Gas Workmen’s Institution

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Overview

The information on this society comes from two issues of The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine. The May 7th issue for 1825 provides a good overview of this group:

‘The Gas Workmen’s Institution. – Out of these public associations has arisen one upon a more confined but most useful plan, applicable to every large manufactory. The Gas Light Company’s men, between 60 and 70 in number, have formed themselves, on the suggestion of Mr. J. Neilson the manager, into a society for mutual instruction; laying by a small sum monthly, they have collected about 300 volumes, and the Company giving them a library room, which they light and heat, the men meet every other evening, to converse upon literary and scientific subjects, and once a week to lecture; any one who chooses, giving a fortnight’s notice that he will treat on some subject which he has been studying. The books are of all kinds, with the exception of theology, which, from the various sects the men belong to, is of necessity excluded […]’.

(‘History of Mechanics’ Institutions. Glasgow. The Gas Workmen’s Institution’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. III, No. LXXII, 7 May 1825, pp. 216-7)

Date of Existence

1825-?

Source of Information

1.‘History of Mechanics’ Institutions. Glasgow. The Gas Workmen’s Institution’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. III, No. LXXII, 7 May 1825, pp. 216-7;

2. ‘Glasgow Gas Workman’s Institution. Re-opened for the Season. Introductory Address’, The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine; and Annals of Philosophy, Vol. IV, No. XCVII, 29 October 1825, pp. 169-72

Repository

Mitchell Library Special Collections

Reference Number

Mitchell (AL) 19 GLA 52873

Additional Notes

See also University Printing Office Literary & Scientific Institution. 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.

For full holdings of The Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine, apply to staff at Mitchell Library Special Collections.