Catalogue description Records of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Chapel of the Liverpool Branch of the National Graphical Association

This record is held by Liverpool Record Office

Details of 331 GRA
Reference: 331 GRA
Title: Records of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Chapel of the Liverpool Branch of the National Graphical Association
Description:

1. Minute Books 6 vols., 1873-1920, 1934-1953

 

2. Account Books 1 vol., 1922 - 1936

 

3. Subscription Books and membership records 5 vols., 1879-1943

 

4. Records of the Daily Post and Echo Tontine 2 vols., 1915-1925

 

5. Miscellaneous papers 1 vol., 8 docs., 1886-1966, n.d.

Date: 1873 - 1966, n.d
Held by: Liverpool Record Office, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Liverpool Daily and Echo Chapel of the Liverpool Branch of the National Graphical Association, Liverpool

Physical description: 15 vols., 8 docs.
Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in March 1981 by Mr. G. Bell, Father of the Liverpool Post and Echo Chapel, after the following resolution was passed on 15 February 1981 "... that this NGA Chapel agrees that all NGA Chapel Minute Books prior to 1954 shall be deposited in the Archives Dept. of Liverpool Central Library, as a permanent record".

Subjects:
  • Liverpool
Administrative / biographical background:

The National Graphical Association was formed in 1964 from an amalgamation of the former Typographical Association with the London Typographical Association. It has since absorbed other groups such as the National Union of Press Telegraphists and Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers, the National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers etc. etc. Union members are organised in chapels within firms or companies, and each chapel is related to one of the Union's branches.

 

The Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Chapel had formerly belonged to the Liverpool branch of the Typographical Association. In 1797 a typographical society had been formed in Manchester and the minutes of this society record the existence of a Liverpool society as early as 1827. In 1830 a Northern Typographical Union was formed, eventually comprising societies from over forty towns in the north of England. In July 1844, at a large meeting of printers' delegates in Derby, a general amalgamation was agreed upon and regional groups of societies were superseded by a new National Typographical Association. This National Association collapsed in 1848, due in part to trade depression but also to industrial, geographical and regional differences. The following year, in 1849, the old Northern Union was re-formed as the Provincial Typographical Association (the London group re-formed as the London Society of Compositors), creating once more a union of local typographical societies. In 1877 the word "Provincial" was dropped from the title and the Typographical Association came into existence.

 

The mid-19th century saw a great expansion in the printing industry, especially in the growth of the daily press. The latter was largely due to the repeal of the so-called "Taxes on Knowledge" (the advertisement tax in 1853, the newspaper stamp duty in 1855 and the paper duty in 1861). The first issue of the [Liverpool] Daily Post appeared in June 1855. It is not clear how the Daily Post print workers organised themselves in the early years of the paper but or the first page of the first minute book listed below (see 331 GRA 1/1) is noted " "Daily Post" and "Journal". Brief Diary. From the Amalgamation of the Office with the Typographical Society. September 13, 1873..." and on the following page" "Daily Post" and "Journal" Minutes etc. Since September 13, 1873, the date of joining the Typographical Society ..."

 

The first minute book listed below (331 GRA 1/1) includes accounts for the "Daily Post Tramp Fund". Tramp relief had originated as a system whereby "tickets" were given to unemployed printers, members of the local society, leaving town to look elsewhere for employment. They were given travelling money on leaving town, to be repaid at a later date. On arrival in a new town the print worker would present his "ticket" to the secretary of the local society who would then pay out a small subsistence allowance (also to be repaid later) and also give the worker assistance in finding new employment if possible. No "tramp" could be relieved in the same town twice within twelve months.

 

The following include much useful information on the N.G.A. and the Typographical Association:

 

Arthur Marsh Trade Union Handbook: a guide and directory to the structure, membership, policy and personnel of the British Trade Unions, 3rd ed. 1984, p. 214

 

A.E. Musson Early Trade Unionism in the Printing Industry in Trade Union and Social History, 1974, pp. 81-136 (much material in this chapter taken from the following work)

 

A.E. Musson The Typographical Association: origins and history up to 1949. 1954

Link to NRA Record:

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