Reference number
  • RGS
Date
  • 1925-1990
Level
  • Collection
Description
  • Minutes of general and committee meetings, 1925-1990; subscription books, 1925-1990; membership card with rules, 1985; tickets for annual dinner, 1985-1987.
Extent
  • 1 box
Admin history
  • The Rooks was one of several friendly societies existing for Fleet Street employees, providing financial and career assistance where seen as appropriate. The society was a combination of exclusivity and secrecy; thus, job information was imparted to friends and contacts of Rooks members, but the presence of several Rooks who were prominant trade unionists in the compositor associations means that the minutes reveal little about recruitment procedure, adhering to the union policy of no outside interference. The Rooks disbanded in 1990, when Fleet Street ceased to exist as the newspaper capital of the United Kingdom. The society was founded in 1925.
Finding aids
  • Originally catalogued by Marianne Kane using a typewriter, a copy is available in paper format in the Centre's searchroom. A copy of this collection level description is available in paper format in the Centre's searchroom.

    An authority record exists for Rooks Gift Society (GB 0152 AAR1818).
Access status
  • Open
Subject
  • Printing industry