Rushlight Club Purpose

“To shed light on the lights of the past”

The Rushlight Club, founded in 1932 for the study and preservation of lighting, is one of the oldest organizations dedicated to a single aspect of material culture.  The Club was incorporated in 1989 as The Rushlight Club, Inc., an international, educational, non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), organization. The collecting and research interests of members range from the earliest primitive lighting devices through lighting by gas and electricity.

The purpose of the Club, as set forth by its founders, is to stimulate an interest in early lighting and in the study of the origin, development and use of early lighting devices and lighting fuels. The Club's objective shall be to collect, preserve and disseminate information and research data obtained through these studies by means of written articles, lectures and exhibitions.

Written articles concerning the history, development and application of lighting, lighting fuels and accessories are published in the Club's journal, The Rushlight.   See Selected Rushlight Articles

Information about Club meetings, lamp shows, lighting lectures, conferences and exhibitions is published in the Club's quarterly newsletter, Flickerings and on this website.

The Rushlight Club offers a public forum on this website (Q&A Forum) where anyone can ask for help with the identification of lighting items or with lighting-related research.

The Rushlight and Flickerings are available only by membership in the Rushlight Club.


Join the Rushlight Club

Club members receive The Rushlight journal and the Flickerings newsletter along with occasional reprints of lighting ephemera and a Membership Directory. All members are encouraged to attend Club meetings which focus on various aspects of lighting. View Reports of Previous Club Meetings

Annual dues are $35 for U.S. members, $40 (USD) for Canadian and $45 (USD) for overseas members. The membership year is January 1st to December 31st. New members will also receive the current Membership Directory and selected reprints of lighting ephemera.

The Membership Directory includes information about the Club and the name, address and collecting interests of members. Members may optionally include their telephone number and email address in the Directory.

Click the link below for a printable membership form:

Rushlight Club New Membership Application (pdf)

Application for membership in the Rushlight Club may also be requested from:

Renewing Members

Renewal notices for the coming year are sent to Club members at the end of October and renewals are due by December 31st. Prompt submission of dues before the start of the new year ensures uninterrupted delivery of The Rushlight and Flickerings.
Make checks payable to "The Rushlight Club" and mail to:

Rushlight Club, c/o Mr. Larson Mick, 3101 Anderson Pike, Signal Mountain, TN 37377-1421



Club Officers

Editors and Chairpersons


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Rushlight Club Publications Available

Download links and order forms are listed under "Research"Click Here

The following Publications may be purchased directly from the Club:


 

Events and News:

Rushlight Club Annual Fall Meeting, Nov 1st - 3rd 2024

Rushlight Club Summer Meeting & Aladdin 51st Gathering and Lamp Show, July 21st - 28th 2024, E. Peoria, IL


Book Reviews:

Book reviews are listed under "Research"  Click Here

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Upcoming Rushlight Club Meetings:

Rushlight Club 2024 Fall Meeting
 November 1st — 3rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The 2024 Fall meeting will be held in the historic Rittenhouse Square area of Philadelphia Nov 1st-3rd, 2024.
Friday activities start at 1:30 PM so plan your arrival accordingly.

The Motto By Hilton - Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
31 S 19th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
267-494-0440

Details on room reservations and rates are shown on the registration form.
The cutoff date for our rate is October 10, 2024.

 Fall 2024 Member Meeting Registration (pdf)

Fall 2024 Meeting Itinerary


Upcoming Lighting Shows and Club Meetings:

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Reports of Past Meetings and Events:

2024

The Rushlight Club Spring 2024 Meeting, Cape May, New Jersey (pdf)
 
The Rushlight Club Summer 2024 Meeting & the 51st NAALC Gathering, East Peoria, Illinois (pdf)
 

2023

The Rushlight Club Fall 2023 Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (pdf)
 

2020

Rushlight Club 2020 Regional Meeting Report, Glen Ellyn, IL
 

2019

The Rushlight Club Fall 2019 Meeting, Sturbridge, Massachusetts (pdf)
 
Report on the Rushlight Club Summer 2019 Meeting & the 47th NAALC Gathering, Coralville, Iowa (pdf)
 
Rushlight Club Spring 2019 Meeting Report, Little Rock, Arkansas (pdf)
 
The Rushlight Club 2019 Regional Meeting, West Chicago, IL (pdf)

2018

Report on the 2018 Mid-East Lighting Collector's Meet & Lamp Show, October 27th, Richmond, Indiana
 
Rushlight Club 2018 Fall Meeting Report, Sept.  22nd & 23rd, Cooperstown, New York
 
Rushlight Club 2018 Summer Meeting & 46th NAALC Gathering Report, July 11th - 14th, East Peoria, Illinois
 
Rushlight Club 2018 Spring Meeting Report, May 4th - May 6th, Madison, Indiana
 
Rushlight Club 2018 Regional Meeting Report, March 17th, Glen Ellyn, Illinois (pdf)
 

2017

Rushlight Club 85th Anniversary Meeting, , Oct. 27th - 29th, Winterthur, Delaware
 
Report on the 2017 Mid-East Lighting Collector's Meet & Lamp Show, Richmond, Indiana (pdf)
 
The Rushlight Club Summer 2017 Meeting & NAALC Gathering, Columbia, Missouri
 
Report of the 2017 Rushlight Club Regional Meeting, Bensenville, Illinois (pdf)
 

2016

Report of the Rushlight Club Fall 2016 Meeting, Deerfield, MA
 
Report on the Rushlight Club 2016 Summer Meeting & NAALC Gathering, Louisville, KY (pdf)
 

2015

2015 Midwest Rushlight Regional Meeting Report, Jan. 31st, West Chicago, IL
 

2014

Report on the Rushlight Club 2014 Summer Meeting & NAALC Gathering, Indianapolis, IN
 
Report on the Rushlight 2014 Midwest Regional Meet, Glen Ellyn, IL
 

2013

Report on the 2013 Mideast Lighting Collector's Meet & Lamp Show, Richmond, IN
 
Report on the Rushlight Club 2013 Fall Meeting, Doylestown, PA
 
Report of the Spring 2013 Eastern Lighting Meet in Somerset, PA
 

2012

2011

Report of the Summer 2011 Meeting & NAALC Gathering, Indianapolis, IN
 
Report on the Rushlight Club 2011 Spring Meeting,  Corning, NY
 
Report of the Spring 2011 Eastern Lighting Meet in Somerset PA
 
Report on the Rushlight Regional Get-Together, Glen Ellyn, IL, Jan. 29th, 2011
 

2010

Report on the Rushlight Club Summer 2010 Meeting in Columbia MO (pdf)
 
Report on the Rushlight Club Spring 2010 Spring Meeting in West Suburban Chicago and Rockford IL (pdf)
 

2009

Report of the Spring 2009 Eastern Lighting Meet in Somerset PA
 

2008

Report on the Rushlight Club Fall 2008 Meeting in Nashville TN
 
Report on the Rushlight Club Spring 2008 Meeting in Philadelphia
 

2007

Highlights of the October 2007 Rushlight Club 75th Anniversary Meeting
 

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