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The Royal Scottish Society of Arts History |
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1820s The society was established in Edinburgh in 1821 by Sir David Brewster, who later went on to become President of the Photographic Society of Scotland when it was founded in Edinburgh in 1856. The Royal Scottish Society of Arts was originally named: The Society for Promoting Useful Arts in Scotland. The principal objects of its founders were: "To stimulate and reward genius and mechanical industry, and to afford a ready and useful medium of intercourse among men of all ranks, who were engaged either in the pursuits of Science or in the various practical departments of the Arts" Proceedings of the society were published quarterly in The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. |
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1839 The society took a very early interest in photography. In January 1839, M Daguerre and WHF Talbot announced their discoveries of photography. Two months later, on 27 March and on 10 April, Dr Andrew Fyfe, Professor of Chemistry (I believe) and Vice President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts gave lectures of his experiments in photography to the Society. At the 3 July 1839 Meeting of the Society, it was proposed and accepted that M Daguerre be admitted as an Honorary Member of RSSA. |
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1840s In 1841, the society, then named The Society of Arts for Scotland, was granted a Royal Charter. It become The Royal Scottish Society of Arts. |
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1920s From 1925 until 1929, Edinburgh Photographic Society held its meetings at 117 George Street.
© Reproduced by courtesy of Edinburgh Photographic Society This was the home of The Royal Society of Arts for Scotland. |
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1930s and 1940s 16 Royal Terrace
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Reproduced by courtesy of From 1929 until 1952, Edinburgh Photographic Society and several other Edinburgh Societies became affiliated to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, and held its meetings at 16 Royal Terrace that society. |
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Journal From 1926 until 1942, papers of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts and its affiliated societies were published in The Edinburgh Journal of Science, Technology and Photographic Art Societies affiliated to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts in the late 1920s were: - Edinburgh Photographic Society - Edinburgh & District Radio Society - Edinburgh Electrical Society - Electrical Association for Women |
