The Glasgow Iron Work Benefit Society's charter chest, c 1837.
The Society was a friendly society for Glasgow iron workers, offering its paid-up members financial support in times of hardship as well as the funds to pay for a "decent" burial. This wooden chest would have been used to keep safe the Society's records and other documents, and perhaps to hold money. As a simple security measure, the presence of each of three key holders (typically the three leading office holders in the Society) would have been required to unlock the box.
Reference: 1419.87.58 / PP.1981.91
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
boxes, charter chests, friendly societies, Glasgow Iron Work Benefit Society, iron founders
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