Celebrating 120 Years of The Brontë Society

Thursday, 12th December 2013

The Brontë Society celebrates its 120th birthday on 16th December 2013 and we will be marking the occasion with a birthday cake for our visitors on the day and a series of wide ranging events worldwide throughout 2014. The Society is believed to be the earliest literary society in the English speaking world.  It is now a thriving organisation with an international membership devoted to the legacy of the famous Brontë literary sisters. 

The first meeting of The Brontë Society took place in the Town Hall Bradford on Saturday 16th December 1893 and was attended by over 50 people.  It was presided over by Rev W H Keeling, Headmaster of Bradford Grammar School.  It was resolved ‘That a Brontë Society be and is hereby formed and that the objects of such Society be, amongst other things, to establish a Museum to contain not only drawings, manuscripts, paintings and other personal relics of the Brontë Family, but all editions of their works, their writing of others upon those works or upon any member of the family, together with photographs of places or premises with which the family was associated’ and a Committee was formed which met on 13th January 1894 with    Lord Houghton (1858 – 1945) being appointed the Society’s first President and eleven Vice-Presidents, including the publisher George Smith, were created.  Today, the Society President is acclaimed playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer OBE.

The first museum was opened in Haworth on 18th May 1895 in the former Yorkshire Penny Bank at the top of Main Street in the upper floor (the building which is now the tourist information centre).  Soon it became clear that there was too little space in this building and in 1928 those premises were evacuated and the collections moved into the original Parsonage at Haworth which had been put up for sale by the Church of England.  Sir James Roberts, a native of Haworth and a Life Member of the Society provided the necessary funds (£3,000) to purchase the Parsonage and on 4th
August 1928 he and Lady Roberts presented the home of the sisters to The Brontë Society to be transformed into a museum and library for the Brontë sisters. Today the museum receives visitors from all over the world and scholars who come to the Library where we have the largest collection of Brontë material held internationally. The Society works in partnership locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to promote the Brontë legacy. A full programme of events, including lectures, panel discussions and pop up activities all over the country will be launched at an event in London on 19th February.

Sally McDonald Chair of the Brontë Council wished The Society and members best wishes and said: ‘Members of the Brontë Society are very proud to be celebrating their 120th anniversary this month and will be celebrating not only in Haworth but around the world.  We see ourselves as having a unique role being simultaneously a literary society and a charity that owns and runs a world renowned museum.  What an achievement.  What a responsibility.  From the start members have come together to promote interest in the lives and works of the Brontës but today activities are not limited to Haworth.’  

Sally continues: ‘The Society is delighted that members in London, Northern Ireland, Europe, America, Canada and Australia each put together annual programmes of activities; the editor of our newsletter lives in New England and the editor of our academic journal is based in Calgary.  Happy 120th birthday and many happy returns.’ 

Ann Sumner, Executive Director of The Brontë Society said ‘We wish all our members a very happy 120th
birthday and hope that visitors to the Parsonage on the day will celebrate with us on this very special occasion.  We are delighted that the Society is flourishing and looking forward to a year of exciting activity to mark such a special anniversary.  We have a long and fascinating history as well as great opportunities ahead with the upcoming bicentenaries from 2016, when we celebrate the bicentenary of Charlotte Brontë with many partners.  We hope you will join us at the Parsonage on 16th December with a last chance to see the Charlotte Cory exhibition’.

- ends-