Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1810-1990 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
63 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Artists' fund was established in 1810 for the protection and relief of artists engaged in painting, sculpture, architecture and engraving, and of their orphans and widows. All artists of merit, female and male, were eligible to become members, though most members were from London or the immediate surroundings. The fund was incorporated by royal charter in 1827 as the Society for the Management and Distribution of the Artists' Fund.
The fund was divided into two distinct branches. The annuity fund was maintained by members' subscriptions as an insurance fund for the payment of benefits on the sickness or death of subscribers. Each subscriber to the annuity fund was automatically a subscriber to the benevolent fund, which was for the exclusive relief of widows and orphans of subscribers to the annuity fund. For a time the benevolent fund was maintained not only by subscribers to the annuity fund, but also by means of appeals to the general public, but the latter method of raising money later declined.
Meetings of both branches of the fund were originally held in the Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen Street, but premises were eventually acquired in Suffolk Street, SW1 (ca. 1910). The registered office of the fund at the time of the records' deposit (1988) was 1 Serjeants' Inn.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/114 1810-1990 Collection 63 production units. Artists' Annuity and Benevolent Fund
The Artists' fund was established in 1810 for the protection and relief of artists engaged in painting, sculpture, architecture and engraving, and of their orphans and widows. All artists of merit, female and male, were eligible to become members, though most members were from London or the immediate surroundings. The fund was incorporated by royal charter in 1827 as the Society for the Management and Distribution of the Artists' Fund.
The fund was divided into two distinct branches. The annuity fund was maintained by members' subscriptions as an insurance fund for the payment of benefits on the sickness or death of subscribers. Each subscriber to the annuity fund was automatically a subscriber to the benevolent fund, which was for the exclusive relief of widows and orphans of subscribers to the annuity fund. For a time the benevolent fund was maintained not only by subscribers to the annuity fund, but also by means of appeals to the general public, but the latter method of raising money later declined.
Meetings of both branches of the fund were originally held in the Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen Street, but premises were eventually acquired in Suffolk Street, SW1 (ca. 1910). The registered office of the fund at the time of the records' deposit (1988) was 1 Serjeants' Inn.
The archives of both branches of the fund were presented to Guildhall Library in October 1988, except for the royal charters of 1827 and 1926 which were deposited on indefinite loan. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in 1988. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Records of the Artists' Annuity and Benevolent Fund, including records relating to the establishment of the fund, and joint records of both branches; records of the Annuity Fund; records of the Benevolent Fund; and records relating to John Pye, a founder member of the fund.
The records have been sorted into categories which reflect divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration. Order within these categories reflects chronology.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
June to August 2010. Benevolent societies Financial institutions Friendly societies Development aid Mutual aid Insurance Life insurance Organizations Associations Professional associations Finance Investment Annuities Societies Social security Health insurance Social welfare Artists Artists' Annuity and Benevolent Fund London England UK Western Europe Europe Social services
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The archives of both branches of the fund were presented to Guildhall Library in October 1988, except for the royal charters of 1827 and 1926 which were deposited on indefinite loan. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in 1988. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Artists' Annuity and Benevolent Fund, including records relating to the establishment of the fund, and joint records of both branches; records of the Annuity Fund; records of the Benevolent Fund; and records relating to John Pye, a founder member of the fund.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The records have been sorted into categories which reflect divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration. Order within these categories reflects chronology.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English