The spirit of independence : friendly societies in Nottinghamshire, 1724-1913
The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to knowledge about friendly societies by exploring their experiences throughout one county from the eighteenth century to 1913. Drawing on a wide range of material, many different kinds of societies which existed during this time are identified. From a database of 1,271 societies, the chronological, typological and geographical patterns of development are explored; the membership, activities, and management of societies is discussed on the basis of data drawn from other sources. As a result, many commonly held beliefs about societies are challenged. Particular attention is drawn to the early establishment of rural as well as urban societies, the extensiveness of membership throughout the nineteenth century, the persistence of the independent society even after the rise of the affiliated orders, the extent of female membership and the fact that membership was not restricted to the artisan elite even in the eighteenth century. The place of friendly societies in the lives of the working people is explored through discussion of the meaning of independence in the fiiendly society context and the class implications of membership. It is argued that the achievement of independence
O'Neill, Julia Anne
The spirit of independence : friendly societies in Nottinghamshire, 1724-1913. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to knowledge about friendly societies by exploring their experiences throughout one county from the eighteenth century to 1913. Drawing on a wide range of material, many different kinds of societies which existed during this time are identified. From a database of 1,271 societies, the chronological, typological and geographical patterns of development are explored; the membership, activities, and management of societies is discussed on the basis of data drawn from other sources. As a result, many commonly held beliefs about societies are challenged. Particular attention is drawn to the early establishment of rural as well as urban societies, the extensiveness of membership throughout the nineteenth century, the persistence of the independent society even after the rise of the affiliated orders, the extent of female membership and the fact that membership was not restricted to the artisan elite even in the eighteenth century. The place of friendly societies in the lives of the working people is explored through discussion of the meaning of independence in the fiiendly society context and the class implications of membership. It is argued that the achievement of independence
spirit independence friendly society nottinghamshire purpose contribute_knowledge friendly society explore experience throughout county drawing wide_range material many_different kind society exist time identify database society chronological typological geographical pattern development explore membership activity management society discuss basis data_drawn source many commonly_hold beliefs society challenge particular_attention draw early establishment rural well urban_society membership throughout persistence independent society even rise order extent female membership fact membership restrict artisan elite even place friendly society live_work people explored discussion mean independence society context class implication membership argue achievement independence