Darlington Essay and Philosophical Society
Reference: SF/Da/ES Catalogue Title: Darlington Essay and Philosophical Society Area: Catalogue Category: Non-Conformist Church Records Description:
Covering Dates: 1828-1950
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- Darlington Essay and Philosophical Society
- Darlington Essay and Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES )
- Minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1)
- Essay Society minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/1)
- Philosophical Society Minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/2-5)
- Both Essay Society and Philosophical Society Minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/6-7)
- Essay books (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-93)
- Seasons 1 to 12 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-13)
- 1st to 10th season (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-11)
- 11th and 12th seasons (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/12-13)
- Index to seasons 1 to 12 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 3/1)
- Seasons 13 to 66 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/14-67, 93)
- Seasons 67 to 108 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/68-92)
- Seasons 109-112 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/94-99)
- Centenary of the Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/1-7)
- Administration (Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/1-8)
- Printed programmes, notices of meetings, etc. (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6)
- Essay Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/1-4,13)
- Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/5-7, 10-12)
- Essay and Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/8-9)
- John Pease (Ref: SF/Da/ES )
- Letters to John Pease (Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/1-10)
- Essay manuscripts (Ref: SF/Da/ES 8/1)
- Other writings (Ref: SF/Da/ES 9/1)
Catalogue Contents
Darlington Essay and Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES )
The Essay Society, of around 50 members, met half a dozen times a year, in the winter months. The first season of meetings ran from November 1830 to March 1831. Meetings were in members' houses, and members included many of the prominent Darlington Quakers, from the families Pease, Fry, Backhouse, Mounsey, Whitwell and Hodgkin.
The pattern seems to be that essays and poems were submitted in written form to the committee ahead of a meeting. They would be read out by elected readers, then the pages bound into annual volumes of essays. They are all anonymous, though attributions to particular writers have been made in some cases at a later time.
In December 1846 a parallel Natural History and Philosophical Society was started, arranging lectures in school rooms. These took the place of some of the usual Essay Society meetings but also included a summer meeting. This ran until at least 1950, with a hiatus 1914-1919 and again 1939-1946.
For other records mentioning the essay society see D/X 1667/11/29-33, D/X 1667/8/115, D/Ki 378, D/Pe 10/23
Minutes include dates and locations of meetings, admission of new members, lists of members and officers, titles of essays read and, later, contents of library and summaries of lectures.
Essay Society minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/1)Minutes for 1839-1896 are found in Essay Books
Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/1Darlington Friends' Essay Society Minute Book, 1830-1839
(1 volume)
Philosophical Society Minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/2-5)Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/2Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1846-1865
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/3Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1865-1873
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/4Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1873-1901
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/5Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1901-1909
(1 volume)
Both Essay Society and Philosophical Society Minutes (Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/6-7)Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/6Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1897-1923
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 1/7Darlington Friends' Essay and Philosophical Society Minute Book, 1923-1950
(1 volume)
Essay books (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-93)Essays and poems read at meetings. Author very rarely given. Also contain Essay Society meeting minutes from 1839 to 1896.
Seasons 1 to 12 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-13)1st to 10th season (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1-11)Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/1Essays, 1830-1831
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/2Essays, Vol. I, 1831-1832
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/3Essays, Vol. II, 1831-1832
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/4Essays, 1832-1833
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/5Essays, 1833-1834
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/6Essays, 1834-1835
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/7Essays, 1835-1836
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/8Essays, 1836-1837
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/9Essays, 1837-1838
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/10Essays, 1838-1839
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/11Essays, 1839-1840
(1 volume)
11th and 12th seasons (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/12-13)Also contain Essay Society minutes
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/12Essays, 1840-1841
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/13Essays, 1841-1842
(1 volume)
Index to seasons 1 to 12 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 3/1)Ref: SF/Da/ES 3/1Index to titles of essays read in first twelve seasons, n.d. [1842]
Also enclosed is the attendance list for the fourth meeting of 1838 season
(1 volume)
Seasons 13 to 66 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/14-67, 93)Also contain Essay Society minutes
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/14Essays, 1842-1843
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/15Essays, 1843-1844
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/16Essays, 1844-1845
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/17Essays, 1845-1846
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/18Essays, 1846-1847
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/19Essays, 1847-1848
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/20Essays, 1848-1849
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/21Essays, 1849-1850
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/22Essays, 1850-1851
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/23Essays, 1851-1852
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/24Essays, 1852-1853
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/25Essays, 1853-1854
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/26Essays, 1854-1855
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/27Essays, 1855-1856
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/28Essays, 1856-1857
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/29Essays, 1857-1858
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/30Essays, 1858-1859
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/31Essays, 1859-1860
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/32Essays, 1860-1861
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/33Essays, 1861-1862
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/34Essays, 1862-1863
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/35Essays, 1863-1864
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/36Essays, 1864-1865
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/37Essays, 1865-1866
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/38Essays, 1866-1867
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/39Essays, 1867-1868
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/40Essays, 1868-1869
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/41Essays, 1869-1870
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/42Essays, 1870-1871
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/43Essays, 1871-1872
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/44Essays, 1872-1873
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/45Essays, 1873-1874
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/46Essays, 1874-1875
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/47Essays, 1875-1876
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/48Essays, 1876-1877
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/49Essays, 1877-1878
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/50Essays, 1878-1879
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/51Essays, 1879-1880
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/52Essays, 1880-1881
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/53Essays, 1881-1882
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/54Essays, 1882-1883
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/55Essays, 1883-1884
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/56Essays, 1884-1885
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/57Essays, 1885-1886
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/58Essays, 1886-1887
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/59Essays, 1887-1888
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/60Essays, 1888-1889
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/61Essays, 1889-1890
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/62Essays, 1890-1891
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/63Essays, 1891-1892
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/64Essays, 1892-1893
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/65Essays, 1893-1894
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/66Essays, 1894-1895
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/67Essays, 1895-1896
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/93Sundry essays, 1844-1872
Contains various pages of meeting minutes and essays missed from their proper volumes
(1 volume)
Seasons 67 to 108 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/68-92)Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/68Essays, 1896-1898
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/69Essays, 1898-1899
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/70Essays, 1899-1900
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/71Essays, 1900-1901
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/72Essays, 1901-1902
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/73Essays, 1902-1903
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/74Essays, 1903-1904
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/75Essays, 1904-1905
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/76Essays, 1905-1906
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/77Essays, 1906-1907
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/78Essays, 1907-1908
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/79Essays, 1908-1909
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/80Essays, 1909-1910
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/81Essays, 1910-1913
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/82Essays, 1913-1920
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/83Essays, 1921-1923
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/84Essays, 1924-1925
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/85Essays, 1925-1926
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/86Essays, 1927-1928
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/87Essays, 1929-1930
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/88Essays, 1930-1931
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/89Essays, 1931-1932
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/90Essays, 1933-1934
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/91Essays, 1935
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/92Essays, 1936-1938
(1 volume)
Seasons 109-112 (Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/94-99)Unbound folios of essays
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/94Essays, Season 109, 1 December 1938
(6 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/95Essays, Season 109, 20 February 1939
(12 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/96Essays, Season 109, 8 July 1939
(3 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/97Essays, Season 111, 13 June 1947
(7 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/98Essays, Season 112, 2 March 1948
(10 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 2/99Essays for an undated meeting, n.d. [1948-1949]
(7 papers)
Centenary of the Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/1-7)Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/1'Fifty Years of the Darlington Friends' Philosophical Society, a Retrospect', by Samuel Hare, 1896
(1 booklet, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/2Bound copy of 'Fifty Years of the Darlington Friends' Philosophical Society, a Retrospect', by Samuel Hare, 1896
Also contains a programme and list of members for the sixtieth session, 1906-1907
(1 volume, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/3Draft essay on 'The Centenary of the Darlington Friends' Essay Society', 28 November 1930
(5 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/4Draft description and review of the Centenary Meeting of the Darlington Friends' Essay Society, 28 November 1930
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/5Draft 'Description of some of the members of the Darlington Friends' Essay Society present at the first meeting at Polam Hall, 8th of 1st month 1830', 1930
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/6'A Record of the Centenary Meeting of the Darlington Friends' Essay Society', 28 November 1930
Includes essay, review, descriptions of founder members, photograph and signatures of members
(1 booklet, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 4/7Bound copy of 'A Record of the Centenary Meeting of the Darlington Friends' Essay Society', 28 November 1930
Also includes notes, original of photograph, programme for event, programmes for society seasons from 1904-1905 to 1913-1914, and Northern Echo review of the event
(1 volume)
Administration (Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/1-8)Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/1Receipt book with counterfoils for subscriptions to the Darlington Friends' Essay Society, 15 April - 22 October 1907
(1 volume)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/2Letter from ?W A Waite? to Miss Mounsey re return of two volumes of essays to the library, 17 February 1947
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/3Essay entitled 'An Essay', concerning the art of the essayist, n.d. [c.1930]
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/4Invoice from William Dresser and Sons for printing of invitation cards to Essay Society meetings, and a sample card, and a further invoice for a ream of ruled paper, October 1948
(3 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/5Envelope addressed to J.B. Hodgkin, postmark, 1903
Marked 'Essay and Philosophical Societies' and used to hold printed society correspondence
(1 envelope)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/6Rough minutes of two society meetings, 1948
(3 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/7Printed list of books belonging to the Darlington Philosophical Society, n.d. [c.1863]
With written additions
Covers all areas of science, including metereology, astronomy, chemistry, geology and mineralogy, natural history (i.e. biology, both zoology and botany), and also mechanics, numismatics, and various journals
Formerly enclosed in SF/Da/ES 1/2
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 5/8Printed invitation from J.W. Pease, Southend, [Darlington, addressed to Sophia Pease, South Ends, [Darlington], giving notice of a meeting of the Darlington Essay Society on 17 January 1850, 14 January 1850
(1 paper)
Printed programmes, notices of meetings, etc. (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6)Many kept in an envelope addressed to J.B. Hodgkin, Elm Ridge, Darlington (SF/Da/ES 8/5)
Many of these are included with the appropriate minutes
Notice of a meeting of the Essay Society to be at Bushel Hill on 12 March 1878, with minutes of rule changes adopted at the previous meeting, 1 March 1878
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/2Notice of a meeting of the Essay Society to be held at Polam Hall on 22 October 1878, with minutes of rule changes previously agreed and Treasurer's statement of accounts, 8 October 1878
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/3Minute of rule changes at a meeting of 9 February 1897, with alteration, 9 March 1897
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/4Annual report of 78th season (1906-1907) with notice of vacancies for readers, n.d. [1907]
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 13Circular for the 69th season, 1897-1898, with balance sheet and list of members, October 1897
Formerly enclosed in SF/Da/ES 2/68
(1 paper)
Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/5-7, 10-12)Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/5Card with minute of rules adopted at a meeting of the Philosophical Society, 18 December 1877
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/6Programme for 56th session of the Philosophical Society (1901-1902), with report of previous session, list of committee members and other members, Treasurer's statement of accounts, and a note of periodicals subscribed to, n.d. [October 1901]
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/7Programme for 60th session of the Philosophical Society (1906-1907), with report of previous session, list of committee members and other members, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [October 1906]
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/10Programme for 53th session of the Philosophical Society (1898-1899), with report of previous session, list of committee members and other members, list of periodicals subscribed to, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [October 1898]
Formerly enclosed in SF/Da/ES 1/4
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/11Programme for 54th session of the Philosophical Society (1899-1900), with report of previous session, list of committee members and other members, list of periodicals subscribed to, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [October 1899]
Formerly enclosed in SF/Da/ES 1/4
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/12Programme for 55th session of the Philosophical Society (1900-1901), with report of previous session, list of committee members and other members, list of periodicals subscribed to, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [October 1900]
Formerly enclosed in SF/Da/ES 1/4
(1 paper, printed)
Essay and Philosophical Society (Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/8-9)Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/8Newsletter for 1910-1911 session of the Essay and Philosophical Society, with report of previous session, list of members, request for nominations for readers, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [Summer 1910]
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 6/9Newsletter for 1913-1914 session of the Essay and Philosophical Society, with report of previous session, list of members, and Treasurer's statement of accounts, n.d. [Summer 1913]
(1 paper, printed)
John Pease (Ref: SF/Da/ES )Material that appears to have been kept by John Pease (1797-1868), son of Edward Pease (1767-1858) and brother of Joseph Pease (1799-1872)
Married to Sophia Jowitt of Leeds; both were active members of the Essay Society
Lived at East Mount, Darlington
Found with copy essays
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/1Letter from George Richardson, Newcastle, to 'My dear Cousin' John Pease, Darlington, discussing theological matters and remembering his family and other acquaintances, 17 November 1828
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/2Draft reply to SF/Da/ES 7/1, 26 November 1828
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/3Letter from George Richardson, Newcastle, to 'My dear Cousin' John Pease, Darlington, discussing the Tract Society and family matters, 4 November 1829
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/4Letter from Mrs Aldam, Leeds, [Sarah Aldam nee Jowitt, sister to Sophia Pease] to 'My dear Brother', John Pease, Darlington, asking for advice for 'my dear William', 3 March 1832
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/5Draft letter from John Pease to his nephew William [Aldam], in response to SF/Da/ES 7/4, 12 March 1832
(2 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/6Letter from William Aldam jun. to 'My dear Uncle' John Pease, Darlington, 31 March 1832
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/7Draft letter from John Pease, Darlington, to 'My dear Cousin' Anna Braithwaite, 14 July 1832
(2 papers)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/8Letter from Elizabeth Shackleton, Mountmellick, Ireland, to John Pease c/o Joseph Bewbey, William Street, Dublin, 24 January 1834
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/9Draft reply to SF/Da/ES 7/8, n.d. [1834]
(1 paper)
Ref: SF/Da/ES 7/10Letters from Richard Fry, Bristol, to John Pease, East Mount, Darlington, regarding a draft of an article on Quakerism [attached], August 1851
(6 papers)
Essay manuscripts (Ref: SF/Da/ES 8/1)Ref: SF/Da/ES 8/1Copies of 74 essays submitted to the society, in the same hand, presumed to be by John Pease, all dated, 1831-1862
(188 papers)
Other writings (Ref: SF/Da/ES 9/1)found with copy essays and correspondence
Ref: SF/Da/ES 9/121 poems, essays, play scripts, draft letters, meeting minutes, etc., generally on moral subjects and appearing to be written in the same hand, presumed to be John Pease, 1829-1850 and n.d. [19th Century]
Also a printed report on the costs of rebuilding of the Friends' Meeting House in Skinnergate, Darlington, 19 July 1840
(34 papers)
