Anglo-Russian Literary Society Anglo-Russian Society

The Anglo-Russian Literary Society was founded in London in 1893 by Edward A Cazalet with its work being conducted from the Imperial Institute, London. It was one of the earliest British organisations to promote cultural relations with Russia. Membership was open to both Britons and Russians. The Society's objects were promoting the study of Russian language and literature, the formation of a library of Russian books and periodicals, the holding of monthly meetings and the promotion of friendly relations between Britain and Russia. The Society's monthly lectures were published in the Proceedings of the Society which appeared quarterly. Tsar Nicholas II became a patron of the Society in 1894 and Tsarina Alexandra in 1897. After 1917 the Society lost many of its Russian members and its imperial patronage.
At the end of 1922 the Society moved from the Imperial Institute to the School of Slavonic Studies, King's College (later SSEES), its library of some 1,500 volumes was transferred to the School and the School's Director, Sir Bernard Pares became secretary of the Society. In September 1930 the Society was renamed the Anglo-Russian Society. It is not clear when the Society was wound up. It was probably in 1934 as the last membership subscription records are from that year although the last records date to 1936.