Records of Woolwich Polytechnic, comprising minutes of the Trustees, 1891-1895; minutes of the Governing Body, 1894-1970; minutes of Committees of the Governing Body, 1895-1970; minutes of the Education and Finance, General Purpose Committee, 1896-1941, including sub-committees, building, recreation, schools, equipment; minutes of the Polytechnic Council, 1891-1903; minutes of the Polytechnic Trustees and Friends, 1891-1895; minutes of the Young Man's Christian Institute Social and Recreative Committee, 1895-1901; minutes of the Woolwich Polytechnic Social and Recreative Committee, 1901-1903; minutes of the Technical Board of Studies, 1923-1934; minutes of the Technical and Trade Board, 1937-1945; minutes of the Board of Studies, 1932-1934; minutes of the Academic Board, 1935-1960; registers of members of the Governing Body, 1895-1961; Governors' attendance books, 1935-1989; Governing Body handbooks, 1898-1970;

Woolwich Polytechnic sundry reports, 1890-1902; Principal's reports, 1900-1903; Principal's Report on the Social Side, 1905; Principals' reports, 1905-1950; reports of the Governing Body, 1905-1970;

administrative records, comprising Secretary's files, 1907-1973, notably applications for recognition to the Board of Education, 1907-1913; letters to T A Denny concerning buildings for Woolwich Polytechnic, 1890; licences to erect buildings, 1898-1902; minutes of meetings of Secretaries of London Polytechnics, 1939-1960; minutes of Head's meetings, 1953-1963; papers relating to the refectory and Refectory Advisory Sub-committee, 1940-1961; technical education, 1956-1961; teaching staff, 1959-1964; administrative staff, 1962-1972; financial records, comprising report and financial statements, 1892-1969; block grant files, 1911-1971; City Parochial Reports, 1927-1937, on the work of London Polytechnics; papers relating to trusts and prizes, comprising declarations of trusts and trust deeds, 1901-1931, Charity Commissioners order, 1960;

annual reports, 1904-1925, 1967-1970; prospectuses, 1891-1971, including for schools associated with Woolwich Polytechnic; calendars of classes, 1895-1934; information leaflets, including calendars of dates, 1953-1971; Students' Handbook, 1904-1933; albums of press cuttings, 1894-1907, 1958-1968; photographs of student classes, 1899; photographs for prospectuses, 1901-1905; internal views of the Polytechnic, including cookery school, laundry, club rooms, engineering workshop, ladies tailoring, playing fields; albums of staff photographs, 1950s-1960s, presentations, staff cricket matches, coats of arms; photographs of Governors, 1891-1970; Chairmen of the Governing Body, 1891-1973; Principals, 1893-1970;

magazines of Woolwich Polytechnic and Day Schools, 1905-1970, comprising The Pom-Pom, 1905-1906; The Polytician; The Probationer; Secondary School magazine, 1923; The Polygon, 1933-1954; Polly, Cycling Club magazine, 1948-1952; Chanticleer, 1948-1959; Proceedings of Woolwich Polytechnic Engineering Society, 1908-1914; Broadsheet, 1965; Principal's newsletter, 1969; staff bulletins, 1934-1953; staff journal, 1970; minutes, 1952-1957, and correspondence, 1950-1957, of the Magazine Board;

student records, comprising student record cards, 1900-1910; registers of attendances, 1905-1912; students' schedules, 1932-1945; class attendance books, 1908-1912, 1932-1964; student record sheets, 1912-1932; teachers' class reports, 1912-1976; class reports, 1953-1954; course reports, 1957-1961; examination results and reports, 1948-1957; statistics relating to students and student hours, 1946-1967; School of Art student record sheets, 1914-1932; School of Arts and Crafts record sheets, 1941-1943;

minutes of Woolwich Polytechnic Union of Clubs and Societies, including Woolwich Polytechnic Association, 1891-1903, 1929-1933, 1943-1968; annual accounts, 1960-1970; correspondence, not dated; Woolwich Polytechnic Students' Union handbooks, 1960-1970;

student theses and dissertations, [1929-1970];

Woolwich Polytechnic Lodge Ladies Festival programme, 1978.

Letters and accounts, mostly concerned with the cloth and clothing trade, between 1755 and 1763. The material was created by both Benjamin Wilson and Jonathan Dickinson, who appear to have been business partners.

Papers, 1883-1939, of and relating to William Charles Willoughby, comprising sketches of Urambo, 1883; photographic negative of Mirambo, king of Urambo; building accounts, 1894, 1897; correspondence, 1897-1904, 1917, 1923-1924, relating to his missionary work and writing, comprising letters received and copies of letters sent; pass for travel, 1900; invitation, 1900; various undated typescript and manuscript notes by Willoughby, some for sermons and addresses, others including information about Africa and Tiger Kloof; The Congregationalist, Jan 1914, publishing a speech by Willoughby; undated article by Willoughby in a London Missionary Society (LMS) newsletter; miscellaneous photographs of people and scenes in Africa; sketch map, undated; press cuttings, 1924-1932, of articles by Willoughby and reviews of his books on race relations in Africa and African beliefs and customs; correspondence and papers relating to Willoughby and Tiger Kloof, 1938-1939 and undated, including press cuttings.

Three holograph receipts, 1679-1706, of Gilbert Whitehall and two receipts of assignees of Whitehall.

Records of Whitbread and Company Ltd, brewers, with the papers of its subsidiary companies originally based in the London area, 1742-2000. These records will primarily be of interest to those concerned with the foundation and development of breweries or with the history of family businesses. A large collection of plans of properties, including public houses (LMA/4453/F/08), along with the Whitbread Archivist's research files (LMA/4453/G/05) will also be of interest to local historians researching specific public houses in the London area. Genealogical information about Whitbread employees is available in the Salaries Books (LMA/4453/E/01) and Pensioners Books (LMA/4453/E/04).

Corporate records include: minute books; memorandum and articles of association; partnership documents; articles, agreements, trusts and ordinary shares papers; agreements received books; contract books; Directors' fees journals; registers of seals; Sir Sydney O Neville: correspondence and papers; other correspondence and notebooks; agreements; correspondence and related papers; Royal warrants; policy files and partners' correspondence.

Financial records include: account books; balance sheets and accounts; Britannia Street statement of expenditure books; cash and accounts books; deposit ledgers; depreciation ledgers; general journals and ledgers; loan diaries and ledgers; partners ledgers; private ledgers and journals; rest books; securities ledgers; share registers; pocket books for order, rent and cash. Sales records include: beer returns; complaints books; excise books; export ledgers; sales and nominal ledgers; estate trade books; summaries and statistics and Take Home Division.

Production records include: ale brewing books; brewing process; butt books; cask ledger; cellar ledger; notebooks; F G S Baker's notebooks; fermentation books; porter brewing books; purchase ledgers and stock books; sample and sediment reports; starting books and transport and plant. Staff records include: salaries books and lists of employees; employment policy and related papers; accident books and health and pensioners books.

Records relating to premises include: deeds of title: Chiswell Street Brewery; deeds of title: public houses, beer houses and off-licences; deeds received and receipts for deeds books; property ledgers, land valuation and plan drawings of properties; rent ledgers; repairs ledgers; Northern Brewery Project; plans and charts; Chiswell Street Redevelopment and correspondence.

Records relating to advertising and the history of Whitbread include: advertisement albums; newspaper cuttings; photograph albums; histories and articles; archivists' research files and letters in response to advertising campaigns.

Records of subsidiary companies including: Whitbread Properties Limited
Whitbread (London) Limited
Whitbread International Limited
F S Stowells Limited
Ealing Welwyn Restaurants Limited
Forest Hill Brewing Company Limited
Improved Public House Limited
R White and Son Limited
Central Catering Limited
Manor Park Gripper Brothers Limited: Bell Brewery, Tottenham (later Tottenham Depot)
Railway Tavern Limited
Goodhews Limited
H and V Nicholl Limited, The Anchor Brewery, Lewisham
Theydon Hall Farm (later Threshers and Company Limited)
Jude Hanbury and Company Limited
Frederick Leney and Sons Limited
Mackeson and Company Limited Dale Brewery
Top Star Taverns Limited
Amey's Brewery Limited Chelsea Brewery
Douglas Ritchie Limited

Sales records of Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including beer returns (1903-1959), complaints books (1925-1952), excise books (1935-1976), export ledgers (1953-1957), sales and nominal ledgers (1790-1821), estate trade books (1889-1979, these include both public and private trade along with records of the bottling stores), off-licenses and Company interests arranged by region. Also includes summaries, estimates and other sales statistics from across the Company together with papers from the Take Home division.

Premises records for Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including various title deeds and documentation for property owned by Whitbread and Company, ledgers detailing property, rents, repairs and valuations, papers relating to the North Brewery Project and plans of Company premises organised by region.

Records, 1744-1976, documenting the work of the Methodist Missionary Society (from the Methodist Union of 1932), and the work of its predecessor missionary societies prior to 1932 - the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, and the missionary societies of the churches that formed the United Methodist Church - and covering overseas missionary work in Europe, North America, West Indies, Africa, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), China, Burma and Australasia.

The main series for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society/Methodist Missionary Society include material from the home organisation in London, which directed overseas missionary affairs, including Committee minutes and papers, candidates papers, 1829-1869, finance papers, 1817-1945, and outgoing correspondence. However, the bulk of the material comprises Synod minutes and correspondence send to London from missionaries in the overseas districts, including Europe, North America, West Indies, West Africa, Central Africa, South Africa, Kenya, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Southern India, Northern India, Burma, China & South East Asia, and Australasia/South Seas. Special series include biographical material of missionaries from all denominations; missionary ships' logs and papers; and a miscellaneous assortment of notes, typescripts, unpublished articles and histories. There are approximately 2500 photographs, which cover India, Burma, Ceylon, Australasia, Africa, China and the West Indies.

The collection also includes minutes of Conference for the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1744-1976.

A rent and account book, 1700-1712, for the estates of Sir John Wentworth in Yorkshire.

Family correspondence, 1879-1931, notably letters, 1884-1893, from Sarah E Wells to her sons, Edward and John Percy, mainly concerning the running of the farm, family events, her religious beliefs, and news of other family members; correspondence, 1879-1896, between William, Edward, John Percy, Sarah E, and Frank, notably from Frank concerning his impressions of South Africa, 1895-1896; twentieth century family correspondence, 1924-1931, mainly relating to the arrangement of Edward Wells' personal effects in preparation for a serious operation, 1931. Papers, 1899-1904, relating to the will of John Percy Wells, who died in 1900, mainly comprising financial records such as Inland Revenue forms, and papers relating to estate duty. Papers, 1898-1907, relating to shares in the London and North Western Railway and the Vulcan Foundry held by Gretchen Wells, including correspondence from various stockbrokers. Financial papers of Edward Wells, 1913-1931, including insurance policies, receipts and invoices, banking correspondence, income tax assessments, receipts relating to his hospital and funeral expenses, and London County and Westminster Bank account books for Edward Wells and Mrs S E J Sortman. Various anonymous articles, 1904-1920, on subjects including free trade and protectionism, the 'fall of the franc', and relief work among prisoners of war and refugees in Poland. Other family papers, 1807-1928, notably the British passport of Edward Wells, 1928; an Almanack, printed by W Peacock and Sons, 1807; a National Rifle Association medal and case, 1860; and assorted photographs, [1920-1925], coins and notes on the family history, [1920-1929].

Papers of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, 1874-[1984], comprising reports, correspondence, administration records, staff files, inventories, diaries, registers, notebooks, financial records, details of exhibitions and events, visitors books, photographs, publications, presscuttings, and papers relating to Henry Solomon Wellcome's personal life including arrangements for his funeral.

Papers and correspondence, 1846-1974, of David Meredith Seares Watson and his family, largely comprising biographical material and family papers, scientific correspondence, and photographs, also including a few Exchequer receipts, 1568-1622.

Biographical material, 1886-1974, includes Watson's birth certificate, 1886; documentation, including certificates and correspondence, of Watson's career, honours and awards over a period of forty years, including election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, 1922, the award of its Darwin medal, 1942, and the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society, 1965; correspondence about the Directorship of the British Museum (Natural History), 1937; correspondence about the presentation album on his retirement from the Jodrell Chair, 1951; correspondence and papers relating to his final retirement from research, 1965; obituaries, 1973; F R Parrington and T S Westoll's memoir of Watson from Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 1974; an account of Watson's early days and family background by his daughter Janet Vida; recollections by his research assistant Joyce Townsend; Watson's curriculum vita and bibliography.

Family papers include the birth certificate of Watson's father, David, 1846, correspondence with his wife Mary, 1888, and a letter of condolence to Mrs Watson on her husband's death, 1899; diaries of Mary Watson, 1881, 1885; birth certificate of their daughter Constance, 1888, letters from Constance to her brother David Meredith Seares Watson, 1905-1909 and undated; papers relating to Katharine Margarite Watson (née Parker), Watson's wife, including her birth certificate, 1891, marriage certificate, 1917, death certificate, 1969, and various correspondence; papers relating to Watson's daughter Katharine Mary, including letters of congratulation on her birth, 1918, and letters to her parents, 1950, 1955; material relating to Watson's mother's family, including letters of her father Samuel M Seares, 1871, 1879-1882; papers of Charles J B Hutchinson, 1879-1880, who emigrated to Australia after his engagement to Watson's mother was broken off but who remained in correspondence with her aunt, Fanny Rossiter; other Parker family papers, 1929-1972; miscellaneous other personal correspondence, 1896-1965.

Four Exchequer receipts dated 1568, 1580, 1616 and 1622 were found enclosed with a letter to Watson's wife.

Scientific correspondence of Watson, sometimes including photographs of fossil specimens, with leading palaeontologists in Africa, 1947-1953, America, 1915-1964, Australia, 1931-1962, China, 1926-1927, 1935-1964, England, 1913-1914, 1920, 1926-1960, France, 1930-1936, 1945-1956, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, 1920-1962, Russia, 1920-1962, and Scandinavia, 1922-1964, and with the palaeontologist Robert Broom, 1911-1950, and Watson's research assistant Joyce Townshend, 1929-1973, also including a few letters from Watson's wife and scientific colleagues, and an obituary of Watson, 1974; correspondence and papers on bones found at Qau, Egypt, 1930-1957, 1972; miscellaneous other palaeontological correspondence, 1912-1967. There are few copies of Watson's outgoing letters before the end of the Second World War.

Photographic material comprises photographs documenting Watson's career, [1912]-1965 and undated, some including colleagues; photographs of scientific colleagues, 1911-1951 and undated, including Watson's predecessor as Professor at University College London, J P Hill, and Robert Broom; album of photographs and signatures presented to Watson, 1951; undated family photographs, including a photograph of Watson as a boy, photographs of members of the Seares and Parker families, and photographs of Watson's wife, Katharine Margarite, and daughter, Katharine Mary; photographs of unidentified fossil specimens.

Royal Society Darwin Medal Award given to Watson, 1942.

An account book, 1802-1819 of mixed farming and general nature, probably kept by Richard Walker of Bradmore, Notts, whose name appears inside the covers of the volume, and who is probably the addressee 'dear brother' in a letter enclosed signed 'J. Walker.'

Accounts of Henry Vane's land estate from March 1736 to March 1737.

Valuation lists of the London County Council Valuation Department, 1911-1945. Information contained in these valuation lists includes: street name, number of property in street, very brief description of property i.e. 'house', 'flat', 'public house' rateable value, and so on. No names of owners/occupiers are given.

Records of the London County Council Valuation Department, 1891-1965, including papers on the assessment of railways in London; press cuttings and other papers relating to transport organisation including fares and facilities, River Thames passenger services, canals, policy, railways, parking, congestion, air fares, the British Transport Commission, the London Transport Executive, pay and working conditions, bus services, arterial roads, the London Traffic Act, 1924; papers relating to town planning schemes; legislation affecting London and papers relating to road improvement schemes.

Registers of applications for mortgages and housing loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and the Housing Acts. Returns of gross and rateable value of properties by locality; pamphlets, articles and posters relating to street and road improvements; site plans of LCC hospital properties transferred to the Ministry of Health in July 1948 under the National Health Service Act, 1946.

Order and account books of Bristol University Physiology Department, 1910-1980 (63 volumes), including Veterinary Department, 1949-1962, order books, 1925-1959, animal register, 1948-1968, repairs and supplies, 1959-1962, capital and revenue accounts, 1948-1980.

Records, c1725, 1799-1986, of the United Society for Christian Literature (USCL) and its predecessors, including the Religious Tract Society, comprise:

Executive Committee minutes for the RTS, 1799-1935 (some gaps) (Ref: USCL 1-113), continued under the USCL, 1935-1953 (Ref: USCL 113-122), and other minutes, including copyright, finance, and local associations, for the RTS, 1806-1935, and USCL, 1935-1972 (Ref: USCL 123-149, USCL Add 6, 15, 19-22);

copies of outgoing RTS letters, 1824-1889 (Ref: USCL 150-195); miscellaneous correspondence of the RTS, 1824-1847 (Ref: USCL Add 23-26);

annual reports for the RTS, 1820-1935 (many gaps) (Ref: USCL 311-336, USCL Add 34), USCL, 1935-1962 (Ref: USCL 337-357, USCL/S 69-72, 99-103, USCL Add 38), and RTS (China), continued under the USCL, 1884-1947 (Ref: USCL 366-376);

ledgers and accounts, 1836-1952 (Ref: USCL 196-231);

papers of the RTS, succeeded by the USCL, relating to copyright, 1825-1835 (Ref: USCL Add 1-2); reports of sub-committees on anti-popery, 1839, and new warehouses, 1844 (Ref: USCL Add 3-4); salaries books, 1851-1938 (Ref: USCL Add 5); letters, report and pamphlet relating to the Assam mission, India, 1857-1859 (Ref: USCL Add 7); legacies book, 1911-1986 (Ref: USCL Add 11); USCL register of members, 1946-1963, also including declarations of employee names, 1948-1972 (Ref: USCL Add 16); USCL papers concerning premises in Lusaka, Rhodesia, 1949-1955 (Ref: USCL Add 17); reports on USCL officials' visits to India and Ceylon, Northern Rhodesia, and Zambia, 1950-1969 (Ref: USCL Add 18); papers documenting USCL history, 1927-1976 and undated, including notes, chronology, printed material, and photographs, including the fire damage of 1941 (Ref: USCL Add 64-71);

RTS and USCL printed tracts, c1920-c1950 (Ref: USCL 400-401); annotated listings of RTS publications, 1842-1859 (Ref: USCL Add 39); RTS publications, 1822-1934 and undated (Ref: USCL Add 41-57); USCL publications, 1935-1962 and undated (Ref: USCL Add 57-62); miscellaneous publications, c1725, 1816-1960, including some on the work of the RTS but also including other publications, some by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Ref: USCL 377-399, USCL Add 40, 63).

There are also records, 1858-1950, of the Christian Literature Society (CLS) for India (and Africa) and its predecessor; and records, 1885-1977, of the UCSL (Scotland) and its predecessors.

Turquand Youngs and Company records entirely comprise financial records apart from a few items in Ms 31382 relating to Parr's Bank, for which accountants' notebooks concerning audit, c 1900-1919 also survive (Ms 31381). Unfortunately, the two main series of ledgers, 1858-1910 (Ms 31377) and cash books, 1860-1910 (Ms 31378) are incomplete.

Records of the Tudor Brothers, fancy drapers, comprising copy draft agreement by Evans to Tudor Brothers regarding shops numbers 4-6 Imperial Court, Albert Gate, Brompton Road, Kensington (with plans), 26 Aug 1903 and copies of profit and loss accounts of Tudor Brothers, fancy drapers, 1901-1904.

Manuscript volume containing a memorial concerning proposed alterations to the laws relating to bankruptcy and the ranking of creditors in Scotland, [1716], protesting against the adoption of English laws in Scotland.

Manuscript treatise on the Italian method of book-keeping, possibly written in the early 18th century by William Forbes, entitled 'Book-holding. In two parts. The first, ane explanation of the severall books with the manner of bringing the accompts into them. The second a praxis upon trade'. The manuscript was apparently unpublished. The Italian method is defined by the author as 'a method for keeping accompts to shew & rightly distinguish betwixt meum and tuum, or my affairs & interest, and those of the persons dealing with me in them as also in ane instant the condition of ones estate & at one view at what posture it is in at the time'.

Papers, 1786-1875, of John and Sarah Thomas, including John Thomas's journals and memoranda books, 1821-1875, including his religious reflections, life in England and Tonga, and missionary work; sermon notes, undated; manuscripts on Tonga and the South Seas, including mythology, religion, history, and ranks of chiefs, undated; photographs, prints and drawings, most unlabelled, of people and places in Tonga, undated [1820s-1850s?]; two accounts of the life of Sarah Thomas by John Thomas [1867 or after]; miscellaneous correspondence, 1825-1873, of John and Sarah Thomas, including letters from John Thomas to Wesleyan Mission House; journals of Sarah Thomas (née Hartshorn), 1826-1855, including her experiences in Tonga; account book for building a new Methodist chapel in Glasgow, 1786-1792; steward's account book, 1813-1820, of the Methodist Society, Glasgow, including Leaders' meetings minutes, 1813-1820.

Records of Thames Polytechnic, 1971-1992, comprising minutes and papers of the Court of Governors, 1977-1982; Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1970-1984; meetings of the Academic Council, 1977-1982; Committee for Institutions, 1981-1982; staff and student affairs standing committee, 1978-1980; Education and Movement Studies faculty board, 1978-1980; Architecture and Surveying faculty board, 1977-1980; Prizes, Awards and Examinations Committee, 1977-[1980]; papers submitted to the Court of Governors, 1970-1992; Memoranda and articles of association, 1970; reports and financial statements, 1974-1975, 1983-1992; block grant files, 1971-1989; papers relating to mergers with Dartford College of Education, [1975-1976] and Avery Hill College, [1983-1985]; changeover from Polytechnic to University status, [1990-1992];

calendar and staff lists, 1979-1990; staff handbooks, [1971-1990]; Governing Body handbooks, 1971-1992;

magazines and newspapers of Thames Polytechnic, comprising Thames Polytechnic Staff Journal, 1970-1971; Thames Polytechnic TP Bulletin, 1971-1978; Thames Currents, 1978-1985; Thames News, 1985-1987; Thames View, 1987-1992; Thameslink, Newsletter for Teachers & Advisors of Entrants to Higher Education, 1992; Alumni magazines, comprising TPA News, 1980-1985; Thames View Alumni Special, 1990; Alumni magazines, 1994-1996;

photographs of Directors of the Polytechnic, 1970-1992; of presentations, [1970-1992]; staff cricket matches, [1970-1992]; Chairmen of Governing Body, 1970-1992; photographic material used for Traditions & Controls in the making of a Polytechnic: Woolwich Polytechnic 1890-1970 by Michael Locke, 1978;

prospectuses, 1970-1993; annual reports, 1969-[1991]; research reports, 1971-1992; programmes of presentation ceremonies, [1970-1992]; annual lectures, 1971-1981; Public Relations files, containing publicity material and advertisements, press releases, 1981-1992; press cuttings, 1970-1992; Christmas cards, [1970-1992];

Students' Union magazines, 1971-1975, comprising copies of Biffo, 1971; Crusty, 1975; Links, undated; papers relating to Thames Film Festivals; Students' Union handbooks, 1970-1991;

students' theses and dissertations, 1970-1989.

A bill, 1677, for materials supplied and made up by a dressmaker, totalling over £14.

Two volumes of account books, for rent and general purposes, kept between 1783-1795 by a member of the Tayler family. Includes details of stocks and bonds such as Battersea Bridge tolls, and income from property in London, as well as household accounts.

A small collection of papers of Sir Arthur George Tansley, mainly related to the formation of organisations, in the period 1918-1921, that aimed to promote pure and applied scientific research. The bulk of the collection consists of papers relating to Tansley's involvement in the Scientific Research Association. The Scientific Research Association's papers include rules, promotional leaflets and circulars, financial material and a relatively large amount of correspondence. A smaller amount of material survives for the National Union of Scientific Workers including rule booklets, membership lists, reports from meetings, agenda and promotional leaflets and circulars. Only a few items are preserved in this collection for the Federation of Technical and Scientific Associations and the Cambridge Research Group. The published articles and reports at AT/5 mainly concern issues related to the funding, support and the general state of scientific research. As a whole the collection reveals many problems faced by those who wished to organise research work after the first world war, such as the problem of rival organisations created to promote research whose aims overlapped, and disagreements over how and whether research could be organised. For example a letter from the Royal Society to the Scientific Research Association commented that 'lines of development' were 'discovered not by councils or committees but by the instinct of individuals, and the less this is trammelled by organization the better' (AT/2/6/1/42). The article 'Research and Organisation' at AT/2/3/15 was written in an attempt to answer such criticisms by arguing that research could be organised. Other issues also surface in the correspondence of the Scientific Research Association. For example one letter opposed support for any scheme founded on government funding as 'government endowment will, in the long run, corrupt Science...' (AT/2/6/2/17). There were also disagreements as to whether emphasis should be laid upon 'the promotion of scientific research' or 'the economic interest' of research workers which seems to have contributed to a division between the National Union of Scientific Workers and the Scientific Research Association (AT/2/4/3).

Records, 1869-1967, of John Swire & Sons Ltd, comprising the bulk of known surviving material stored in the London Office, covering the development of the firm from about 1870 to 1947, and including series of correspondence coming in and out of the London Office; legal material including original deeds and leases; accounts; organisation papers; and photographs. The importance of the collection lies in the comprehensiveness of the nineteenth and twentieth century correspondence in illustrating the development of the firm and its subsidiaries from the London side where policies were decided, and from the Eastern side where they were implemented. It also gives a good picture of leading figures and firms involved in the Far Eastern trade at that time such as Jardine, Matheson & Company, the China Merchants Company and Holt's, and reveals aspects of Chinese trade and British business philosophy at the end of the Victorian era.

Records of the Sun Insurance Office Limited relating to finance; including annual accounts; summary of income; quarterly accounts and statements; ledgers; cash books; reports; and profits book.

THESE RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO A 50 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD. LIFE POLICY REGISTERS, CLAIMS REGISTERS AND EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY POLICY REGISTERS ARE CLOSED FOR 75 YEARS.

Papers relating to Bedford College Union Society, 1894-1984, including the Senior Student's Book, 1894-1923; Minutes of the Executive Council of the Bedford College Student's Association, later BCUS, 1894-1983; BCUS general correspondence with College Secretary, 1919-1966; minutes of BCUS General Meetings, 1942-1984; minutes of the Finance Committee of BCUS, 1960-1983; printed draft Constitution of the BCUS, 1966; copies of BCUS publications concerning student activities, [1970-1985]; copies of the Bedford College Student's Handbook, 1966-1982; student ephemera, including sports shields, cups and badges. Papers of the Bedford College Old Student's Association, 1906-1986, including minutes, agendas and papers of the BCOSA, 1911-1974; correspondence and papers of the BCOSA, 1906-1968, and the Bedford College Association, 1969-1974; BCOSA Cash Books, 1920-1951; bound copies of Bedford College Old Student's Reports, 1922-1986, containing reports of meetings and information on former students; BCA Calendars, 1975-1984.

Records, c1869-1979, of the Strand School and its predecessors, comprising Headmaster's general and policy files, 1875-1977 (Ref: KSS/GPF); minutes of the Strand School, 1913-1938, and minutes relating to staff, 1957-1978, Houses of the school, 1942-1969, school societies, 1936-1957, parents' open evenings, 1956-1969, and conference of Headmasters and mistresses of London County Council (LCC) secondary schools, 1925-1952 (Ref: KSS/M); ledgers of pupils' accounts with the school, 1868-1908 (Ref: KSS/L); printed school accounts, 1910-1913 (Ref: KSS/ACC); registers containing staff details, 1893-1970, pupils' details, 1900-1925, 1931-1936, 1946-1979, and House records, 1933-1959 (Ref: KSS/R); Headmaster's albums of commended essays and artwork, 1912-1929 (Ref: KSS/ALB); record books of the Nature Society, 1909-1939, and sports record book, 1950-1956 (Ref: KSS/RB); programmes for school events, 1905-1912, 1950-1973, and school calendars, 1969-1977 (Ref: KSS/PRG); school magazines, 1905-1977 (Ref: KSS/PM); school prospectuses, 1915, 1938 (Ref: KSS/SYL); catalogues of books in Strand School and King's College use, c1869-c1894 (Ref: KSS/CA); bound addresses of thanks from staff and students to William Braginton, 1909-1910 (Ref: KSS/SP); private papers of Lt H Alnwick, comprising exercise books of plays written by him, 1924 (Ref: KSS/PP); ephemera including various invitation cards to school events, 1912, 1957-1968, a scheme for amalgamation of schools, 1906, regulations regarding management of the school, 1909, and the Strand School song and school rules, both undated (Ref: KSS/EPH); photographs, c1900-c1970 and undated, including school classes, staff, sports, portrait of William Braginton and the front of the Strand School, Brixton (Ref: KSS/PH); LCC's London School Plan and associated maps, 1947 (Ref: KSS/PBN); Keith Thomas White, 'History of Strand School, 1875-1913', written for MA in Science Education, Chelsea College, University of London, 1984 (Ref: KSS/TH).

Manuscript account of expenses occurred by Dr Thomas Hume for the printing by John Stockdale's firm of Odes of Anacreon, translated by the poet Thomas Moore, 1800. The discharged account bears a note 'Settled in full November 11th 1800', and the signature of Thomas Hume. With a duplicate receipt for £181.18.0 signed by John Stockdale.

Legal papers from the office of Sir George Stephen, barrister and solicitor, 1807-1841, including writs issued to Sheriffs of London to take up various persons to answer charges in the Court of King's Bench and Court of Exchequer, 1807, 1822, 1826, 1827, 1832 and 1838; memorial of assignment of lease of land in Saint George Hanover Square, 1815; petition for commission in bankruptcy, by Robert Lang of Wilson Street, Finsbury, merchant, against William Abbott, merchant, dealer and chapman, partner with Richard Arthur Maitland of Madras, East Indies, in firm of Abbott and Maitland, 1820; subpoenas for various persons to appear at Gaol Delivery Sessions for City of London to testify against William White and others for felony, 1821; subpoena for George Holt to appear at Middlesex Sessions of the Peace to testify touching bill of indictment against Thomas Odderley Phipps for libel, 1821; correspondence, 1834-1835, and form of proposal for sale of reversionary interest in personal property of Henry Laing of Camberwell, 1841.

Personal and estate account book for Carlton and Bedale.

Records of Littleton and Shepperton Parish, 1897-1965, including rate books, valuation lists, collecting books and balance sheets.

Records of Sunbury Urban District Council, 1895-1965, including rate books, collection books, valuation lists, rate collectors books and financial accounts.

Records of Ashford Parish, 1915-1927, comprising rate books.

Records of Staines Parish, 1897-1925, comprising rate books.

Records of Staines Urban District Council, 1868-1965, including rate books, valuation lists and financial accounts.

Papers relating to the Association of University Teachers (AUT), including minutes, 1919-1971; cash and account books, 1920-1972; discussion papers and reports, 1919-1935; correspondence, papers and magazines, 1919-1954; correspondence with members and membership lists, 1919-1955. Papers of the Bedford College Assistant Staff Association, notably minutes, 1917-1929, and draft constitutions and rules, 1918-1922. Papers of the Bedford College Staff Association, including minutes, 1917-1958; papers relating to a meeting with the College Council concerning public statements by staff, 1956-1957; printed regulations, [1950-1960]; papers concerning the Senior Common Room and the Senior Common Room Club, 1921-1975, including minutes of meetings, accounts, suggestion books and dinner menus. Minutes of the Staff Athletics Club, 1928-1947. Correspondence and papers relating to the National Association of Local Government Officers, [1970-1985]. Accident Book, 1950-1982.

Records of Spicer and Pegler, chartered accountants, comprising private letterbooks 1902-12 and 1972, and photographs of Ernest Pegler, 1936.

Records of Saint George the Martyr Poor Law Parish, 1835-1873; including minutes of the Board of Guardians; orders of removal; admission and discharge registers; and registers of children admitted.

Records of Saint Mary Newington Poor Law Parish, 1867-1874, comprising Board of Guardians minute books and Newington Sick Asylum District manager's minute books.

Records of the Southwark Poor Law Union (formerly the Saint Saviour's Poor Law Union), 1798-1933, including minutes of the Board of Guardians and various Committees; byelaws and regulations; property documents including deeds; correspondence; settlement examinations; removal orders; report books; admission and discharge registers and creed registers; registers of children admitted and boarded out; register of boys sent to the Training Ship Exmouth; registers of children sent to the Hanwell Schools, Central London Schools District; financial accounts; staff records; plans made as part of survey for rating valuation of property in Saint Saviour's Union; and notices of marriage.

A bill, late 17th century, for services rendered and items supplied by a saddler.

Letter from William Collingwood Smith of Wyndam Lodge, Brixton Hill, London [the printed address of the Society of Painters in Water Colours, Pall Mall East, London SW, has been struck through] to Augustus De Morgan, 8 Dec 1870. Asking him to assess the depreciation in the Society's assets.

Letter from Richard Smith of 'Bordeaux River', [France] to Seth Barton, merchant, Baltimore, [USA], 1794. Giving the terms of a charter party between James Swan and Co and Thomas Harris, on the London Packet (c 260 tons), which was to take on a cargo of wines and brandy at Bordeaux, to carry to Baltimore; discussing expenses and asks Barton to take out £400 insurance for him.

Autograph, with signature.

Account books of Smalley and Co., [merchants], 1697-1729, including details of goods for Ralph and Francis Smalley and others.

Collection of documents relating to national events or institutions. The documents relate to varied subjects including Parliamentary elections and proceedings; taxation including tax assessments, tax agents and accounts; military commissions; the Tower of London; excise; military orders; passwords issued by royalty; bankruptcies; militia; licences; warrants; petitions; and patents.

Records of Sissons, Bersey, Gain, Vincent and Company, chartered accountants, comprising articles of partnership and related deeds and papers, 1895-1953, a balance sheet, 1934, menus for staff dinners and other occasions, 1919-70, and correspondence to do with the accountancy careers of Joseph Walter Vincent, 1895-1902.

Records, 1960-1986, of Sidney Webb College and its successor, including minutes and related papers, comprising Advisory Committee and Governing Body minutes, 1960-1970; Governing Body agendas, minutes and papers, 1971-1975, including published HMSO and ILEA reports on education and teacher training, 1972-1973; Staff and Academic Board minutes, 1961-1967; Staff Meeting agendas, minutes and papers, 1967-1968; Academic Board agendas, minutes and papers, 1968-1975; Library Committee minutes and other papers, 1961-1977; Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee agendas, minutes and papers, 1969-1975; Appeals Committee papers, 1973. Other administrative papers comprise papers relating to the early years of the College, including premises, 1961-1970; letters from students, 1964; papers on non-academic staffing matters, including issues relating to the merger with the Polytechnic of Central London, 1969-1977; papers on staffing and re-structuring with relation to amalgamation with the Polytechnic of Central London, 1971-1975; papers of the Joint Working Party on the Future Role of the College, 1972-1973; papers, including minutes of meetings, on the future of the College, including proposed transfer of departments to Battersea College, 1973-1974; Principal's papers, including correspondence, reports and minutes, on the merger with the Polytechnic of Central London, 1973-1976; financial estimates, 1974-1975; Bachelor of Education degree submission to the CNAA, 1975-1976; papers relating to valedictory meeting at final closure, 1980. Various student records, 1961-1980, include exam results. Publications comprise prospectuses, 1961-1975; College magazines, 1965-1968 and undated; Students' Union constitution and standing orders, undated; LCC publications on training colleges, 1964; ILEA publication on colleges of education, 1973; article on the College, 1978. Papers of the Central School comprise memorandum and new articles of association, 1947; papers, including correspondence and notes of meetings, 1970-1976; notes of an ILEA meeting on a link between Sidney Webb College and the Central School, 1971; exam results, 1974-1980; and other papers, 1983-1986.

The collection contains correspondence, diaries, travel journals, accounts, library catalogues and commonplace books of the Kenrick, Reid, Rogers and Sharpe families, which all help to complete the picture of the four related families. The correspondence covers many topics and is especially interesting on three counts: first, for the many letters from eminent men and women; second, for the range and depth of discussion and exchange of ideas on literary, artistic, religious and philosophical matters; and third, for the day-to-day letters written between parent and child over several generations, which provide a detailed account of family life during the period.

Accounts of 1802-1803 rendered to Mr and Mrs Joshua Sewell for household items and bills for their son, Stephen's education.

Manuscript volume containing sermons written in a mixture of shorthand and longhand, Aug 1727-Feb 1728; some sermons have a second date, such as 1735 and 1736. Many blank pages are stamped with the inscription 'R Porter, Ironmonger, Cutler & Brazier, Tin, Zinc, & Iron Plate Worker, nr. St Peter's Church, Northampton'. There is also a copy of an unaddressed letter, R Porter, Northampton, 22 Dec [18]51 (f.116 verso). The name of George Porter appears on some pages. Pages at the beginning and end of the book are taken up with accounts of the sale of ironmongery, dated 1822-1835.

Records, 1909-1932, of Serdang Central Plantations Ltd, comprising Articles of Association, correspondence, annual reports and agreements relating to the voluntary liquidation and reconstruction.

Legal, financial and liquidation papers of the Santa Rosa Milling Company Ltd, 1913-1975. There are also papers of the following associated companies: Cia Molinera De Concepcion, Cia Molinera Santa Rosa, Cia Molinera San Cristobal, Sociedad Molinera De Osorno, and Sociedad Arrocera 'Selecta' Limitada.