Richmond Athenaeum
1881-1951
Archives
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There are thirteen volumes and twelve folders which contain a variety of different records such as letters, financial documents (cheques, receipts, payments) programmes of the organisation or books about lectures.
Title:
Richmond Athenaeum
Date of work:
1881-1951
Reference number:
DC11
Level of description:
Fonds
Includes:
Access restrictions:
Unrestricted
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
General notes:
The Richmond Athenaeum was formed in 1881 for the study, consideration and discussion of scientific matters, religion, political issues, and economy, art and social life.Mr. Edward King, first editor and owner of the Richmond and Twickenham Times, was its first president and who organised the first meeting which was held in the Masonic Hall of the Greyhound Hotel on Tuesday 1st November. The idea of creating a high class debating club was agreed by some residents of Richmond, and it was decided that members should have intellectual merit and respectable behaviour.Although the original scheme was the reading of a lecture on a subject by a famous person in the field of that topic and often accompanied with a magic lantern, an early type of image projector, followed by a debate. However, the debate aspect soon diminished. During the early and last years, the Athenaeum carried outspring and summer, the Athenaeum carried out excursions to interesting places, many of them belonging to The National Trust. However, due to internal problems, this activity was only done during the first and the last years. As well as these activities, the organisation had weekly and annual meetings in order to discuss different issues, accept new members or organise events.Although the society kept its routine during the First World War, it was impossible with the Second Wold War. Ceased its activities at the beginning of the war, the society was wound up on 9th of May of 1951 by the last members and the solicitor Calvert Smith who organised the last meeting and took charge of carrying out the last agreements made during this meeting.
Language:
English
Record number:
1496172
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Total copies: 1