Collection GB 0074 CLC/B/021 - BALTIC EXCHANGE

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/B/021

Title

BALTIC EXCHANGE

Date(s)

  • 1757-1994 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1134 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Baltic Exchange was based successively at Threadneedle Street and St Mary Axe. It was founded in 1744 as the Virginia and Baltic Coffee House, established as a meeting place for merchants trading with Virginia or the Baltic. From 1823, it was known as the Baltic Coffee House; later becoming the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange Limited (1900-1981/2). In 1857 the Exchange formed the Baltic Company Limited to purchase South Sea House (wound up in 1899). In 1899 the Exchange formed a committee called the City of London Exchange Syndicate to purchase a site in Jeffrey's Square (wound up in 1900). From the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century, the Exchange became a worldwide centre for freight and records of many thousand ship charters are held.

The Jerusalem Coffee House was frequented by managing owners of East India Company ships and East India merchants and brokers. In 1892 the Jerusalem became the Jerusalem Shipping Exchange of 22 Billiter Street, setting itself up as a rival to the newly established London Shipping Exchange. The London Shipping Exchange was more successful and bought out the Jerusalem Shipping Exchange later that year. In 1903 the London Shipping Exchange amalgamated with the Baltic Committee to become the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange Limited.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/B/021 1757-1994 Collection 1134 production units. Jerusalem Coffee House x The Jerusalem Ltd x Jerusalem Shipping Exchange
Baltic Exchange , 1982-
London Shipping Exchange , 1892-1903

The Baltic Exchange was based successively at Threadneedle Street and St Mary Axe. It was founded in 1744 as the Virginia and Baltic Coffee House, established as a meeting place for merchants trading with Virginia or the Baltic. From 1823, it was known as the Baltic Coffee House; later becoming the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange Limited (1900-1981/2). In 1857 the Exchange formed the Baltic Company Limited to purchase South Sea House (wound up in 1899). In 1899 the Exchange formed a committee called the City of London Exchange Syndicate to purchase a site in Jeffrey's Square (wound up in 1900). From the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century, the Exchange became a worldwide centre for freight and records of many thousand ship charters are held.

The Jerusalem Coffee House was frequented by managing owners of East India Company ships and East India merchants and brokers. In 1892 the Jerusalem became the Jerusalem Shipping Exchange of 22 Billiter Street, setting itself up as a rival to the newly established London Shipping Exchange. The London Shipping Exchange was more successful and bought out the Jerusalem Shipping Exchange later that year. In 1903 the London Shipping Exchange amalgamated with the Baltic Committee to become the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange Limited.

The records were deposited in Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section by the Baltic Exchange in 1994 (except board minutes from 1903 and printed annual lists of members from ca. 1860 which are retained by the Baltic). The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of the Baltic Exchange (1821-1994); the London Shipping Exchange (1892-1903), which was purchased by the Baltic Exchange; and the Jerusalem Coffee House (1757-1833), which was purchased by the London Shipping Exchange. The records include minutes, agendas, financial accounts, letter books and correspondence, administrative papers, membership records, shipping papers and records of the Airbrokers Association, 1947-1976 and the Institute of Shipbrokers, 1917-1987.

Material arranged in 3 sub-fonds: CLC/B/021-1: Baltic Exchange; CLC/B/021-2: London Shipping Exchange; CLC/B/021-3: Jerusalem Coffee House.

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

The following published histories are held in the Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library: J.A. Findlay, The Baltic Exchange (London, 1927); Hugh Barty-King, The Baltic Exchange: the history of a unique market (London, 1977); Hugh Barty-King, Baltick Coffee House to Baltic Exchange, 1744-1994 (London, 1994). The Printed Books Section also holds printed lists of members from 1919/20-1990 (incomplete) and copies of the Baltic Exchange magazine, 1960-77.

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.

November 2010 to January 2011. Organizations Associations Professional associations Merchants associations Water transport Transport Merchant companies Companies Enterprises Maritime transport Shipping Information sources Documents Business records Commercial premises Coffee houses Finance Investment Financial markets Exchanges People People by occupation Personnel Mercantile personnel Merchants Freight services Distribution services Virginia and Baltic Coffee House , 1744-1823 x Baltic Coffee House , 1823-1900 x Baltic Mercantile & Shipping Exchange Ltd , 1900-1982 x Baltic Exchange , 1982- London Shipping Exchange , 1892-1903 Jerusalem Coffee House x The Jerusalem Ltd x Jerusalem Shipping Exchange East India Company City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Baltic Sea

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The records were deposited in Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section by the Baltic Exchange in 1994 (except board minutes from 1903 and printed annual lists of members from ca. 1860 which are retained by the Baltic). The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Baltic Exchange (1821-1994); the London Shipping Exchange (1892-1903), which was purchased by the Baltic Exchange; and the Jerusalem Coffee House (1757-1833), which was purchased by the London Shipping Exchange. The records include minutes, agendas, financial accounts, letter books and correspondence, administrative papers, membership records, shipping papers and records of the Airbrokers Association, 1947-1976 and the Institute of Shipbrokers, 1917-1987.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Material arranged in 3 sub-fonds: CLC/B/021-1: Baltic Exchange; CLC/B/021-2: London Shipping Exchange; CLC/B/021-3: Jerusalem Coffee House.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English, French, Italian and Spanish.

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