Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen District; Keith Branch; Turriff Branch)

This collection contains records of the Aberdeen district office, and the Keith and Turriff branches of the A.S.W., and its predecessors. Demarcation between records created by A.S.W. and records created by its predecessors is not always clear, and for the purpose of this collection level description they have been described as one. The deposit also includes records of the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives Aberdeen Branch). The records are described below under these four headings.

A.S.W. (Aberdeen District and Management Committees) Minutes, 1927 - 1951; cash books and accounts, 1912 and 1929 - 1955; correspondence, 1901 - 1911 and 1920 - 1964; monthly reports (Associated Carpenters' and Joiners' Society), 1894 - 1911; annual reports (Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers), 1943 - 1957 (incomplete); annual delegate conference reports, 1950 - 1957; misc. printed papers, 1877 - 1961 (including rule books of the Society and its predecessors, 1877 - 1952, pamphlets and reports re. working conditions published by the Society and other organisations, 1895 - 1958, and minutes and reports of other Trade Unions, 1940 - 1954)

A.S.W. (Keith Branch) Minutes, 1938 - 1960, cash book, 1939 - 1957, contributions book, 1938 - 1969, Treasurer's cash book, 1957 - 1960, proposition and entrance book, 1949 - 1960, ' Sick Steward's ' book, 1946 - 1960, unemployment benefit book, 1946 - 1960, ' Vacant book ', 1940 - 1960.

A.S.W. (Turriff Branch) Minutes, 1942 - 1959, correspondence, 1956 - 1959

National Federation of Building Trade Operatives (Aberdeen Branch) Minutes, 1937 - 1951

The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners [A.S.C.J.] was established in Aberdeen by July 1885, and by 1921 there were 3 branches active in the city. Its name was changed to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners, probably after merging with the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers c 1917, though the records deposited here remain inconclusive on this point. In 1921, it became the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers [A.S.W.]. Other local branches were established in Peterhead on 7 Feb 1914, in Keith by 1938, and in Turriff by 1942.

The Associated Carpenters' and Joiners' Society [A.C.J.S.] had merged with the A.S.C.J. in 1911. The 'Associated' society was itself formed in 1861, with a membership of 34 in Aberdeen at that time. Its members played an integral part in founding the Aberdeen Trades Council in 1868, and during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were involved in a number of high profile disputes and strike actions for improved working hours and pay.

The records deposited here by the A.S.W. suggest that there may have been other societies representing woodworking employees in and around Aberdeen in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Their history and chronology have not been established, indeed, they may simply represent alternative names by which the three main organisations described above were known.

The National Federation of Building Trade Operatives was established in 1917/1918. An Aberdeen branch was active between 1937 and 1951, and its records deposited here with those of the Aberdeen District, Keith and Turriff branches of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers

Further information about the development of the trade union movement and the history of individual trade unions in Aberdeen can be found in William Diack, History of the Trades Council and the Trade Union Movement in Aberdeen (Aberdeen: Aberdeen Trades Council, 1939), and in Kenneth D. Buckley, Trade Unionism in Aberdeen 1870 - 1900 (Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd, 1955). Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, 4 vols (Aldershot: Gower, 1980 - 1984) also contains useful information about the development of individual unions, at both the national and local level. Summarised details from each of these sources has been used in compiling this collection level description.

Arranged by record type, and chronologically therein

Permission required from Branch Secretary. Thereafter, access is subject to signature accepting conditions of use at reader registration sheet.

Deposited in the University in 1967

Descriptive list available in the Reading Room, Special Libraries and Archives, University of Aberdeen.

Very brief collection level description available on Aberdeen University Library Catalogue, accessible online http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/

No copies known

Permission required from Branch Secretary. Thereafter, access is subject to signature accepting conditions of use at reader registration sheet.

This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures

No accruals expected

GB 231 MS 2653: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 3 Branch), 1917 - 1929 GB 231 MS 2653: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 3 Branch), 1917 - 1929 GB 231 MS 2668: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 1 & no.2 Branches), 1885 - 1956 GB 231 MS 2668: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 1 & no.2 Branches), 1885 - 1956 GB 231 MS 2674: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 2 Branch), 1894 - 1939 GB 231 MS 2674: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Aberdeen no. 2 Branch), 1894 - 1939 GB 231 MS 2679: Records of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (Peterhead Branch), 1914 - 1944

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