The first Glasgow Civic and Empire Week ran during 1931 and according to the forward in The Book of Glasgow was organised to "stimulate trade and industry and to tell the story of the pre-eminent which Glasgow occupies in the World of Commerce and also its capacity still to lead the van of civic, industrial and commercial progress".

Like the guide to the Empire Exhibition, featured elsewhere on this website, The Book of Glasgow was supported by advertising from business, although in this case these were mainly local companies.

Some companies like the Highland House of Lawrie, the Daily Record and Mactaggart and Mickel are still trading today, the main casualties from this selection seem to have been the great Glasgow department stores such as Muiirheads, Lewis's (The Poly) and Paisleys.