The Rushlight Club

“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:

Mr. Dale Wiltsee, Corresponding Secretary

The Rushlight Club, Inc.

58 Meetinghouse Ct

Shamong, NJ 08088-9421

Phone: 609-268-7748

email: corresponding-sec@rushlight.org

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.

New! Pay $35 membership renewal using PayPal (existing members only)

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–OR–

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

  • Vice President:
  • (Open)
  • vice-president@rushlight.org

Editors and Chairpersons

  • Bylaws Chair:
  • Mr. Keith Letsche
  • Finance Chair:
  • Ms. Donna Schoenly
  • Nominations Chair
  • Ms. Donna Schoenly
  • Program Manager
  • (Open)

Rushlight Club Publications Available

Find download links and order forms under Research

  • The Rushlight 
    1980-2006 Cumulative Index    Available for Download (PDF)

  • The following Publications may be purchased directly from the Club:
  • Early Lighting, A Pictorial Guide, Second Edition, 1979
  • The Dietz & Company Illustrated Catalogue of 1860, First Edition, 1982

Events and News:

Book Reviews:

Book Reviews are listed under Research

  • Book Review: The Evolution of the Kerosene Mantle Burner
  • Book Review: The Dietz & Company Illustrated Catalogue of 1860 [sic]
  • Book Review: Center-Draft Kerosene Lamps, 1884-1940: Identification…

Upcoming Club Meetings and Lighting Shows:

The Rushlight Club Fall Membership Meeting, October 24th – 26th 2025, Andover, MA

The 2025 fall member’s meeting will be held in the northern suburbs of Boston from October 24th through October 26th. Friday activities start at 2 pm EDT in Andover so plan your arrival accordingly.

Our hotel is the DoubleTree (by Hilton) Boston Andover. The hotel address is:
123 Old River
Road, Andover, Mass
(978) 975-3600
Our “Rushlight Club Group” rate is $199 per night plus 16.25% tax for standard king rooms (a sofa bed is also available).
The cutoff date for the group rate is September 23rd, 2025.

Find more specific meeting and events details using the link below, and in the Fall 2025 Flickerings.
Fall 2025 Andover Meeting Description (pdf)

For the meeting Registration form use the following link for a printable copy.
Fall 2025 Andover Meeting Registration Form (pdf)

Reports of Past Meetings and Events: