Records of the Scottish Temperance Alliance, temperance organisation, Glasgow, Scotland

• Board of management minutes, 1924-1938;
• Legal and legislative committee minutes, 1924-1928;
• Finance committee minutes, 1924-1938;
• Publications and publicity committee minutes, 1924-1928;
• Advisory campaign and legal committee minutes, 1928-1934;
• Campaigns and publications committee minutes, 1935-1938;
• Youth committee minutes, 1928-1938;
• Presscuttings, 1925-1935.

In 1922, the Scottish Temperance & No Licence Union was formed in Glasgow, Scotland, through the amalgamation of the Scottish Temperance League and the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association. By 1924, the Union had been renamed the Scottish Temperance Alliance and further Scottish temperance organisations amalgamated with the Alliance, such as the Glasgow-based Citizens Vigilance Association in 1925.

The Alliance occupied the former offices of the Scottish Temperance & No Licence Union at 226 West George Street, Glasgow. It aimed to continue to work of the Union by publishing propaganda material, providing speakers and lobbying parliament on temperance legislation.

By 1924, the Alliance was organised into regional branches that reported back to the central executive in Glasgow and included many of the No Licence committees that had been formed before 1920 in the electoral districts of Scotland. The Executive was responsible for the strategic direction and over 30 employees. A number of committees were formed to deal with specific aspects of the Alliance's work, such as campaigns, churches, finance, Ladies' Auxiliary, legal and legislative matters, and publications and publicity. A youth committee organised talks at schools, youth rallies and conferences.

The 1930s saw a decline in the Scottish temperance movement. Stories of the social unrest and rise in crime due to prohibition laws in the United States meant gaining support for temperance reform in the UK was difficult. New forms of entertainment meant that the concerts and shows regularly put on by the various temperance organisations fell out of favour and better health care made people more aware of the need for moderation. The rise of the welfare state and government health agencies saw the role of drink education being taken away from the temperance organisations and although alcohol abuse rose to record levels, associations such as Alcoholics Anonymous developed to help deal with the problem. The Scottis Temperance Alliance was still producing propaganda and educational materials in the early 1980s, but was practically dormant by the end of the century and no longer functioned in 2003.

The material is arranged into series as shown in the scope and content. Within series items are generally arranged chronologically.

Access to records within this collection is open, however an appointment may be required. Please email Archives and Special Collections for advice: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Deposit : Scottish Temperance Alliance : 1975

See also University of Glasgow Collections

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S) 2804) and London (NRA 30487)

No known copies

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents. Applications for permission to quote should be sent to Archives and Special Collections, please email: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures

Held by the Scottish Temperance Alliance prior to deposit with University of Glasgow Archive Services. Previously catalogued as part of the Scottish Temperance Alliance Archive (GB 248 DC19), the collection was re-catalogued in March 2003.

None expected

GB 248 DC 19/1 Records of the Scottish Temperance League; GB 248 DC 19/2 Records of the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association; GB 248 DC 19/3 Records of the Scottish Temperance & No Licence Union; GB 248 DC 19/5 Records of the Glasgow & District Municipal Federation; GB 248 DC 19/6 Records of the Citizens Vigilance Association; GB 248 DC 19/7 Records of the National Citizens Council; GB 248 DC 19/8 Records of International Order of Good Templars: Grand Lodge of Scotland; GB 583 Records of British Women's Temperance Association (Scottish Christian Union) (Huntly House Museum, Edinburgh); GB 233 Minute Book of the Scottish Permissive Bill & Temperance Association Ladies' Auxiliary 1894-1902.

This material is original