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Paisley Pamphlets
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The 'Paisley Pamphlets' are a collection of ephemera rich in social history covering the period 1739 - 1893. Ephemera are items of collectible memorabilia in written or printed form which had only a short period of usefulness or popularity.
The wide variety of information contained in this collection includes: Subscription Lists, Reports, Minutes, Rules & Regulations, Financial Statements and AGMs of local societies and institutions such as; The Paisley Philosophical Society, Rowbank Angling Club and the Paisley Infirmary. The 'Pamphlets' cover a range of topics, chiefly politics and religion. The collection also includes Catalogues of Exhibitions and memorabilia such as concert tickets and programmes. Each volume has a table of contents at the beginning and there is a single volume cumulative index for the collection. It is important to note that the 'Pamphlets' contain some information on surrounding towns and villages and are not solely devoted to Paisley.
"The Glen" Concert pamphlet from the
Paisley Pamphlets collection.
Kilmalcolm Hydropathic Establishment pamphlet from
the Paisley Pamphlets collection.
All the evidence we have points to the 'Paisley Pamphlets' being the work of Robert Brown the pre-eminent antiquarian historian of his time. The majority of volumes of the 'Pamphlets' have a bookplate noting that Robert Brown of Underwood had donated them, further identifying the donor as being the author of 'The History of Paisley' his major work. He was also the author of 'The History of the Paisley Grammar School' and the two volume 'Paisley Poets'. In addition to being a noted historian and author, Robert Brown of Underwood was Provost of Paisley from 1856 until 1859 and also a noted industrialist. Around 1839, he founded the Ferguslie Fireclay Works. The firm originally produced fireclay linings for furnaces, garden ornaments and statuary for gardens. By 1876 the business had expanded to the manufacture of white sanitary earthenware and wall tiles. At his death in 1895, Robert Brown left an estate to the value of £23,962.
The Paisley Pamphlets can be seen in Renfrewshire Libraries Local Studies Library.
