Where to find records of friendly societies

The National Archives (TNA)

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The National Archives has surviving records of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, which include rule books and amendments (c1785-1966) in series FS 1, FS 3, FS 5, FS 8, FS 10, FS 13, FS 15 and annual reports (1852-1995) in FS 32. Type in the name of the society you are interested into the online catalogue www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue
You can also use the search engine on TNA website’s homepage to search across all the databases on the website including:

Local record offices

Every county, and some cities, has a local record office. Addresses and links can be found at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon. There are two places to look: in records of quarter sessions (for early rulebooks), and for the surviving records deposited by friendly societies themselves. These records may contain minute books, accounts, rule books, lists of members, details of claims and photographs.

There are two online catalogues:
The National Register of Archives has details of surviving records for over 1600 friendly societies at local record offices: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra 
Access to Archives has detailed descriptions from catalogues at local archives: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a

Local studies libraries

Most towns have a local studies library. Addresses at www.familia.org.uk There are likely to be press cuttings relating to the activities of local friendly societies and branches containing, for example, reports of annual meetings, dinners, and entertainments. These press cuttings are probably the best way into local newspapers.

Newspapers

Record offices often hold copies of local newspapers. A very useful source for information about friendly societies.

Parliamentary Papers

These papers have been ordered to be published by Parliament. They contain material on all aspects of British life. Fortunately detailed indexes exist including an online one at www.bopcris.ac.uk Copies of Parliamentary Papers can often be found in university libraries. It is also available online in a fully searchable form at The National Archives and a few large university libraries. Apart from copies of annual reports (to 1928) these papers contain the reports, and evidence presented to various commissions and committees investigating societies, and the three surveys of friendly societies undertaken between 1874 and 1910.

Links

• National Register of Archive
• Accessions to repositories in the UK
• Self-help in Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife digitisation project has made available some very helpful records about friendly societies in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife
• Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England
  Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ has a collection of friendly society materials and artefacts. Opening times: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tel: 020 7831 9811 and then press 1
• The People's History Museum is the national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain. It has a large collection of friendly society banners. The Pump House, Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3ER
• The University of Hull Brynmor Jones Library, (Archives & Special Collections)
  Cottingham Road, Kingston upon Hull HU6 7RX has an impressive collection of material