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.

There is little currently known about this society. The only information we have comes from the Glasgow Post Office Directory for 1885 to 1886, which offers the following details on what appears to be a high-status club with a remarkably low subscription rate:

‘[…] Patrons, His Grace the Duke of Argyll, K.G., K.T., His Grace the Duke of Hamilton, K.T., His Grace the Duke of Montrose, K.T., His Grace the Duke of Portland, the Most Hon. the Marquis of Lothian, K.T., the Most Hon. the Marquis of Ailsa, the Right Hon. the Earl of Stair, K.T., the Right. Hon. the Earl of Glasgow; president, Sir Henry Valentine Goold, Bart.; vice-president, Andrew Blair, F.E.I.S.; treasurer, Hector Winchester; members of council, D. Donaldson, F.E.I.S., J. W. M’Call, Rev. David Walker, M.A., Ph.D., A..M. Wright, W. B. Mathewson, and R. M. Hardie; secretary, Alf. J. Weyman, F.R.G.S., F.R.HS, Keppoch House, Possilpark.

For the advancement of science, literature, and art, including music and the fine arts, by periodical meetings for lectures, &c.; for the reading of original and interesting papers; for the publication of important transactions; for the promotion of new works, discoveries, and inventions; and for the diffusion generally of useful knowledge. Annual subscription £1 1s’ .

(‘Glasgow Society of Science, Letters, and Art’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1885-1886… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1885), p. 116)

Date of Existence

1885?-?

Source of Information

‘Glasgow Society of Science, Letters, and Art’, ‘Educational Institutions’, Post Office Glasgow Directory for 1885-1886… (Glasgow: William Mackenzie, 1885), p. 116

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

There is little currently known about this association. The article in the Northern Star mentions that there were  three Chartist churches in Glasgow at the time (‘Chartist Intelligence. Glasgow’, Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser, 31 July 1841, p. 2). To date, it is unknown which church the group was associated with. (For a brief summary of the Chartist movement, see Glenn Everett’s article, ‘Chartism or The Chartist Movement‘ on The Victorian Web.)

Date of Existence

at least 1841-?

Source of Information

1. ‘Chartist Intelligence. Glasgow’, Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser, 31 July 1841, p. 2;

2. Scottish Patriot, 30 January 1841

(Note: both of these references are from Fraser, W. Hamish, Chartism in Scotland (Pontypool, Wales: Merlin Press, 2010), p. 256)

Repository

–

Reference Number

–

Additional Notes

The Northern Star and the Scottish Patriot are available through the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/.

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

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 (see ‘Additional Notes’ below). A library was formed first and began with a donation of books by John M. Duncan, a co-partner in the printing office, in 1822. In 1825, it had 210 volumes ‘consisting principally of historical works, travels, romances, and poems’. Between 90 and 95 men and boys were employed at the printing office in that year. Figures for the year before state that 54 workers subscribed to the library, and entry money was based on income.

The majority of those who subscribed were apprentices aged between 14 and 21, with only 17 of the more senior journeymen making up the rest, as it was reported that these men chose to get their books from the larger collections available at the Mechanics’ Library, Anderson’s Institution Library, and the North Quarter Library. Duncan suggested that a literary and scientific institution be formed based on the same principles as the Gas Works, and the library and institution were joined shortly after the institution’s founding.

The committee, made up of some of the more senior staff, were requested to provide the lectures, the subjects being on scientific, mechanical, and chemical principles. The speaker who provided the introductory address, the surgeon, James M’Conechy—described by The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine as a person ‘(who appears to have interested himself considerably in the originating of this Institution,)’ —concludes his speech with what amounted to a manifesto in support of ‘Popular Education’.

Date of Existence

19 March 1825-?

Source of Information

1. McConechy, James, ‘An introductory address … on the formation of a literary and scientific institution among the workmen of the university printing office’ (Glasgow, 1825) (ML, Mitchell (GC) 374 53662–Copies are also available at NLS (Special Collections Reading Room, 1938.27(12)) and UGL (Library Research Annexe, Bf76-k.11);

2. ‘Literary and Scientific Institution at the University Printing Office, Glasgow’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, 3, 1825, pp. 341-4 (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 19 GLA 52873– for full holdings apply to staff);

3. ‘University Printing Office’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine, 3, 1825, p. 217 (MLSC, Mitchell (AL) 19 GLA 52873– for full holdings apply to staff)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections (MLSC)

National Library of Scotland (NLS) (‘An introductory address’)

University of Glasgow Library (UGL) (‘An introductory address’)

Reference Number

(See Source of Information)

Additional Notes

See also Gas Workmen’s Institution.

The information that we have on this society comes solely from a newspaper article attributed to Thomas Lugton and written over fifty years after the group’s last recorded activity. The article states that this association was founded in 1843 as ‘a debating society, open to lads between 15 and 18…some records of which still exist. Papers read at the meetings were afterwards written by their authors in the society’s year-book’.

([Thomas Lugton], ‘An Old Glasgow MS. Magazine. Lucubrations of the “Western Scientific Association”’, The Evening Times, 3 May 1907, p. 4)

(For more information about Thomas Lugton, see ‘Additional Information’ at the bottom of the entry for (Title currently unknown), Western Scientific Association (Glasgow), on our sister website, Literary Bonds.)

To date, the records of this society to which Lugton refers have not been located.

It is arguable whether or not this group should be included in this project. While it was predominantly a debating society, it is included in this survey of literary societies as the composition of original essays and poems were included amongst the group’s activities. These were collected and written into their society’s ‘yearbook’, which does not appear to have survived (see ‘Additional Notes’ below).

Date of Existence

1843-?

Source of Information

(Newspaper clipping, annotated:) ‘Times. 3 May 1907. Thomas Lugton’ ([Thomas Lugton], ‘An Old Glasgow MS. Magazine. Lucubrations of the “Western Scientific Association”’, The Evening Times, 3 May 1907, p. 4)

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Young’s Scrapbooks, Vol. 16 (p. 77)

Additional Notes

See also entry for the Western Scientific Association’s magazine (title currently unknown) on our sister website, Literary Bonds.