Collection AR22 - Croydon Book Society

Identity area

Reference code

AR22

Title

Croydon Book Society

Date(s)

  • 1788; 1902 - 1953 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2 vols

Context area

Name of creator

(1788)

Administrative history

Croydon Book Society dated its history from 1788 or earlier (at which date it seems to have met every fortnight or so in the winter months). It is described in Garrows History of Croydon (1818), pp206 - 7.

The Book Society. This like many others in different parts of the country, is an association for the desirable purpose of affording to many resepctable and well- informed persons, who may not have the means of procuring the numerous publications of the present day, the opportunity of perusing instructive and entertaining books. According to the rules of the society, every member pays 16322 per annum, as a contribution, for the purchase of such books as the society may approve; which of course every subscriber is entitled to read, but necessarily for a limited time. At the expiration of every year, there is a meeting of the society, at the Kings Arms, when the books are disposed of amongst the members, to each highest bidder.

It was essentially a private circulating library: it functioned by buying books and magazines from its subscription income, circulating them among its membership, and then selling them to raise some additional income. In the early twentieth century, an Annual Dinner to raise some additional income. In the early twentieth century, an Annual Dinner incorporating a business meeting was held in December or January (normally with the Vicar of Croydon in the Chair): from 1940, this became a simpler Annual Meeting. The Society was wound up in December 1953, when its membership had dropped to 11, and no new Secretary could be found [Croydon Advertiser, 30/10/1953 pp1;6].

Archival history

Donated by Frederic S. Parsons former Secretary of the Society, May 1954. Transferred from Local Studies Library collection fS70(020.6)CRO

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Accession Number: A22

Croydon Book Society Records

Ledger of books issued 1902-1953; cash book 1902-1953 (with card detailing dates of Society meetings for 1788)

Item date: 1788-1953

Depositor's Name: Parsons, Frederick S, FCA JP

Accession date: 10/5/1954

Custodial history: Donor was a former Secretary of the Society. Transferred from Local Studies Library collection fS70(020.6)CRO

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Ledger of books issued 1902-1953; cash book 1902-1953 (with card detailing dates of Society meetings for 1788)

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some of the records in our collections contain sensitive and personal data that we have a legal responsibility to control access to. In these circumstances, staff may search the collection on your behalf, having received consent or proof of death of the individual concerned.

Please contact us at archives@croydon.gov.uk for further information regarding the particular collection you wish to access.

You can make a request for information which may be in a closed record under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations, 2004. For more information about making a request, see the Croydon Council website (www.croydon.gov.uk). Making a request does not guarantee access to the information you ask for, as there may be a valid exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

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Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

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Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Description control area

Description identifier

GB-352-ar22

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

24/06/2015

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