Glasgow Athenaeum

Glasgow Educational Association

Glasgow Commercial College

Athenaeum Commercial College

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

The Glasgow Athenaeum was established in 1847. It drew on the Glasgow Educational Association's ideas of giving opportunities for training to young men engaged in commercial pursuits and opened to the public on 13 October 1847. Its inaugural address was given on 28 December that year by Charles Dickens. It superseded the Glasgow Commercial College, which had previously held classes at Anderson's University. In 1888 the commercial teaching side of the Glasgow Athenaeum separated off to form the Athenaeum Commercial College and on 15 September 1890, the remaining Athenaeum became the Glasgow Athenaeum (Limited) School of Music (later the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama).

The Glasgow Athenaeum was established in rented premises in the Glasgow Assembly Rooms in Ingram Street, Glasgow, but later a new building in St George's Place (now Nelson Mandela Place)) was designed and erected by John Burnet, Son & Campbell. Staff, students and members moved there in 1888 following the building's official opening on 25 January. More space was still required, however, and additional premises were acquired in Buchanan Street and West Nile Street, Glasgow.

The Glasgow Athenaeum originally sought to provide, not only commercial skills, but also philosophy, literature, languages and music. Its initial membership was 1612 and the first educational classes were in English grammar and literature, logic, French and German and soon after mathematics, elocution and Italian. Over the years other classes were introduced, for example, shorthand in 1872. Classes in music were taken by the choirmaster, W H Lithgow and a philharmonic society was formed within a couple of years. Instrumental instruction followed soon after and a dramatic club was flourishing from 1886 presided over by Walter Baynham. Following the cessation of commercial teaching in 1888, however, the institution concentrated on music.

GB 0249 OH

GB 0248 DC 227

Authority record created according to the National Council on ArchivesRules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (NCA Rules)1997 and International Council on Archives: Ad Hoc Committee on Descriptive StandardsInternational Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)CPF1995.

Corporate name authority record compiled for the GASHE project by Emily Woolmore, GASHE project archivist, 24 March 2000