The Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers was formed in 1880 by the amalgamation of the member societies of the Central Association of Lithographic and Copperplate Printers' Societies of Great Britain and Ireland and had branches throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It absorbed the London Society of Lithographic Printers in 1912 and the London Society of Lithographic Music Printers in 1930. It existed as an independent union until 1969, when it merged with the National Graphical Association (NGA).

The main source for membership information is the series of quarterly and half-yearly reports (MSS.39/ASL/4/5/1-23), which are bound together and date from the union's foundation in 1880 until 1948. The half-yearly and quarterly reports for 1880-1930 (MSS.39/ASL/4/5/1-15) have been digitised by Findmypast and can be searched through their website (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Bound volumes of hand-written quarterly branch reports (MSS.39/ASL/2/1/1-7) are also held from 1880 to 1886. After 1948, most of the details formerly in the reports are shared between the half-yearly financial statements (MSS.39/ASL/4/7/1-6) and The Lithographer, the union's monthly journal (quarterly from September 1967), which began publication in March 1949 (MSS.39/ASL/4/6/1-20).

Branches

Branches existed in the following towns (with dates of existence): Aberdeen (1880-1969), Abergavenny (1917-1925), Accrington (1900-1969), Ashton-under-Lyne (1888-1956), Barnsley (1923-1951; members transferred to Leeds), Belfast (1880-1969), Birmingham (1881-1969), Bishop Auckland (1899-1940), Blackburn (1905-1924), Blackpool & St Annes-on-Sea (1922-1927), Bolton (1883-1919), Bolton & Wigan (1919-1963), Bradford (1880-1969), Brighton (1887-1889, 1894-1907), Bristol (1887-1969), Briton Ferry (see Neath and Swansea), Burnley (1911-1921), Cardiff (1885-1933), Carlisle (1883-1969), Chesterfield (1908-1969), Clydach (see Swansea), Cork (1881-1969), Coventry (1900-1954; members transferred to Birmingham), Derby (1880-1969), Dublin (1880-1969), Dumfries (1913-1954; members transferred to Glasgow), Dundee (1884-1969), Dunstable (1920-1926, 1938-1969; also see St Albans), Eastleigh (1937-1969), Edinburgh (1880-1969), Exeter (1885-1889, 1901-1912, 1918-1969), Glasgow (1880-1969), Gloucester (1883-1887), Greenock (1886-1891, 1897-1909, 1915-1937), Halifax (1900-1969), Hanley (1883-1915; renamed Stoke-on-Trent), Huddersfield (1880-1969), Hull (1887-1969), Hyde (1896-1939), Ipswich (1886-1888, 1897-1969), Kirkcaldy (1880-1969), Leeds (1880-1969), Leek (1906-1948), Leicester (1880-1969), Liverpool (1880-1969), London (1880-1969), Lytham St Anne's (see Blackpool), Maidstone (1885-1969), Manchester (1880-1969), Mansfield (1895-1910), Mansfield & Sutton-in-Ashfield (1910-1969), Middlesbrough & Stockton (1883-1964), Neath (1892-1903, 1908-1909, 1952-1969; also see Swansea), Neath & Swansea (1903-1905), Neath & Port Talbot (1909-1914, 1943-1947), Neath, Briton Ferry & Port Talbot (1914-1943), Newport (1905-1969), Newcastle (1880-1969), Northampton (1920-1969), Norwich (1888-1969), Nottingham (1880-1969), Paisley (1883-1969), Plymouth (1885-1955; members transferred to Exeter), Port Talbot (see Neath), Preston (1888-1969), Reading (1895-1969), Redditch (1920-1949), Rochdale (1883-1953; members transferred to Manchester), St Albans (1895-1919, 1920-1969), St Albans & Dunstable (1919-1920), Scarborough (1920-1953; members transferred to York), Sheffield (1880-1969), Southampton (1917-1937), Stockport (1886-1969), Stoke-on-Trent (1915-1969; formerly Hanley), Sunderland (1909-1918), Sutton-in-Ashfield (see Mansfield), Swansea, Neath & Clydach (1905-1908; also see Neath), Swansea, Briton Ferry & Clydach (1908-1914), Swansea & Clydach (1914-1966), Taunton (1948-1969), Tonbridge (1910-1960; members transferred to London), Ulverston (1894-1902), Wakefield (1890-1963), Warrington (1901-1923), West Bromwich (1894-1904, 1911-1969), Whitehaven (1894-1957; members transferred to Carlisle), Wigan (see Bolton), Wisbech (1954-1969), Wolverhampton (1883-1953; members transferred to Birmingham), Worcester (1883-1938), and York (1884-1969).

Full membership lists

The half-yearly reports contain full lists of the membership of each branch from 1880 to 1948, only listing name and union number. Those on military service 1914-1918 and 1939-1948 are indicated. The membership lists do not continue after 1948.

New members

New members are listed in the quarterly reports from 1880 to 1948, the half-yearly reports from 1880 to 1883 and 1895 to 1948, and The Lithographer from 1949 to 1968. Only name and branch are given, with date of admission from 1955.

Members transferring from the junior to senior sections (usually those advancing from apprentice to journeyman status) are listed in the quarterly and half-yearly reports from 1920 to 1948 and The Lithographer from 1949 to 1968. Information includes name, branch and date of transfer, as well as date of admission from 1956.

The quarterly branch reports (1880-1886) contain lists of new members, with name, age, marital status and date admitted.

There are also full registers of new members for the Multilith & Rotaprint (M & R; later Small Offset) Section, January 1947-May 1968 (1086/11/3), and the Stone and Plate Preparers' Section (including Tin Varnishers), October 1955-December 1968 (1086/11/4). These are arranged by date of admission and include name, branch, age, date of admission and date of exclusion (including death or leaving the trade). The M & R Section register also includes wages and type of machine qualified on.

Excluded members

Members excluded for all reasons (including death and resignation) are listed in the quarterly and half-yearly reports from 1880 to 1948 and The Lithographer from 1949 to 1968, with name, branch, cause and (from 1921 to 1948) date of exclusion.

Transferred members

Members transferring from one branch to another are listed in the quarterly and half-yearly reports from 1880 to 1948 and The Lithographer from 1949 to 1968, with name and the branches transferred from and to.

The quarterly branch reports (1880-1886) list transferring members under the headings of 'members admitted' (in the branch transferred to) and 'members excluded' (in the branch transferred from). Information includes name, age, marital status, branch transferred from/to and date admitted/excluded. From October 1885 these are on separate 'transferred to' and 'transferred from' lists, with the date of admittance to the union also listed.

Deceased members

Deceased members (and their wives from 1881) are listed in the quarterly and half-yearly reports from 1880 to 1948, with name, branch, age, date and cause of death. These lists continue in the financial reports (1948-1965) and The Lithographer (September 1967-1968), but only name, branch and age are given.

The quarterly branch reports (1880-1886) contain lists of deceased members, with name, age when admitted, branch to which admitted, marital status, date admitted and date and cause of death.

Superannuated members

Superannuated (pensioned) members are listed in the half-yearly reports from 1891 to 1948 and the financial reports from 1948 to 1965, with name and branch, and date of superannuation from 1908.

War service

Each quarterly and half-yearly report from 1916 to 1918 contains a list of all members serving in HM Forces, with name and branch only. Each report from 1916 to 1919 also contains a list of all members who have died while serving with HM Forces thus far in the First World War, with name, branch, rank, regiment, corps or service, age, date, cause and locality of death. From 1916 to 1919 there are also photographs and short biographies of members who have been decorated for their services.

Each quarterly and half-yearly report in 1940 and 1941 lists members serving with HM Forces, with name, branch, and sometimes regiment, corps or service. It is indicated whether a member is a prisoner of war or has been reported missing. Each report from 1940 to 1945 contains a list of members who have died while serving in the Second World War to date, with name, branch, age, regiment, corps or service, date and cause of death. From 1941 to 1945 there are also photographs and short biographies of members who have been decorated for their services.