Records of the London County Council Architect's Department relating to places of public entertainment, 1883-1951, comprising a large collection of plans and drawings of places of public entertainment submitted in connection with their licensing. They include not only plans and drawings of premises which have ceased to be licensed but the older plans and drawings of many premises which continue to be currently licensed. Exhibition halls are included under this general heading as matter of convenience, although the statutory control exercised over them sterns normally from the sections of the London Building Acts dealing with temporary and special buildings and structures and not from the licensing legislation applicant to places of public entertainment.

The collection includes plans of tea rooms, churches and parish rooms, lecture halls, public baths, club houses, taverns, schools, assembly rooms, schools, academies, town halls, theatres, music halls, and cinemas. Also papers relating to exhibitions at Earls Court, Holland Park and White City; papers relating to fires and panics in places of public entertainment and other public buildings; comparison between L.C.C regulations (1901) on protection of places of public entertainment from fire and corresponding provisions in provincial and foreign cities and historical notes on the statutory control of theatres and music halls.

Minutes and presented papers of meetings of the London County Council, 1889-1965. Also minutes and presented papers of London County Council Committees and Sub-Committees, as follows:

Air Raid Precautions Committee

Appeals Committee

Asylums Committee

Bridges Committee

Building Acts Committee

Central Public Health and Medical Services Committee

Children's Committee

Civil Defence Committee

Contagious Diseases Committee

Corporate Property and Endowments Committee

Education Committee

Emergency Committee

Entertainments Committee

Establishments Committee

Evacuation Committee

Finance Committee

Fire Brigade Committee

General Purposes Committee

Health Committee

Highways Committee

Historical Buildings and Records Committee

Housing Committee

Improvements Committee

Industrial Schools Committee

Inebriates Committee

Local Government Committee

Main Drainage Committee

Midwives Committee

New and Expanding Towns Committee

Parks and Open Spaces Committee

Parks (special entertainments) Committee

Parliamentary Committee

Public Assistance Committee

Public Control Committee

Public Health Committee

Restaurants and Catering Committee

Rivers Committee

Roads Committee

Smallholdings Committee

Stores Committee

Theatres Committee

Town Planning Committee

Water Supply Committee

Welfare Committee

Welfare of the Blind Committee

Works Committee

Please note that copies of these minutes and papers are on open access in the Information Area.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to diseases of animals and regulation of performing animals, 1892-1963, including files on foot and mouth disease; anthrax; glanders (a contagious disease in horses); parasitic mange; rabies and hydrophobia; sheep scab; sheep pox; Johne's Disease (wasting condition of cattle); fowl pest; the Report of the Committee on the Slaughtering of Livestock, 1932; the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into Cruelty to British Wild Animals; Interdepartmental Committee on Slaughterhouses; importation of dogs and cats orders; transit of animals orders; animals (sea-transport) orders; destruction of carcases; overcrowding of animals in railway trucks; transit of unfit animals by rail and road; the Control of Dogs Orders and Dogs Act, 1906; Exported Cattle Protection Order, 1957; Protection of Animals Act, 1911; Pet Animals Act, 1951; Animals Boarding Establishments Act, 1963; Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; Protection of Birds Act, 1954; the Markets (Protection of Animals) Order, 1964; Animal (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962. Also registers compiled under the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to the licensing of places of public entertainment, including registers of applications for music, dancing, theatre and other licences, 1898-1900; registers of inspections of theatres and music halls, 1904-1909; printed papers regarding licensing sessions, 1889-1960; printed papers regarding cinema licensing, 1909-1952; printed papers regarding Sunday entertainments, 1903-1935 and Seating plans of London and Suburban Theatres, published by Keith Prowse Ltd., 1921.

Records of the London County Council Parks Department, 1851-1965, including lists of staff; instructions to officers; regulations affecting staff; Parks and Open Spaces staff handbooks; report on the Development of Crystal Palace (1955); pamphlet about the Green Belt; lists of London Squares with information about their status; regulations concerning individual sports and games, including Athletics, Bowls, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Netball, and storage of Games Apparatus; specimen warrants used by the Parks Department Constable; brochures from opening ceremonies; register of small holdings and allotments; copies of Acts of Parliament affecting parks and open spaces; notices and posters for display in parks; example of staff passes; seven picture postcards (undated) of Battersea Park Flower Garden, Beckenham Place Park Golf Course, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park Lido, Hainault Forest, Parliament Hill Athletic Ground, Ranger's House (Blackheath) and Rookery (Streatham Common); booklets and articles relating to playgrounds; papers relating to Crystal Palace motor sports; general files relating to the formation of the Parks Department, tree planting on Hampstead Heath, recreational facilities in individual parks, Parks regulations, individual medical reports of staff and production of food in parks during the Second World War.

Brochures and publications including "Open Air London - An illustrated guide to some 480 open spaces in and around London (including Green Belt)", published by the LCC (1939); "Green Heritage - An Introduction to the work of the LCC Parks Dept", booklet for new entrants; "Green Islands - The Parks Service of the LCC" (1962); Guide Map (1964); "The Glory of the Garden" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 3); "150,000,000 B.C - The Prehistoric Monsters of Crystal Palace" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 4); "Hainault Forest" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 5); "Parks for Tomorrow", LCC booklet (1964); "Garden Squares in Metropolitan Boroughs", maps prepared in connection with London Squares Preservation Act (1931); golf course regulations.

Scrap book compiled by Lord Henry Horne, covering the period 1915-1929, reflecting his work at official functions and social life following World War One, including letters, press cuttings, photographs and other mementos including letter in French from Maj Gen John Emerson Wharton Hedlam, Jul 1924; letter from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig to Florence Matthews congratulating her on her work with the 'Soldiers and Sailors Free Buffet' at Victoria Station, Jul 1920; letter to Horne from Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1927 and from his wife Edith Davidson, 1928. Photographs including of Horne; Prince Albert (later King George VI) and the Horne family at social events. Invitations to events at Buckingham Palace. Press cuttings on topics including Horne, his career, retirement, award of OBE and family; the death of Haig; the British Royal Family; unveiling of World War One memorials including the 2 Div memorial, 1923 and the Kitchener memorial and obituary for Horne in The Naval and Military Record, 21 Aug 1929.

Photographs of London, 8 May 1945, including views of celebrating crowds in various sites including Parliament Green and Trafalgar Square; war savings hoardings covering the site of the statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus, and the base of Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square; and people queuing to enter an exhibition showing a V2 rocket. Also photographs of Rt Hon Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill saluting crowds from an open car and of election posters, June-July 1945.

Papers relating to his life and career, [1891]-1931, dated [1891]-1931, 1977, 1985, 1988, principally comprising diaries, 1899-1900, and letters to his family, 1900-1902, describing his service as Provost Marshal with the South African Field Force; memorandum to Col Duff, Assistant Adjutant General, South African Field Force, concerning the functions of the Provost Marshal, 1900; photographs, [1891-1931], mainly of Poore and his family; 'The new cavalry sword and mounted swordsmanship', copy of an article by Poore from The Cavalry Journal, Apr 1911; copies of published articles relating to his cricketing career, 1899, [1920], 1985, 1988. Papers relating to his wife Lady Flora Poore, 1899-1900, 1916, comprising her diaries, 1899-1900; lists of work completed and statements of accounts of the Jhansi Cantonments Comforts to Troops Fund, 1915-1916.

The material focuses chiefly upon bibliography, comprising notes on writings about gymnastics and manipulative treatment, and Cyriax's collations of authors cited in various works on the subject. In addition to this there are some writings upon manipulative treatment itself and related issues (MSS.2001, 2006-2007), a syllabus of lectures to be delivered by Cyriax at the Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics (MS.6054), writings on massage by authors other than Cyriax (MSS.6056-6059) and an acknowledgement by the Museum of Practical Geology for specimens presented by another member of the Cyriax family (MS.6060).

Notes by John Dixon on medical matters and on things of personal interest to him such as astrology and photography spanning his entire career, 1848-1903. MS.5191 comprises more formal material, namely certificates and indentures.

The material comprises notes, taken by Susan H. Cannon, of Wilson's lectures on pathology and the treatment of diseases by Swedish remedial gymnastics.

The collection comprises prescriptions issued by Kellgren at various institutes for Swedish medical gymnastics; namely, the Schwedisches Heilgymnastisches Institut in Gotha, Germany (MSS.5406-5407 and 7869), the Schwedisches Institut für Manuelle Behandlung der Krankheiten, Baden-Baden (MS.7872), the Swedish Institution for the Cure of Diseases by Manual Treatment, London (MSS.5408 and 7870), the Institutet för Manuel Sjukbehandling, Sanna, near Jönköping, Sweden (MS.5409), and the Institution Suèdoise pour le Traitement Manuel des Maladies, Paris (MS.7871). Patients include members of the nobility of the United Kingdom and of Germany, as well as members of the Kellgren and Cyriax families.

Administrative records of the St. Albans Medical Club, 1789-1990. Largely financial, but including some correspondence and photographs of members.

Two volumes of a manuscript diary, 1858-1859, recording the daily activities of James Patterson, a master at the Deaf and Dumb Institution, Manchester, run by his uncle. As well as the daily routine of teaching, Patterson describes his own studies at the School of Art, his interest in athletics and sports, communication with his family in Cornwall and a visit to London over Christmas 1858 (in which he walks about the city, visits the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Crystal Palace at Sydenham and another establishment of that name at Great Portland Street, and witnesses some mesmeric experiments).

Papers of Sir Ludwig Guttmann covering most of his career, although there is relatively little on the earlier years in Germany before he emigrated with his family to the UK in 1939. There is some personal and biographical material, and a typescript autobiography. There are a number of items relating to Stoke Mandeville Hospital and its work in the rehabilitation of paraplegics, which Sir Ludwig pioneered. There is also some material, mostly photographs, relating to the International Paralympics which developed from his initiatives at Stoke Mandeville.

Records of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785. They consist of: Minutes: meetings, 1846 to 1888; annual general meetings, 1765 to 1845: Navy Club of 1785, general meetings, 1810 to 1888: United Club, the committee, 1889 to 1924; agenda, 1894 to 1939. Accounts: United, 1895 to 1940. Cash books: 1765 Club, 1830 to 1877; 1785 Club, 1840 to 1873. Donations to Memorialists: 1765 Club, 1824 to 1934. Other records include: Club, 1827 to 1841; United Club, 1889 to 1934. Attendance Books: 1765 Club, 1822 to 1830, 1845 to 1849; 1785 Club, 1785 to 1803; United Club, 1895 to 1903, 1938 to 1954. Subscription Books: 1765 Club, 1797 to 1888; 1785 Club, 1825 to 1841; United Club, 1889 to 1954. Address books: 1785 Club, c 1881; United Club, c 1914 to 1919 and ca.1939 to 1950. There are also nine boxes of loose letters, accounts, reports, correspondence, memorials and copies of the rules relating to the whole range of the Clubs' activities, 1824 to 1927; and a book of pencil drawings, c 1840, by Admiral Robert Patton (1791-1883).

Papers relating to the life and military career of Maj David Stuart Gilbert Smith, 1950-2003, including: detailed letters home from Korea, 1952-1953; account, 'The third Battle of "The Hook', by Maj Rudolf Edmund Austin, c 1953; details of wanted members of Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA), Cyprus, 1956; instructions on personal security for members of 22 Bn Special Air Service (SAS), [1968]. Album of photographs and press cuttings, 1950-1957, relating mainly to Gilbert-Smith's rugby union career, but also including snapshots of Gilbert-Smith in Korea, 1952, press cuttings relating to his MC following the Battle of 'The Hook', Korea, May 1953, and press cuttings relating to his service with 1 Bn, Duke of Wellington's Regt, Cyprus, 1956; photograph album relating to Gilbert-Smith's command of 22 Bn Special Air Service Mountain Training Centre, Bavaria, Germany, 1965. Winning hearts and minds (Pen Press Publishers Ltd, London, 2003), Gilbert-Smith's theories of leadership, drawing on his military experience.

Papers of Gen Sir Frederick Campbell, 1878-1932, chiefly relating to Tibet and the North West Frontier, including plan of route taken by the Younghusband Expedition from Siliguri, Bengal, India to Lhasa, Tibet, showing altitudes and sites of skirmishes, 1904; transcript of a lecture entitled 'Reminiscences of Tibet'; photographs including from the Tibet expedition, 1904; monasteries; bridge; British officers; Tibetan houses; a wall painting; 3 Rolls Royce armoured cars, Sep 1915; defeated Afghan troops; moveable column, 1914; aerial photograph of a Fort, 18 Feb 1916; Dargai Mountain, showing area held by Afridis, Tirah campaign, North West Frontier, 1898; 'route along which assault [British on Afridis] was made' and British officer with [Indian] troops; photograph album labelled 'Tibet 1904, Siliguri to Gyantse and Lhasa, 24 May - 8 July snapshots taken by J H Moody 40th Pathans' including photographs of camps with pitched tents, British officers, views of mountain peaks, troops in mountain passes, camp furniture, Mount Chomolhari, camp at Tuna, Tibet, game of hockey at Tuna, (40 Pathans versus 23 Pioneers), camp at [Khangma], Tibet, views of Niani, Tibet, Gyantse, street scene and British officer and Indian troops with objects taken from a monastery; correspondence including personal letters, 1912-1919, chiefly congratulations on operations, North West Frontier, Sep 1915, and on Campbell's promotion to General, 1919; correspondence relating to morale among troops of 1 (Peshawar) Div, 1918-1919; on defence of North West Frontier Province, India, World War One, 1928 and 1931-1932 and on 1 Div, 1919-1936; reports including on action at Hafiz Kor, North West Frontier [now Pakistan], 5 Sep 1915, by Campbell as General Officer Commanding 1 (Peshawar) Div; on operations on Swat, Buner and Mohmand borders, 19 Jun - 27 Oct 1915; by Campbell as General Officer Commanding 1 Div on 'Charsadda Raid and roundup, 7-8 Dec 1915'; report on operations in Swat, 28-29 Aug and 27 Oct 1915; report on operations in Buner, 17, 26 and 31 Aug 1915 and report on casualties, 1913-1915; certificates, 1878-1898 including Campbell's certificate of DSO, 1898; press cuttings; Campbell's accounts of his military service, 1926; notes on Campbell's medals and record of active service.

Papers of the London Association of Recreational Gardeners including annual reports and financial statements, constitution and rules, copies of the Journal and information leaflets produced by the association.

Items from the Crystal Palace Handel-Mendelssohn Festival including admission ticket, to Orchestra, for Miss M. Bruin, 1909; admission ticket to South Area Stall, 1909; photograph of orchestra and choir, 1909 and label for instrument case, 1912.

Reminiscences (1997), privately published memoir of the life and Army career of Lt Col Henry van Straubenzee, including his time as a first-class cricketer for the Army and Essex, 1938-1939; participation in Operation DYNAMO, 1940; service in the Middle East, 1943-1944; Italy 1944-1945; Palestine 1945-1946; Germany, 1950-1953; post war career with WH Smith, 1957-1977.

Papers of Col Alexander Camac Wilkinson, 1906-1983, including appointment diary, 1931; typescript memoir, 'Fun and games and narrow squeaks' relating to Wilkinson's early cricketing and military career; account of service with 1 Company, 2 Bn, Coldstream Guards, 1917, with trench map, Bourlon; an account by Wilkinson as regimental Cdr of 99 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt's role in Operation HONKER, before the capture of Rome, providing smoke screens across all river crossings to protect Royal Engineers who were constructing bridges; letter on Wilkinson's thoughts on post-war Imperial development and reconstruction, 1943; letters from Wilkinson to his aunt, written from Eton, 1906-1907; social and personal correspondence, 1945-1983; correspondence relating to business and charity;
correspondence and press cuttings relating to reunions, notably a visit to Graz, 1970, capital of Austrian province of Steiermark, where Wilkinson was Head of British Military Government, 1945; citation (with translation) and press cuttings relating to the presentation of an Austrian decoration to Wilkinson, 1977; photocopy of citations for Wilkinson's military decorations, with covering letter from the Ministry of Defence, 1982; maps of North West Europe, Texas and London; notes on an old cricketing friend in Australia, Jack Massie; note of thanks from Peter Thwaites, Imperial War Museum, 1980, relating to the loan for copying of an account dealing with incendiary bombs, World War Two; artefacts including an empty presentation box, with inscription to Wilkinson from 99 LAA Regt on his marriage, 1947; empty DSO medal case and Austrian medal, in original case.

Records relating to the Oxford Street Pantheon, comprising counterparts of the shares/leases sold by owner Philip Elias Twist to fund the building, 1774-1788. The leases include a room by room schedule of fixtures, fittings and furnishings, and marginal plans.

Records of philanthropist John MacGregor relating to his charitable work, including letters; scrapbook of pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, hymn sheets, and posters, mainly relating to the Shoe Black Society, the Ragged Schools and general missionary work; album of press cuttings; album of obituary notices for MacGregor; printed ephemera for various charities and sports clubs, including pamphlets and articles by MacGregor.

Records of individuals and other bodies relating to Arthur's Club (Note these records are not those kept by the Club itself). The collection consists of records of Anthony Horatio Packe relating to his membership including correspondence regarding membership, typed circulars sent to members, rules of the club, and papers relating to the sale and closure of the club; records of Stanley Ledger, Night Porter giving his appointment and references; and Club Library catalogue.

Records of the Ealing North Divisional/Constituency Labour Party, including attendance books, annual reports, accounts and subject files on election campaigns. Though these files are mainly concerned with finance, many also include campaign material. Also ward/branch material. Each ward or branch had its own committee. Of particular interest are the early minute books of Northolt Labour Party.

Records of the London Schools Football Association. The records show the day to day running of the Association through minutes dating from its foundation in 1892 and finance records spanning 1957-1973. Results and match files are also included along with a series of publications containing handbooks and programmes, and a series of photographs showing many of the London versus Glasgow Representative matches from the earliest in 1905.

Records of the Army and Navy Club, including Committee and Annual General Meeting minutes; annual reports with printed members lists (1847-1933); annual statements of accounts and other finance; Members admissions, deaths and resignations, members accounts and payments, candidate books, and newsletters.

Fixture lists for the Cosmopolitan Banks Chess Club; London Commercial Chess League; Lud Eagle Chess Club and Ministry of Health Chess Club.

Charter of the Horticultural Society of London.

Colour transparencies, dating from 1980, of different scenes of events and daily life in London.

These images, dating from 1981 to 1995, are of a number of events in London, as well as changes to the landscape and sights.

Records of Wembley Stadium Public Limited Company relating to the stadium, 1927-1992, including Directors' Board Meetings minutes; correspondence of the Secretary; Wembley Stadium Development Scheme; financial accounts including cash books, journals, day books; wages books; employee record cards; records relating to pensions; race lists of greyhounds and their owners; legal and property records. Also records of associated company Juliana's Discotheques Limited, including minutes, memorandum and articles of association and share certificates.

Records of the London Union of Youth Clubs, including:

Administration LMA/4232/A: which includes the minutes of Annual General Meetings 1945-1992, Executive Committee 1943-1948, Council minutes and papers 1982-1996, Management Committee 1983-1994, Finance and General Purposes Committee 1980-1983, Participation Sub-Committee 1985, Anti-Racial and Multi-Ethnic Committee 1984-1998, Steering Committee 1982-1983, Working Group papers 1977-1990's, as well as correspondence and statistics 1960's-1990's, papers relating to the merger of the LUYC with the association of Combined Youth Clubs 1992-1995, fund-raising 1983-1995 and grants and awards 1981-1996.

Finance LMA/4232/B: which includes Accounts 1978-1995 and Investments, Legacies and Trusts 1964-1984.

Related Organisations LMA/4232/C: which are the records of the London Girls Fund 1980-1996.

Printed Material/Ephemera LMA/4232/D: consisting of Annual Reports 1948-1997, copies of the LUYC Bulletin 1971-1992 and publications relating to youth clubs dating from the 1970's to 1990's. There are also T-shirts, posters and a banner from the LUYC Young Women's Unit c.1980.

Audio-Visual/Photographs LMA/4232/E: this series contains not only a large series of photographs illustrating LUYC events but films produced by members of LUYC and cassette recordings. These date from the 1960's to the 1990's.

This short series of scrapbooks cover the period 1887-1912 and contain invitations, cuttings and information on many of the social events that William Whitaker Thompson and his wife attended during his years in office.

This collection consists of working papers, publications, and ephemera relating to the International Year of the Family (1994).

Photographs of activities at the Cowley Recreational Institution, including fencing, athletics, dance, football, table tennis, martial arts and official visits to the Institution. Also correspondence relating to the use of the photographs in an exhibition by the London County Council.

Records of the Maccabi Union of Great Britain, 1943-2002. Please note written permission from the depositors is required to access these records.

This collection reflects how the Maccabi organisation functions on an international, European and national level. The hierarchy of authority is evident in the way the series of records have been organised. The Maccabi World Union, International Maccabiah Committee and European Maccabi Confederation are represented in the holdings mostly through official reports. However, although the records for the Maccabi Union of Great Britain start with the official minutes of what was to become the National Executive Committee, it is the personal correspondence from key figures in the Union, for example Eric and Beryl Rayman, which greatly enhance our understanding of this organisation.

It is apparent from the records that the Maccabi Union GB has many related parts to it. This demonstrates the level of organisation involved and fund raising necessary to run a major youth movement. The Maccabi Foundation, an independant body, has, as its main purpose, a funding function for Maccabi activities. This itself was previously linked to a company called Maccabi Stadium Limited. The Maccad Agency Limited, also no longer functioning, charged commission from companies to advertise in Maccabi Union publications. This commission was most likely ploughed back into the Union's activities.

The Maccabi Century Club took over the activities of the Sportsmen's Century Club in 1992. This club was founded by generous, wealthy men who ran one fundraising event per year at the Dorchester Hotel. The "Century" referred to the fact that this stag dinner function cost 100 pounds per head for 100 people. By 1992 the cost of the ticket had risen to 500 pounds and the number of attendees increased. Fine speakers, fine food and wine and top names in cabaret ensured a memorable evening. Over 33 years these dinners raised over 1,000,000 pounds to keep the Maccabi movement alive. The Maccabi Century Club continued this work with a slightly altered structure, that is, that the fundraising work is shared with the Maccabi Centurions. This Club is no longer operating.

By far the most comprehensive series of records is that of sports events and games. The Maccabiah is covered from the 3rd to the 16th Games. A set of photographs of the 1950 Games is of particular interest as it shows not only the opening cermonies in Israel but members of the team from Great Britain and the competitors as they take part.

The involvement of the Maccabi Union Great Britain in the Maccabiah, European and North American Games is known to us mainly through the personal papers of Ken Gradon who served the Union in many capacities. Ken Gradon was a key figure in the development of the Maccabi Union because he has served at all levels. He was, among other roles, President of the Maccabi Union Great Britain, Honorary President of the European Maccabi Games, a member of the International Maccabiah Committee on a personal basis, nominated to stand for committees of the Maccabi World Union and standing on the British Maccabiah Organising Committee.

The photographic collection includes meetings, conferences, dinners and other events held between the 1940s and 1960s with particular reference to Maccabi Association London depicting speakers, audiences and assembled groups, the Jewish Welfare Unit ambulances, and the opening of the Maccabi running track at Hendon Stadium in 1953. Among the ephemera there are football league trophies, sports caps and T-shirts, commemorative pennants, banners and plaques.

Besides the Maccabiah, individual sports are represented through the files of affiliated sports groups such as the Maccabi Southern Football League and Wingate Football Club, as well as the Union's own records of certain sports and their annual tournaments, such as table tennis, athletics and cricket.

Records of the Ramblers Association. This collection consists of administrative and publicity material relating to the national and local activities of the association, including minutes, financial material, details of the routes of well-known walks, press cuttings and press releases. It also contains subject files produced by the main Ramblers Association offices on the various campaigns and sites of interest with which the association has been involved. Separate deposits were also received of material generated from the offices of the Director of the association, the Assistant Director of the Access section and the Countryside Secretary of the Southern Area.

Issues of the Invalids Magazine Album. This fascinating set of 'scrap albums' are the survivors of a set that was seemingly created over a period of 10 years or more from the beginning of the 1900's to the start of the First World War. It is difficult to do these albums justice in describing them, as they are a treasure trove of charm and innocence. They not only contain articles handwritten by the contributors, but occasional newspaper cuttings and photographs of domestic scenes, landscapes, foreign holidays, and watercolour paintings of flowers, landscapes and 'designs'.

The earliest volumes contain simple stories in melodramatic style, and exhortations by the editors to send in contributions on time. As the contributors grow up we can see the paintings improve, the stories and articles become more considered and the photographs become art rather than snapshots. The later volumes contain articles about the war which had just been declared, photographs of recruitment and a list of some dozen members of the I.M.A. who were then 'in uniform'. As an editorial note put it "...the most terrible war of all times has swooped down down upon us...".

Records of London Youth Matters, consisting primarily of administrative papers including committee minutes and reports; general filing on a variety of topics; financial papers and a small number of publications.

Records of the Oriental Club charting the development of the club from its foundation in 1824 through to the present day; most areas of the club's history are well documented.

A particularly full set of minute books are held 1824-1978 for Annual General Meetings, the meetings of Trustees, the Committee of Management, the House Committee and various sub-committees. These volumes record both the major developments in club policy as well as the more routine occurrences and issues which affected the club. Together they give a rounded picture of club life.

Membership records are held 1825-2002 as are staff records 1858-1968. Some closure periods apply to both of these series and you are advised to consult the list in full.

For a wideranging series of records outlining the many different facets of club life, the secretary's papers are useful. Although the collection does not contain a complete set of secretary's correspondence, material held includes administrative files on a wide range of issues, letters dealing with complaints, files arranging club events, notices to members and staff, letters regarding honorary membership, and portrait subscription papers

Records relating to financial matters and club property are also held. Material includes deeds, plans and photographs, as well as a number of chairman's files relating to the financial policies used to save the club in the 1950s, to the purchase of Stratford House and to the leasing of the Hanover Square site.

A number of ephemeral items are also held. These include scrapbooks recording the history of the club, photographs, historical documents and printed material. Most noteworthy are a series of nineteenth century photographs of India and Japan and an important contemporary account of the battle with the Rohillas in 1790s, complete with a coloured drawing depicting the deployment of forces on the battlefield.

Records relating to the International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, including original programmes, stationery, correspondence and notes from members of The Alliance and from artists and those who attended the conferences. Also listings of families and individuals who provided accommodation for artists and rotas for the staffing of the Fairs.

The programmes are an excellent resource for information about the social and political issues that were of concern to Black people living in London in the 1980s and 1990s. They show the international links and connections between individuals of different artistic disciplines.

The development of the organisation and it's influence on diverse groups in the community are well documented in the correspondence and minutes; LMA/4462/M/01 and 02.

The photographs are both formal and informal. They show the Fair in action and special guests and artists performing or speaking at the different events. One album was put together by a participant as a gift to the Huntleys.

The press cuttings give valuable information on how the Fairs were being received by the Black community and others in London and internationally. There is an exclusive interview with Sonia Sanchez and an article by Margaret Busby which gives an historical overview of the Fair.

The copyright to these records rests with the depositors, Race Today Publications and New Beacon Books. Permission for the use of images for publication must be sought from all three organisations.

Records relating to event 'Salkey's Score', commemorating the life of Andrew Salkey. Includes correspondence and minutes for the setting up of the committee. Biographical information on all participants. Drafts and proof copies for the programmes and letterhead. An original poster of Salkey's poem on the underground, A Song for England and copied pages from the comment book by attendees of the symposium.

Records of Carlton Club, 1832 - 2008, including minutes of the general committee, house committee, finance committee, building committee, management committee, political committee, library committee, wine and cigar committee, golf committee, ad hoc committee and marketing committee; annual general meeting minutes; papers and correspondence relating to administrative issues; candidates books; members' lists; registers of weights; 'round table' records; staff wages books; annual accounts; ledgers; journals; cash books; account books; bedroom books; dinner books; wine stock books; library accession registers and catalogues; lists of books proposed for the library; inventory and valuation for 69 Saint James' Street; and book published by the political committee.

Records of Junior Carlton Club, 1864 - 1977, including minutes of the general committee, house and finance committee, building committee, political committee, library committee, wine and cigar committee, squash racket and swimming baths committee; annual general meeting minutes; papers and correspondence relating to administrative issues; original applications to the club; candidates book; registers of life members and home supernumerary members; members' complaints and suggestions; journals; cash books; weekly account books; registers of subscriptions; deeds, papers, correspondence and plans relating to 30 and 94 Pall Mall; photographs of 30 Pall Mall; and Empire Day scrapbook.

Records of Carlton Club (London) Limited, 1956 - 1987, including minutes and share registers.

Records of the Carlton Trustees (London) Limited, 1956 - 1987, including minutes and share registers.

Records of the Casual Club, 1866-2007, including minutes, papers and correspondence concerning administrative issues, membership cards, members' directories, attendance books, subscription books, papers and correspondence concerning members, lecture material, photographs of members, account books, papers and correspondence relating to accounts, printed histories of the club, meetings' programmes and an engraved gavel.

Three volumes containing a record of members of the London Schools Swimming Association who received awards from the Royal Humane Society. The awards were given for bravery for saving lives from drowning. The books were created by Joseph Wilson who was president of both the English and London Associations.

Records of the Samuel Pepys Club, including Administration records (1895-20--), including meeting minutes and agendas, unpublished papers, correspondence, and records relating to club events; Membership records (1903-2003), including lists of members and club rules; Finance records (1910-1991), including annual accounts; Historical notes (19--) including notes on Samuel Pepys and the formation of the club; Photographs (1950-1983) relating to club outings.

Plans of the New University Club, St James's Street, by Richardson and Gill, architects. While the plans are not dated, it is possible to estimate that they were produced between 1906 and 1938 as the architectural partnership of Richardson and Gill were in operation between these dates.

Specification of Works to be contracted for in Building the Conservative Club House in St. James Street, May 1843, formed of 20 large parchment membranes taped together.

The Specification commences with 74 articles dealing with the structure, the site, and general conditions for the performance of the work; these fill rather more than five membranes. The rest of the Specification is headed "Description of inside Work and Finishings" and deals with the interior of the intended building, room by room, and staircases, passages, etc. There are ten small marginal drawings of mouldings, fitments, etc.

The signatories are:

Boston W. Ormsby Gore J.M. Fector Geo.Baker Castlereagh Geo.W.Baker

The place of Lord Boston and Viscount Castlereagh and W. Ormsby Gore, as Conservative peers and Conservative M.P. respectively, is obvious. The function of John Minet Fector in this transaction is as yet unascertained; he was a collateral descendant of the well-known Minet family. The two Bakers doubtless represent the firm of George Baker and Son, builders, of Palace New Road, Lambeth.