Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents ; List of Figures ; List of Tables ; Acknowledgements ; Chapter 1 Introduction; The history of education; History of education studies; Early developments; Mechanics' Institute Unions; Historical debates; Structure of this volume; Note; References; Chapter 2 A brief history of the Mechanics' Institute Movement; Introduction; Support for mechanics' institutes; The beginnings of the Mechanics' Institute Movement; Stagnation and decline: 1826-1850; End of the Movement?; A new age, a new start; Conclusion; Notes; References
Chapter 3 Scientific education offered up to 1850Introduction; Curriculum developments 1824-1850 in the mechanics' institutes; Science curriculum and mechanics' institutes; Conclusion; Notes; References; Chapter 4 Scientific and technical education 1851-1900; Introduction; Pre-1851 exhibitions; The 1851 Great Exhibition of the works of industry of all nations; The 1870 Education Act; Royal Commissions; Technical Instruction Act and Local Tax Act; Mechanics' Institutes and University Extension Schemes; Conclusion; Note; References; Chapter 5 Social class and membership; Introduction
Early developmentsThe debate on class; Further evidence of working-class occupational membership in Mechanics' Institutes; Conclusion; References; Chapter 6 Mechanics' institutes and female membership; Introduction; Female membership in the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes; Conclusion; References; Chapter 7 From rented accommodationto civic pride; Introduction; Civic pride; Conclusion; References; Chapter 8 Mechanics' Institute Libraries and their contribution to a public readership; Introduction; Village circulating libraries; Literature and the Mechanics' Institute Libraries
The Public Libraries Act of 1850The Carnegie Libraries and the Mechanics' Institute Movement; Conclusion; Note; References; Chapter 9 Analysis of three clusters of mechanics' institutes and their impact on their local communities; Introduction; The North East Cluster; The Dales and Pennines Cluster; The Huddersfield and District Cluster; Conclusion; References; Chapter 10 Expansion of the Mechanics' Institute Movement beyond Britain; The Movement in America; Australia; Why were mechanics' institutes founded in Australia?; Mechanics' Institutes and the Library Movement in Australia
Impact of the Australian Mechanics' Institute Movement on the industrial classCanada; New Zealand; Conclusion; Note; References; Chapter 11 Conclusion and legacy of the Mechanics' Institute Movement; Introduction; References; Index
