Digital Library
Trades House Reference Library
The library was originally established in 1897 following the gift of a large oak bookcase by David MacLean Esq which had belonged to his brother, late Deacon-Convener William MacLean. Members of the house were invited to contribute books on the topic of guild life and history and the history of Glasgow. From the beginning the library was a reference library only and this policy has continued. The library keeps to very much the same collecting policy established in 1897 and has a substantial and important collection of books relating to the Trades House and the City. The original oak bookcase has been replaced by purpose-built shelving which was installed by the 1994 Chain Gang in celebration of 200 years of the Trades Hall. Many of the original donations were deposited in the Mitchell Library in the 1960s and the books in the Trades House now consist mostly of more recent donations and the extensive collections of the Old Glasgow Club and the Colquhoun Library, the library of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
The library’s main holdings date from the late 19th and 20th centuries and include histories of individual firms, churches and organisations as well, of course, of the individual crafts.
Lists of the books and periodicals held in the library are available below:
(Books in the Library PDF) Periodicals PDF Old Glasgow Club Archives
A new addition to the Digital Library is a copy of the index to the Bailie. This is a marvellous series of articles on Glasgow and the People of Glasgow and those that visited in between 1872 and 1899. For a free copy of the index please click on one of the following links:
Bailie ~ Surname Index Bailie ~ Date Index
The Bailie was a magazine in a similar style to the magazine "Punch" of today. Each edition has a caricature of the main person being written about, the following links enables you to download these wonderful images of the famous and sometimes infamous people of the past. Anyone wishing a larger file for personal use should use the Contact Us page and request a copy of the image desired.
Bailie Volume 1 and 4 ~ 1872 to 1873
Bailie Volume 5 and 8 1874 to 1876
Bailie Volume 9 and 10 ~ 1876 to 1877
Bailie Volume 11 and 12 ~ 1878 to 1879
Bailie Volume 13 and 14 ~ 1878 to 1879
Bailie Volumes 15 and 16 ~ 1880
Bailie ~ Volume 17 and 18 ~ 1880 to 81
Bailie ~ Volume 19 and 20 ~ 1881 to 82
Bailie ~ Volume 21 and 22 ~ 1883
Bailie ~ Volume 23 and 24 ~ 1884
Bailie ~ Volume 25 and 26 ~ 1884 to 85
Bailie ~ Volume 27 ~ 1885 ~ 1886
Bailie ~ Volume 28 and 29 ~ 1886 to 87
Bailie ~ Volume 30 and 31 ~ 1887 to 88
Bailie ~ Volume 32 and 33 ~ 1888 to 89
Bailie ~ Volume 34 and 35 ~ 1889 to 90
Bailie ~ Volume 36 ~ 1890
Bailie ~ Volume 37 ~ 1890 to 1891
Trades House Reference Library
On the wall in the library is a copy in oils of the “Four Philosophers” by Peter Paul Rubens.
The chairs used by the Deacons and Visitor of the fourteen Incorporations are also kept in the library.
The library’s main holdings date from the late 19th and 20th centuries and include histories of individual firms, churches and organisations as well, of course, of the individual crafts.
Lists of the books and periodicals held in the library are available below:
(Books in the Library PDF) Periodicals PDF Old Glasgow Club Archives
A new addition to the Digital Library is a copy of the index to the Bailie. This is a marvellous series of articles on Glasgow and the People of Glasgow and those that visited in between 1872 and 1899. For a free copy of the index please click on one of the following links:
Bailie ~ Surname Index Bailie ~ Date Index
The Bailie was a magazine in a similar style to the magazine "Punch" of today. Each edition has a caricature of the main person being written about, the following links enables you to download these wonderful images of the famous and sometimes infamous people of the past. Anyone wishing a larger file for personal use should use the Contact Us page and request a copy of the image desired.
Bailie Volume 1 and 4 ~ 1872 to 1873
Bailie Volume 5 and 8 1874 to 1876
Bailie Volume 9 and 10 ~ 1876 to 1877
Bailie Volume 11 and 12 ~ 1878 to 1879
Bailie Volume 13 and 14 ~ 1878 to 1879
Bailie Volumes 15 and 16 ~ 1880
Bailie ~ Volume 17 and 18 ~ 1880 to 81
Bailie ~ Volume 19 and 20 ~ 1881 to 82
Bailie ~ Volume 21 and 22 ~ 1883
Bailie ~ Volume 23 and 24 ~ 1884
Bailie ~ Volume 25 and 26 ~ 1884 to 85
Bailie ~ Volume 27 ~ 1885 ~ 1886
Bailie ~ Volume 28 and 29 ~ 1886 to 87
Bailie ~ Volume 30 and 31 ~ 1887 to 88
Bailie ~ Volume 32 and 33 ~ 1888 to 89
Bailie ~ Volume 34 and 35 ~ 1889 to 90
Bailie ~ Volume 36 ~ 1890
Bailie ~ Volume 37 ~ 1890 to 1891
Trades House Reference Library
On the wall in the library is a copy in oils of the “Four Philosophers” by Peter Paul Rubens.
The chairs used by the Deacons and Visitor of the fourteen Incorporations are also kept in the library.
