary, Henry Salomon, 319 Sauchiehall Street’.

(‘Glasgow Montefiore Literary and Musical Society’, ‘Musical Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1885-1886… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1885), p. 129)

Date of Existence

1884-?

Source of Information

‘Glasgow Montefiore Literary and Musical Society’, ‘Musical Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1885-1886… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1885), p. 129

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 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 attention to the study of dramatic literature and orchestral music. Meetings are held in the Rooms, 109 Hope St. every Thursday evening at 8.30, when amateurs and others interested in matters dramatic are invited to attend. Play nights are held on the first Thursday, and literary nights on the third Thursday of each month. Applications for membership and other communications to be addressed to the secretary’.

(‘Irving Club’, ‘Literary and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1886-1887... (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1886), p. 116)

Date of Existence

12 June 1879-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Irving Club’, ‘Literary and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1886-1887... (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1886), p. 116;

2. ‘Irving Literary and Dramatic Club’, ‘Literary and Scientific Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1893-1894… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1893), p. 126

Repository

Mitchell Library

National Library of Scotland (NLS)

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

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.