Madras Literary Society

The Madras Literary Society is India's oldest learned society and subscription library, founded in 1812 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Located in the heritage red building within the DPI Campus on College Road, Nungambakkam, it houses a rare collection of over 80,000 books, journals and manuscripts. Notable for its colonial architecture and scholarly legacy, it remains a functioning library and research centre.

Visitors can expect a heritage colonial-era building with distinctive red exterior, quiet reading rooms, wooden shelves and archival stacks housing rare books, old journals including the Madras Journal of Literature and Science, and manuscripts. The setting is within the green DPI campus. Access is primarily for reading, research and heritage appreciation. Photography and browsing are typically by permission and the atmosphere is scholarly and tranquil.

Founded in 1812 by Sir John Henry Newbolt and Benjamin Babington, the Madras Literary Society is the oldest learned society in India. It was established to promote literature, science and arts in the Madras Presidency and began publishing the Madras Journal of Literature and Science in 1833. Its library, developed over two centuries, preserves rare books, colonial records and scholarly works reflecting Chennai's intellectual history.

The Society is a significant cultural and scholarly institution representing Chennai's literary heritage. It serves as a repository of knowledge, a research centre for historians and scholars, and a venue for literary talks, exhibitions and heritage walks, maintaining a continuous tradition of learning and public education since the early 19th century.