Scottish Typographical Association was a labour union representing
typesetter
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of arranging physical ''type'' (or ''sort'') in mechanical systems or '' glyphs'' in digital systems representing '' characters'' (letters and other symbols).Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random ...
s in Scotland. It was founded in 1853. In 1974, it merged with the
Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT).
[ , ]
The formation of the union was organised by the Glasgow Typographical Society, although it incorporated local societies in other Scottish burghs. Membership gradually rose, reaching 4,700 in 1910. The union was a founding member of the
Printing and Kindred Trades Federation and, following a demarcation decision of the federation in 1928, it organised only assistants in case and machine rooms in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, but all typographical workers in the rest of Scotland.
[Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.93-94]
The union changed its name to the Scottish Graphical Association in 1973, but merged into SOGAT shortly afterwards.
General Secretaries
:1853: John Baird
[Sarah C. Gillespie, ''A hundred years of progress: the record of the Scottish Typographical Association, 1853 to 1952'', pp.243-244]
:1859: William Govan
:1871: George Craig
:1872: Simon Martin
:1874:
John Battersby
:1887: Robert Johnstone
:1893: John Templeton
:1911: John White
:1913: James Brown
:1917: John Watt
:1921: Robert Watson
:1942: Robert H. Lean
:1951: Harry Girdwood
:1961: Peter Whigham
References
1853 establishments in Scotland
Trade unions established in 1853
Trade unions disestablished in 1974
1974 disestablishments in Scotland
Printing trade unions
Defunct trade unions of Scotland
{{UK-trade-union-stub