Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1876-1974 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
7 boxes and 1 oversize folder.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The London Positivist Society was established in 1867 by Richard Congreve. The Society appears to have concerned itself mainly with the application of positivism to political events. It produced pamphlets and wrote letters to the press protesting against such issues as the Irish Coercion Bill, the war in the Transvaal, the Empire in India, and religious tolerance. Its members also engaged in a series of public lectures to explain positivism to the general public, petitioned parliament, and attended conferences and meetings of positivists from around the world. The Society was renamed the English Positivist Committee in 1934.
Archival history
GB 0097 LONDON POSITIVIST SOCIETY 1876-1974 Collection (fonds) 7 boxes and 1 oversize folder. London Positivist Society
English Positivist Committee
The London Positivist Society was established in 1867 by Richard Congreve. The Society appears to have concerned itself mainly with the application of positivism to political events. It produced pamphlets and wrote letters to the press protesting against such issues as the Irish Coercion Bill, the war in the Transvaal, the Empire in India, and religious tolerance. Its members also engaged in a series of public lectures to explain positivism to the general public, petitioned parliament, and attended conferences and meetings of positivists from around the world. The Society was renamed the English Positivist Committee in 1934.
Minute books, account books and annual reports; correspondence (mainly of Henry Tompkins and Donald Fincham as Secretary), with members, with other Positivists, Humanists and Historians, and concerning the August Comte Memorial Trust; notes and papers by Henry Tompkins, including a short autobiography, addresses on positivist subjects, and notes on books he had read; other positivist writings, including pamphlets, reports and the text of talks; and various ephemera and pictures, including photographs of members, broadsheets and programmes, typescripts of correspondence between August Comte and George Lewes, and notes on the history of the Society.
This collection is arranged in 5 sections:
- Minute books, 1878-1956.
- Correspondence, 1884-1956.
- Henry Tompkins' notes and papers, c1900-1954.
- Other positivist writings, c1900-1958.
- Various ephemera and pictures, 1840-1974.
OPEN
APPLY TO ARCHIVIST
English
Printed handlist and online catalogue available
Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on March 27, 2002 27 Mar 2002; revised 8 May 2002 August Comte Memorial Trust Autobiographies Civil and political rights Congreve , Richard , 1818-1899 , positivist English Positivist Committee Fincham , Donald G , fl 1916-1969 , positivist Freedom of religion Freedom of thought Harrison , Frederic , 1831-1923 , author and positivist Historians Humanism Human rights Imperialism India International conflicts Irish Home Rule Lewes , George Henry , 1817-1878 , author Liberation movements Literary forms and genres Literature London Positivist Society Philosophical schools Philosophy Political doctrines Political movements Positivism Prose Second Boer War, 1899-1902 Social scientists South Asia Tompkins , Henry , fl 1870-1954 , positivist War Wars (events)
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Minute books, account books and annual reports; correspondence (mainly of Henry Tompkins and Donald Fincham as Secretary), with members, with other Positivists, Humanists and Historians, and concerning the August Comte Memorial Trust; notes and papers by Henry Tompkins, including a short autobiography, addresses on positivist subjects, and notes on books he had read; other positivist writings, including pamphlets, reports and the text of talks; and various ephemera and pictures, including photographs of members, broadsheets and programmes, typescripts of correspondence between August Comte and George Lewes, and notes on the history of the Society.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged in 5 sections:
- Minute books, 1878-1956.
- Correspondence, 1884-1956.
- Henry Tompkins' notes and papers, c1900-1954.
- Other positivist writings, c1900-1958.
- Various ephemera and pictures, 1840-1974.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
OPEN
Conditions governing reproduction
APPLY TO ARCHIVIST
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Printed handlist and online catalogue available
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Civil and political rights
- Civil and political rights » Freedom of thought » Freedom of religion
- Civil and political rights » Freedom of thought
- Social scientists » Historians
- Philosophy » Philosophical schools » Humanism
- Human rights
- Political doctrines » Imperialism
- International conflicts
- Political movements » Liberation movements
- Literary forms and genres
- Literature
- Philosophy » Philosophical schools
- Philosophy
- Political doctrines
- Political movements
- Philosophy » Philosophical schools » Positivism
- Literary forms and genres » Prose
- Social scientists
- International conflicts » War
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English