The Livesey Collection
British National Temperance League
The Livesey Collection is named in honour of Joseph Livesey of Preston, one of the early teetotal pioneers.
In 1987, the Livesey Collection transferred to the University of Central Lancashire from the British
National Temperance League in Sheffield. Since then it has been enriched by donations from temperance
groups and individuals.
The Livesey collection is held in Preston, home of the Temperance movement of the 19th Century. The temperance
materials form a major part of the archival collections of the institution whose parent establishment
Joseph Livesey helped to set up in order to educate and improve the lot of the working classes. The
collection now forms an internationally significant resource for the study of this subject that is
as relevant to contemporary study as it is to the understanding of the culture of the 19th and 20th
centuries.
The collection is made up of a significant number of journals, monographs, bound collections of pamphlets
and other non-textual items. These include lantern slides, posters, banners, textiles, crockery and
ephemera. The collection represents temperance societies and culture from the 19th century onwards,
from Band of Hope groups to the Rechabite Friendly Societies. Also included in the collection are
works relating to non-conformist religious groups in the Preston area.
Some items in the Livesey Collection are listed in the
Library Search, and others are available to view in the university repository.
The Archives can be searched for specific items (i.e., search 'Livesey'). We are in the middle of a project to digitise the bulk of the collection so the number
of items available to view from this source is growing everyday.
If you are interested in visiting the collection please see the advice on
Using the Special Collections. If you cannot find the item you are looking for on the catalogue
or in the digital archive or if you would like to make an addition of a temperance related item or
collection to the Livesey Collection or discuss any other related issue please email us
facultylibrarians@uclan.ac.uk.