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Scottish Typographical Association

Scottish Typographical Association was a labour union representing typesetters in Scotland. It was founded in 1853. In 1974, it merged with the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT).

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Jul 25, 2026
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Scottish Typographical Association
Merged intoSociety of Graphical and Allied Trades
Founded1853
Dissolved1974
Location
  • Scotland
Members3,925 (19071)
AffiliationsTUC, STUC, P&KTF

Scottish Typographical Association was a labour union representing typesetters in Scotland.234 It was founded in 1853. In 1974, it merged with the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT).567

The formation of the union was organised by the Glasgow Typographical Society, although it incorporated local societies in other Scottish burghs. Membership gradually rose, reaching 4,700 in 1910. The union was a founding member of the Printing and Kindred Trades Federation and, following a demarcation decision of the federation in 1928, it organised only assistants in case and machine rooms in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, but all typographical workers in the rest of Scotland.8

The union changed its name to the Scottish Graphical Association in 1973, but merged into SOGAT shortly afterwards.8

General Secretaries

1853: John Baird9
1859: William Govan9
1871: George Craig9
1872: Simon Martin9
1874: John Battersby9
1887: Robert Johnstone9
1893: John Templeton9
1911: John White9
1913: James Brown9
1917: John Watt9
1921: Robert Watson9
1942: Robert H. Lean9
1951: Harry Girdwood9
1961: Peter Whigham9
References

References

  1. Report on Trade Unions in 1905-1907. London: Board of Trade. 1909. pp. 82–101.
  2. Gillespie, Sarah C. (1953). A Hundred Years of Progress: The Record of the Scottish Typographical Association, 1853-1952.
  3. Reynolds, Siân (1989). Britannica's Typesetters: Women Compositors in Edwardian Edinburgh. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 085224634X.
  4. "Scottish Typographical Association". Sapphire. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. "Scottish Typographical Association". University of Warwick. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  6. "Scottish Typographical Association". Edinburgh City of Print. Edinburgh Museums & Galleries. Retrieved 31 October 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. Beavan, I.; Isaac, P.; McKay, B. (July 1997). "Aberdeen University Press and the Scottish Typographical Association: an Uneasy early Relationship". Print Networks; Provincial Book Trade: Images & Texts; Their Production and Distribution in the 18th and 19th Centuries; Bassenthwaite, 1996. Winchester; Delaware; St Paul's Bibliographies; Oak Knoll Press; 1997: 143–162. ISBN 1873040482, ISBN 188471837X
  8. Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, pp.93-94
  9. Sarah C. Gillespie, A hundred years of progress: the record of the Scottish Typographical Association, 1853 to 1952, pp.243-244