Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
| Formation | 28 February 1781 |
|---|---|
| Type | learned society |
| Registration no. | 235313 |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Promoting the advancement of education and the widening of public interest in the appreciation of any form of literature, science, the arts, and public affairs. |
| Headquarters | Manchester, United Kingdom |
|
Region served
|
Manchester and Greater Manchester |
|
Official language
|
English |
|
Activities
|
Research & Publications, Lectures & Events |
|
Collections
|
Library, Archives |
|
President
|
Dr Diana M. Leitch |
| Website | www.manliphil.ac.uk |
The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, popularly known as the Lit & Phil, is a learned society in Manchester, England.
Established in 1781 as the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, by Thomas Percival, Thomas Barnes and Thomas Henry, other prominent members have included Robert Owen,John Dalton, James Prescott Joule, Tom Kilburn, Peter Mark Roget, Ernest Rutherford and Joseph Whitworth. The first formal meeting of the society took place on 14 March 1781. Meetings were held in a back room of the Cross Street Chapel until December 1799, after which the society moved into its own premises in George Street.
The original "House" (as it was called) was destroyed as a fire-break during the Manchester Blitz in 1940. Its replacement, built in the 1960s, was constructed using high alumina cement (referred to as having "concrete cancer") and was demolished in the 1980s. The Lit & Phil now usually meets in one of three hired lecture theatres: The Royal Northern College of Music, The Manchester Business School, or MANDEC (Manchester Dental Education Centre), all of which are within 200 yards (180 m) of each other. The society operates from an office provided by the Manchester Metropolitan University, and has two permanent staff.
The Lit & Phil offers over 30 lectures or similar events each year, one every week of the academic term. It became a registered charity (No. 235313) in 1964, and is a private members' society (three or four events each year are restricted to members and their guests only), and has more than 450 members. As a charitable institution the society encourages members of the public to attend most of its lectures to improve the further and higher education of those living in Greater Manchester. The most prestigious lecture is the Dalton Lecture, with the most distinguished speakers being presented with Dalton Medal. Since the local universities ceased offering extra-curricular courses the Lit & Phil has seen an increase in both membership and in the attendance of non-members at lectures.
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