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The Library Modern Records Centre

Carpenters and Joiners

Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners / Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners

Founded in 1860, the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners absorbed the Mersey Ship Joiners' Association in 1900 and the Associated Carpenters and Joiners' Society of Scotland in 1911. The society merged with the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers in 1918 to form the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners. This society in turn merged with the General Union of Carpenters to form the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers in 1921.

Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers

The society was formed in 1921 from the General Union of Carpenters and Joiners and the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners. On 1 July 1970 it merged with the Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators and the Association of Building Technicians to form the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers and Painters. On 1 July 1971 the Society joined the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers to form the the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers Painters and Builders. In December 1971 the Society's name was changed to the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.

Reference: T.J. Connelly, The Woodworkers, 1860-1960 (Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, 1960).

The Centre also holds records of the following woodworking trade unions:

Membership records

The Modern Records Centre holds three series of membership records. In each series the entries are arranged by branch. When the documents are undigitised, it is therefore essential to know which branch the member belonged to.

Admissions books, 1895-1920 (MSS.78/ASCJ/2/1/1-26)

These registers have been digitised by Findmypast and can be searched through their website (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Contain: There is one volume for each year. All members admitted during the year or transferred from other branches are included. Information given includes name, age, number of years at trade, date admitted, marital status, nominee for funeral benefit. Details of membership at overseas branches are included.

Admissions books, 1921-1931 (MSS. 78/ASW/2/1/1-11)

Admissions Books, 1921-1930 (MSS.78/ASW/2/1/1/1-10) have been digitised by Findmypast and can be searched through their website (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Contain: Name, age when admitted, number of years in the trade, date admitted, marital status, nominee for funeral benefit. Also includes lists of excluded members with date and cause of exclusion and transfers of members between branches.

Registration books, 1901-1921 (MSS.78/ASCJ/2/2/1-13)

These registers have been digitised by Findmypast and can be searched through their website (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Contain: These comprise lists of branch members in 1901, 1911 and 1921. Information given includes name, age when admitted, name of branch into which admitted, date when admitted, marital status and date of marriage if this follows admission to the union, status within the union, benefits received and date of death or exclusion.

Reference books, 1901-1921 (MSS.78/ASCJ/2/3/1-4)

These registers have been digitised by Findmypast and can be searched through their website (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Contain: These comprise lists of members in 1901, 1911 and 1921 who had transferred elsewhere. The name of a transferred member would appear in the admission books under his new branch and in the reference books under his old branch.

Annual reports, 1860-1920 (MSS.78/ASCJ/4/1/1-22)

Need: Date of death (or date of wife's death), date of admission (if between 1895-1920) and branch joined

Contain: Obituaries of members and members' wives. It is essential in all cases to know the branch. The monthly reports also include slightly longer obituaries of some members.

Annual reports, 1920-1971 (MSS.78/ASW/4/1/1-49)

These are in the monthly and quarterly journals.

Need: Date of death and branch joined

Contain: Annual reports of the successor union (ASW) also carry obituaries, although it has not been confirmed as to whether this is true for the whole period.