Bradford Library and Literary Society

The Bradford Library and Literary Society (founded in 1774) was a proprietary library, a type of library which emerged in the late eighteenth century. The library members were the owners; the collections met their specific needs as educated professionals of the middle class. The books might be lent to patrons or consulted on site. The town of Bradford, loacated in west Yorkshire in the north of England, boomed during the industrial revolution, becoming known as an international center of the textile industry. According to Roberts (2006), "members of the library consisted largely of the prosperous middle classes--the professional men, merchants and manufacturers with a sprinkling of 'gentry' (p.214)." Members paid subcription fees, a librarian was hired, and accomadations rented. Over the years the location changed many times, but following the first librarian who was male, every succeding librarian was a woman. One member of the Bradford Library and Liteary Society was the Rev. Patrick Bronte, who most likely belonged during the period of around 1840 to 1853, during which there were between 142 and 194 members. The collection incorporated works specific to professional concerns, on law, medicine, theology, and science with some fiction and literary works. According to Roberts, the book stock conformed to, 'the intended purpose of the proprietary library', which was that it should, 'serve as a repository of the best books of the day' (and older books when they were needed and could be afforded) for the use of the cultivated reader and gentleman scholar (p. 217)." Whether the Bronte children enjoyed books from this library is not known, but as a bookish family, they very likely shared books borrowed by their father. The following curated collection of titles is derived from, "The Bradford Library and Literary Society, 1774-1980", by Daphne Roberts and Bob Duckett (2006). The books chosen are from the period during which Patrick Bronte was a member.