Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society Archive
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society Archive
Classmark: SC/LPLS
Creator(s): Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society()
Date(s): 1774-2005
Language: English
Size and medium: 284 items, in 17 boxes, 16 vols and 3 envelopes
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/617562
Collection group(s): Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society
Description
The archive holds many of the Society's business records including its bye-laws, Council minute books and correspondence. The business papers are not comprehensive, but contain papers dating from the inception of the Society in 1819 to 1951. There are financial records such as bank and cheque books, share transactions and many receipted bills. The papers include records of the Society’s property sales, leases and purchases with some trust deeds and other legal documents.
The archive also includes papers relating to membership of the Society such as lists of ordinary and proprietary members and publications and addresses made by members in the nineteenth century. The archive contains some archival papers from its members including William Hey, junior. There are some lecture programmes from 1930s.
Records relating to the library include a catalogue compiled in 1883, an issue register from 1871-1935 and an accession register 1915-1932.
The papers have been deposited on the understanding that anybody wishing to make substantial use of them, or to publish substantial extracts, shall first seek permission from the Secretary of the Society: http://www.leedsphilandlit.org.uk/
Arrangement:
SC/LPLS/01 - Founding Documents
SC/LPLS/02 - Council
SC/LPLS/03: Committees
SC/LPLS/04: General Meetings
SC/LPLS/05: Members
SC/LPLS/06: Building/Premises
SC/LPLS/07: Finance
SC/LPLS/08: Shares
SC/LPLS/09: Legal documents
SC/LPLS/10: Lectures & Events
SC/LPLS/11: Grants
SC/LPLS/12: Publications
SC/LPLS/13: Museum
SC/LPLS/14: Library
SC/LPLS/15: Transfer of assets
SC/LPLS/16: People
SC/LPLS/17: Photographs
Biography or history
The Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society was founded in 1819 and played an important role in further education, in both the sciences and the humanities, in Leeds throughout most of the 19th century. The changing patterns of higher education, the Yorkshire college was founded in 1874 and became the University of Leeds in 1904, and other circumstances caused the Society to reconsider the scope of its activities by the beginning of the First World War. After the War the Society transferred its museum to the City of Leeds and its library to the University.
The Society began to concentrate its efforts on publishing the results of research and in 1925 launched two series of Proceedings: literary and historical and also scientific. These publications are now discontinued, but the Society sponsors occasional publications, and maintains the traditions of publishing annual reports on its activities. There is a full set of these reports in the University’s Special Collections, where the Society’s archive is deposited so that it is publicly accessible.
The Society organises a programme of public lectures each year, across the full range of its interests in the sciences, arts and humanities, and awards grants to groups, societies, and individuals, focusing on those whose projects have a particular connection with Leeds.
A history of the Society, based on a study of its minute books, was written by Edwin Kitson Clark and published in 1924 under the title The History of 100 years of life of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.
Provenance
The majority of these papers were deposited in the session 1974/5 through the generosity of the Society and the good offices of a number of members of the University. They have been deposited on the understanding that anybody wishing to make substantial use of them, or to publish substantial extracts, shall first seek permission from the Secretary of the Society.
The collection was re-organised and catalogued in 2017.
System of arrangement
Records have been arranged by theme
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
Some parts of this collection have not been listed in detail and the content may be protected under the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation. Please consult the relevant part of the catalogue for specific details. Where a detailed record does not exist, please contact Special Collections. Upon receipt of your request, a member of the team will discuss your requirements with you and review relevant material accordingly
These papers have been deposited on the understanding that anybody wishing to make substantial use of them, or to publish substantial extracts, shall first seek permission from the Secretary of the Society: http://www.leedsphilandlit.org.uk/.
Contact the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society for information on permissions and acknowledgement.
Material in this collection may remain in copyright but further details are unknown. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available for tracing copyright status and ownership.