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 StoryĀ website.)
The group was initially made up of young men from the congregation of the Newton Place Church, with others from outside the church being elected by general vote. The ‘Constitution’ lists the society’s object as its members’ moral and intellectual improvement.
Members met every other Friday at 8pm from October to April. The subscription fee was only one shilling, which was cheaper than the average for other literary societies during this period (2s 6d). This probably means that most of the members were from the working classes. In society’s first year, there were 31 members. By the 1886-87 session, there were 69 members. This number included 12 ladies, women being allowed to join in the 1885-86 session.
Date of Existence
(revived in 1881) 1881-?
Source of Information
Glasgow, Newton Place United Presbyterian Church, UF, and Church of Scotland, Literary Society Minutes, 1881-89
Repository
Glasgow City Archives
Reference Number
CH3/1004/25
Additional Notes
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