Collection GB 0074 CLC/114 - ARTISTS' ANNUITY AND BENEVOLENT FUND

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/114

Title

ARTISTS' ANNUITY AND BENEVOLENT FUND

Date(s)

  • 1810-1990 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

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.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area