Description

Admin History:

Hull Literary Club (1879-Present)

Hull Literary Club was founded 22 Dec 1879 by William Andrews for the purposes of encouraging local research, protecting and supporting the interests of local authors, and establishing a library of works relating to Hull and the surrounding district.

Membership by annual subscription was open to males, and early members included Andrews (first secretary), Dr Evan Fraser (first president), noted local writer J. Wildridge, J.A. Spender, C.H. Gore, Frank Noble Wood, and Rev Malet Lambert. Later members have included Lionel Rosen, Philip Larkin, and Alan Plater.

The club was lead by a president who was elected annually at the general meeting, and who was responsible for establishing the literary direction of the club for the following session. The president was aided by a council composed of the past president, four vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and eight council members. Until 1906/07 the office of librarian also constituted part of the council reflecting the initial concern to establish a library.

Working under a system of annual 'sessions' running from October to the following March, the council held regular council meetings in order to deal with administrative matters, such as arrangements for sessions, financial issues, and membership questions.

A regular feature of the syllabus for each session was a series of ordinary meetings of members. Selected members were invited to deliver papers that were usually followed by literary discussions. In the early years ordinary meetings were held at the Royal Station Hotel (1879-c.1920), Powolny's Restaurant (c.1922-1926), and Tramway Office, Albion Street (1926-1930). Meetings were subsequently held at various places including Trippett's Café, The Subscription Library on Albion Street, and Ye Old White Harte on Silver Street. The club found a more permanent base at Guildhall c.1965 and continues to use these premises for its meetings to date.

Amongst the earliest events to take place during a session was the Presidential Address establishing the literary agenda. Other events included an annual dinner held in October, a smoking concert, a ladies evening, short papers and book reviews evenings, and 'Yuletide Revels' held as the final event in December to celebrate Christmas. The final event of the session was the annual general meeting, incorporating a review of the past session.

In the early years, the club published 'Hull Literary Club Magazine. A Record of Transactions' each session, and these transactions were periodically collated into hardbound volumes spanning a number of sessions. The Transactions appear to have run till c.1916 but from 1922 were replaced with the publication of the paperback 'Humberside' magazine. This magazine was issued annually and recorded the business of the club during the past session.

Over the years the Club has marked a number of significant events including its 21st anniversary with a dinner held 23 Oct 1900, its 50th anniversary with a dinner held 29 Oct 1929, its centenary with a dinner at Guildhall on 9 Oct 1978, and its 125th anniversary in 2003. In addition the club has marked occasions of significance to individual members such as the 50th anniversary of Alfred Jordan's membership of the club with a dinner held 29 Jan 1938, the retirement of Kenneth Hibbert as 'Master of the Revels' after 25 years in 1974.

Description:

Records of The Hull Literary Club founded 1879. Collection contains the following records: Minutes of council meetings, 1888-2000, and ordinary meetings, 1979-2002 [C DSLIT/1]; Draft minutes of council meetings, 1989-1992, Ordinary meetings, 1992-2001, and AGMs, 1990-1992 [C DSLIT/2]; Correspondence files kept by honorary secretaries of the club and other miscellaneous correspondence 1971-2004 [C DSLIT/3], Literary papers and associated notes relating to papers given by members of the club at ordinary meetings, 1894-2004 [C DSLIT/4]; Syllabuses providing details of events occuring during the club's annual session running October to March, 1892-2005 [C DSLIT/5]; Programmes relating to dinners and events held by the club, 1884-1995 [C DSLIT/6]; Publications produced by the club and issued to members, 1895-2010 [C DSLIT/7]; Recordings of speakers and annual 'Yuletide Revels' held by the club, 1965-1978 [C DSLIT/8]; Photographs of members during 'Yuletide Revels' performances, 1950s-1980s [C DSLIT/9]; Press Cuttings relating to the club, 1964-1989 [C DSLIT/10]; Invitations relating to events organised by the club including a significant run of 'Yuletide Revels' invitations, 1892-2009 [C DSLIT/11]; Volumes presented to members of the club in recognition of significant occasions, 1938-1978 [C DSLIT/12]; Records relating to club finances, 1902-2011 [C DSLIT/13]; Records relating to membership of the club, 1989-1998 [C DSLIT/14]; And various miscellaneous papers relating to the club, 20th cent. [C DSLIT/15]; Reports, 1974-1977 [C DSLIT/16]; Indexes, 2020 [C DSLIT/17].