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The Operative Society of Bricklayers was formed in 1829 and joined the Operative Builders' Union in 1831. It survived that union's collapse in 1834, but in 1848 divisions led to a split into two separate unions: the Operative Bricklayers' Society, also called the London Order, and the Friendly Operative Bricklayers' Trade Protection Society, which went through several name changes but was commonly known as the Manchester Order or Manchester Unity.

In 1921, these two societies reunited when they amalgamated with the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales to form the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers.

The society only covered London until 1861, when it began to expand, reaching Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and 糖心TVshire in 1861, Devon, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire in 1862, Shropshire in 1863, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire in 1865, Berkshire, Norfolk and County Durham in 1866, Somerset and Lancashire in 1867, Liverpool and Cheshire in 1869, Manchester in 1870, Cambridgeshire and Newcastle in 1872, Leicestershire and Teesside in 1874, Wiltshire and Huntingdonshire in 1875, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire in 1876, Buckinghamshire in 1877, Nottinghamshire in 1878, Cumberland in 1880, Essex in 1882, Sheffield in 1884, Suffolk in 1885, Sunderland in 1886, Leeds in 1888, Hull and York in 1890, Oxfordshire in 1891 and the Isle of Wight in 1894.

A branch was opened in Edinburgh in 1862, but closed in 1874. It reopened in 1894 and after that other branches began to open in Scotland, reaching as far north as Dundee in 1900 and Montrose in 1919 (although a branch briefly existed in Invergordon from 1917 to 1919). The first Welsh branch was opened in Newport in 1866, followed by Cardiff in 1874; the third Welsh branch did not open in Wrexham until 1892, after which a number of further branches opened across Wales, although the Swansea branch did not open until 1907. The first branch in Ireland was opened in Belfast in 1902; this was followed by others throughout Ulster, but the society never expanded elsewhere in Ireland.

There are a number of series of records containing genealogical information about members of the Operative Bricklayers' Society. The best source is the series of Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90), with seven volumes per year from 1908 to 1920 arranged alphabetically by branch. The Annual Reports (MSS.78/OB/4/2/1-20), from 1862 to 1920, also include some information. (charges apply to view images and transcriptions of the volumes).

Full lists of members

The Yearly Returns of Members' Payments (MSS.78/OB/2/1/1-89) contain full lists of members by branch from 1871 to 1920. The first volume contains three years (1871-1873) and the second two years (1874-1875), but thereafter there is one volume per year until 1890. From 1891 to 1899, there are two volumes per year, from 1900 to 1910 there are three volumes per year, and from 1911 to 1920 there are two volumes per year once more. Until 1895, the London branches are listed first, followed by other branches in roughly alphabetical order; from 1895, all branches are listed roughly alphabetically. Information included is name, age, date admitted to the union and quarterly payments.

The Out-of-Limits List (MSS.78/OB/2/3/1) lists all members on 1 July 1871 by branch (London branches first, then others alphabetically), including name, age when admitted, date of admission, weeks in arrears and amount of arrears.

New members

Listed by branch in the Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90) from 1908 to 1920, including name, age, date of joining and marital status.

Transferred members

Members transferring to or away from each branch are listed in the Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90) from 1908 to 1920, including name, age, date of admittance to the society and marital status, as well as branch transferred from or to.

Excluded members

Listed by branch in the Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90) from 1908 to 1920, including name, age when admitted, date admitted, marital status, cause of exclusion, weeks in arrears and amount in arrears.

Also listed in the Annual Reports (MSS.78/OB/4/2/1-20) from 1862 to 1920, including name and branch only.

Members receiving sick payments

Listed in the Annual Reports (MSS.78/OB/4/2/1-20) from 1869 to 1916, including name, branch, illness (1869-1895, 1912-1916) and amount paid.

Deceased members and members' wives

Listed by branch in the Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90) from 1908 to 1920, including name (plus husband's name for wives), age at admission, date of admission, date of death, age at death and cause of death.

Also listed in the Annual Reports (MSS.78/OB/4/2/1-20) from 1862 to 1916, including name (husband's name only for wives), branch, age and cause of death.

Branch officers

The names and addresses of all branch officers are listed in the Quarterly Branch Balance Sheets (MSS.78/OB/2/2/1-90) from 1908 to 1920.

War service

Members on active service are listed in the Annual Reports from 1914 to 1920 (MSS.78/OB/4/2/18-20), including only name and branch.

Members who died on active service are listed with other deceased members.

Branch records

Contribution registers are held for the King's Cross (1894-1901, 1909-1912; MSS.78/OB/BR4/2/1/1-3), Lambeth (1906-1918; MSS.78/OB/BR5/2/1/1-2) and Whitchurch (1894-1916; MSS.78/OB/BR7/2/1) branches. These list name, date of entrance, age, contributions and address.