The LondonWorking Men’s College Magazine
The Working Men’s College Magazine was a publication produced between 1859 and 1869 by members of the London Working Men’s College, the pioneering adult education institution founded by Frederick Denison Maurice and his Christian Socialist circle in 1854.
The magazine served multiple purposes. First, it was a platform for communication and reflection within the College itself, allowing students and tutors to share essays, teaching experiences, letters, and debates. Second, it was an outward-facing document, disseminating the ethos and practices of the College to a broader public audience. In this way, it functioned as both a record of the College’s activities and a promotional tool, articulating its vision of inclusive, non-utilitarian adult education rooted in cooperation, and intellectual growth.
Crucially, the magazine also operated as a kind of connective tissue for a growing movement. Inspired by the London model, other Working Men’s Colleges were founded across the United Kingdom—in Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, and further afield, even reaching as far as Australia. The magazine circulated within this emerging network, helping to forge a shared identity and pedagogical philosophy across local contexts.
Its pages are a rare and powerful archive of working-class and reformist intellectual life. In articles on everything from art classes to women’s education, one can trace how Maurice’s radical ideals were interpreted, embodied, and occasionally contested by the very people they sought to empower.
About This Section
This section of the archive offers access to the contents of the Working Men’s College Magazine.
Because of the large file sizes, the magazine has been divided into 14 downloadable PDF parts, hosted via Dropbox. Each file is arranged in chronological order, and no Dropbox account is needed - clicking the links will download the files directly to your device.
Each part contains:
A PDF scan of the original magazine issues
This collection is intended to preserve and make accessible the intellectual world of the Working Men’s College for researchers, students, and anyone interested in adult education, Victorian culture, Christian Socialism, and social reform.
If you experience any trouble accessing the files, or would like help locating a specific piece, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the contact form.
Magazine Parts & Content
Contents of Part 1 (Vol 1, Jan 1859)
Preface by R.B. Litchfield
Introductory Lecture on the Studies of the (London) Working Men’s College by the Rev. F. D. Maurice
Scheme of Mathematical Study
Report of the Historical Section of the Council of the (London) Working Men’s College, on a Course of English History
New Regulations of the University of London for Matriculation in Arts
Report of the Salford Working Men’s College
Manchester Working Men’s College: First Report 1859
News
Meeting of Working Men’s Colleges at Manchester
Report of the Council of the Ancoats Working Men’s College
Contents of Part 2 (no. III, March 1859)
The Wolverhampton Working Men’s College
Oratorios for the Working Classes
News
Our Work
Mathematical Study
Lectures by the Rev. F.D. Maurice on ‘The Studies of the College’
Account of the Origin and Progress of the People’s College at Sheffield
Correspondence
News
Fourth Annual Report of the London Working Men’s College
Women’s Classes
The Museum
Physical Education
English Composition as a Study in a Working Men’s College
The English Literature Class at Manchester
Lecture on Decorative Art and its Relation to Manufactures
Correspondence
Manchester Working Men’s College
A College Hall
Riflemen, Form!
Lord Bacon on Mathematics
Account of the Origin and Progress of the People’s College at Sheffield Part 2
General Rules
News
Correspondence
Etymology and Grammar Certificates
Ince and Gilbert’s ‘Outlines of English History’
Contents of Part 3 (no. VII, July 1859)
Recruiting for a College
Methods of Teaching Vocal Music
Afternoon Classes for Women
Some Late False Pretences about Education
News
Our Conversazione
To Correspondents
Afternoon Classes for Women (part 2)
On the Study of Mathematics
Correspondence
News
Advertisements
What is the Use of It?
Five Years’ Teaching at a Working Men’s College
A Working-Painter and Poet
Correspondence
The Builders’ Strike
News
Notices
Classes for Women and Girls’ School
A Student’s Wife’s Notion of College and Classes
Two Years’ Student Life at a Working Men’s College
History of the Halifax Working Men’s College
Hints on a few Principles of Instruction of Working Women, Suggested by a Teacher
Correspondence
News
To our Subscribers
Our Leisure Hours
Examination in Algebra
English Grammar Examination
Wolverhampton Working Men’s College
Correspondence
Prizes or no Prizes
News
Ancoats Working Men’s College
Contents of Part 4 (no. XII, Dec 1859)
The Education of Women in Working Men’s Colleges
The College Rifle Corps
Some Uses of It
News
Correspondence
Index
Contents of Part 5 (vol II, Jan 1860)
Preface by Vernon Lushington
To our Subscribers
Will College Night Classes be of Use to Women?
On the Study of Literature
History of Trades’ Unions and Strikes
Ought Prizes to Have Money Value?
Correspondence
News
Answers to Correspondents
History of Trades’ Unions and strikes (part 2)
Thoughts on Drill
Introductory Lecture on the History of Industrial Progress in England from 1800 to 1860
News
Answers to Correspondents
Fifth Annual Report of the London Working Men’s College
Report on the Museum
Report of the Women’s Classes, 1859
On the Study of Chemistry
History of Trades’ Unions and Strikes (part 2)
History of Industrial Progress in England (part 2)
News
Correspondence by a Working Woman on Women’s Classes
Answers to Correspondents
Contents of Part 6 (no. XVI, April 1860)
Examinations and Prizes
Scheme of Examinations Adopted in the London Working Men’s College
On the Study of Chemistry
Do Working Women want Singing and Drawing?
News
Correspondence
Shall We Learn Latin?
A Letter to the Teacher of a Boxing Class on Prize Fighting by F. D. Maurice
Annual Report of the Working Men’s College, Halifax
News
Correspondence
Contents of Part 7 (no. XVIII, June 1860)
On the Use of Translations
Shall we Learn Latin? (part 2)
How to Make Colleges
English History Examination
Bartle Massey on Getting Knowledge
News
Country Colleges, How they may be Established
Reasons for a working Men’s College
Hints for Poor Students
College Volunteers
Correspondence
News
The Second Report of the Manchester Working Men’s College
Regulations
What to Learn: A Plea for Latin
Art Instruction for the People by Ruskin
News
Correspondence
Contents of Part 8 (no. XXI, Sept 1860)
What Shall I read?
Narrative of a Cooperative Association
History of the London Working Men’s College
News
The Present Condition of Mechanics’ Institutes
Trades Unions and Strikes
The University of London: Its Severance from the Colleges
College Excursions: A week in North Devon
News
History of the London Working Men’s College (part 2)
The Museum of the London Working Men’s College
Social Meetings
Examinations
News
Contents of Part 9 (no. XXIV, Dec 1860)
On the Study of Shakspere
History of the London Working Men’s College (part 3)
Correspondence
News
Index
Contents of Part 10 (Vol III, 1861)
Preface
Work and Play; or, Heads and Heels
On Some of the Uses of Learning German
Invicta. A Song of 1860 by Arthur J. Munby
Introductory Note on a Course of Mental Philosophy and Logic
Correspondence
Personal Explanation by F.D. Maurice
A Traveller’s Recollections and Thoughts on Education in the United States
Heads vs Heels; The Defendant’s Answer
Conferences on the Amusement Question
News
Correspondence
The Bible and the College by F.D. Maurice
London Working Men’s college 6th Annual Report
Work and Play (part 2)
The Choice of Hercules
News
Contents of Part 11 (no. XXVIII, April 1861)
A Few Thoughts about the Franchise
On the Study of Physical Science
Examinations
Reviews
Correspondence
News
In Favour of Universal Suffrage
A Plea for Geology
Examinations
The Franchise (Correspondence)
News
Contents of Part 12 (no. XXX, June 1861)
Salford Working Men’s College
The Working Men’s College, Halifax
On Learning Geology
Correspondence
News
A Scotch Working Men’s College
The Present Strike in the Building Trades
Letter to the Promoters of a Working Men’s College by F.D. Maurice
Our Rifles are Ready! Hurrah! A Song for Volunteers by T.S.
Cambridge Working Men’s College
The Ayr Working Men’s College
News
Learning by Heart
Mr J.S. Mill on Representative Government
An Idle Tour in Surrey and Sussex
News
The Social Science Association and the Employment of Women
A Plea for Botany
Trade Cooperation: Its Success in Paris
Lancaster Mutual Improvement and Recreation Society
Examinations
An Incident from the Builders’ Strike
Letters to the Editor
News
Contents of Part 13 (no. XXXIV, Oct 1861)
The American Constitution and the War
Report of the Education Commissioners, 1861
On the Employment of Women
News
Letter to the Editor
Wolverhampton Working Men’s College
The English Cyclopedia
Birkenhead Working Men’s College
Examinations
Letter from Mr Carlyle to a Student
Tennyson’s Poems in Country Cottages
A Noteworthy Book of Poems
Correspondence
News
Notices to Correspondents
Contents of Part 14 (no. XXXVI, Dec 1861)
A Greek Play
Cloth and Cords
Salford Working Men’s College Annual Report
Correspondence
News
Notice to our Readers
On the Working out of Good Fellowship
The London College Rifle Corps
News
Index
Advertisements for various Working Men’s Colleges and their Courses/Timetables