Oxfordshire Friendly Societies 1750-1918

Description

This volume in the Oxfordshire Record Society series explores the history of the development and subsequent decline of friendly socie-ties in the pre-1974 county of Oxfordshire. No previous publication has recorded the extent of infor-mation contained within Oxfordshire Friendly Societies, 1750-1918. The vital details and historical notes of 755 societies and branches in the calendar is supported by a number of comprehensive appendices, including 188 cases of the interface of friendly societies with crimes and courts, and the listing of 266 brass and other bands that played at annual club days.

This volume is an essential reference to those interested in parish history, the development of friendly societies, and social history in general. The author delves into numerous interesting and humorous stories concerning these mutual organiza-tions, widely available to the working man, and occasionally woman.
Almost every village in the county had its own friendly society during the nineteenth-century, a remarkable development.

Shaun Morley is an MSc. Graduate in English Local History, a current D.Phil student and part-time tutor at the University of Oxford, Department for Continuing Education. He is secretary of the Oxfordshire Record Society and was a contributor to volume 67, An Historical Atlas of Oxfordshire.