Archives of the Rationalist Association

The Rationalist Association is part of a long history of freethought in Britain and now you can take part in this. Why not visit the Bishopsgate Institute to view our historical archive?

Highlights from the Archive:

You can rummage around the archive for AGM minutes, register of members and committee books all the way back to the 1920's and details of bequests to the organisation. The collection also includes publication files from the Rationalist Press Association. Files to look out for include The Humanist Outlook: a Symposium by A. J. Ayer (1967-1971), Has Religion Made Useful Contributions to Civilisation? An Examination and a Criticism by Bertrand Russell (1930) and The World As I See It, Parts I-IV by Albert Einstein (1940-1948) and many more.

Also of interest:

The Bishopsgate Institute hold the archives of the British Humanist Association and the Bradlaugh collection. They hold archives donated by two of our supporters James Hemming and Colin Campbell. You can also browse the archives of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, which was co-founded by the former editor of New Humanist and current Chairman of South Place Ethical Society, Jim Herrick. Finally, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Rationalist Press Association (1973-1981), Antony Chapman has donated his own personal files from his time with the organisation and are open to view.

If you find something of interest don’t forget to tell us your story using our Facebook page.

The Rationalist Press Association was also responsible for the accessible and affordable publication of the Thinkers Library. The series commissioned and reprinted many seminal works from biologists, physicists, philosophers and prominent freethinkers, notable names include Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, H.G. Wells, Thomas Henry Huxley, to name but a few.