Richard III Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Richard III Society was founded in 1924 by Liverpudlian surgeon S. Saxon Barton as "The Fellowship of the White Boar" (Richard's badge). Its membership was originally a small group of interested amateur historians. The aim of the Society was to bring about a re-assessment of the reputation of Richard III.
The society became moribund during the Second World War.
In the 1950s Josephine Tey published her detective novel The Daughter of Time, in which Richard’s guilt is examined and doubted. Lord Olivier released Shakespeare’s Richard III and a sympathetic, detailed biography of Richard was published by Paul Murray Kendall. All went some way towards re-invigorating the society.
In 1959 the Society was re-named “The Richard III Society”. The Duke of Gloucester became the society’s Patron in 1980. (Richard III was Duke of Gloucester before ascending the throne.)
It now has more than 4,000 members worldwide and an extensive program of research and publications, as well as social activities. Membership is open to all.
