Records of the Glasgow University Dialectic Society, student society, University of Glasgow, Scotland

• Board meeting minutes 1969-1983;
• Secretary's correspondence and papers 1978-1980;
• Constitution and by-laws c1877;
• Constitution and by-laws written by Robert Kemp, Secretary, nd;
• Membership card 1879-1880;
• Syllabus with honorary members and constitution 1897-1898;
• Programme: "Trial by Jury" - proceeds to the Students' Welfare Scheme (2 copies - one autographed) 1921;
• Programme: "Via Veritas, Vita" (Scenes from University Life) 1923;
• Account of the reasons for the disruption in 1876 and the eventual amalgamation of the two associations, united under the name of the Dialectic Society c1877;
• An historical sketch of the Society 1922;
• Notice of the opening address by the Duke of Argyll on 15 Nov with history of Society and current status (with the list of office bearers, 1889-1890) 1889.

Glasgow University Dialectic Society was instituted in 1861 at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, as a society for the discussion of literary, philosophical and political subjects. The Society, in some form, has been in existence for some years earlier. The Society has been prominent in University life and in 1885, along with the Glasgow University Medico-Chirurgical Society, helped to establish the Glasgow University Union (GUU).

Originally a male only club, membership is now mixed and open to matriculated members of the University and ex-members upon payment of a subscription. The Society's main aim is to foster and promote debate. The highlight of the Society's debating year is the Glasgow University Union debate lasting 12 hours, which is a contest based on the Westminster parliament with five debating clubs: Tories, Whigs, Scottish Nationalists, Distributists, and Independent Socialists. The Society also runs it own annual competitions, the Reftable Debate, the Intravarsity Competition, and the Roddy Neilson. In addition, the Society runs workshops, lunchtime debates and sends teams to compete in inter-varsity competitions. The Society however is not all debating and it provides its members with a full calendar of social events, the highlight of which is the Annual Dinner held in January as well as holding 2 major debates each term.

In 2002, the society is administered by a Board consisting of president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, whip secretary, publicity secretary, macer, and social convenor; the first 5 of whom constitute the Executive committee. These are elected from the ordinary members of the society at the annual general meeting held each year in the Whitsun term.

The material is split between two repositories within the University of Glasgow: Glasgow University Archive Services hold material with reference GB 248 DC 38 and Glasgow University Library Special Collections hold material with reference GB 247 MS Gen 1307-1310. Material is arranged in to 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

Permanent Loan : Glasgow University Union : 1976;

Additional deposit : Glasgow University Union : 1982 : ACCN 0457;

Additional deposit : Glasgow University Dialectic Society : 1983 : ACCN 1983

See also University of Glasgow Collections

File list available. Please email Archives & Special Collections to request a copy: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

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

Received directly from creator. Formally catalogued as part of the Glasgow University Inventory (GUA) series.

Accruals possible

GB 247 MS Gen 1307-1310: Papers of Glasgow University Dialectic Society

This material is original