Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1875 - 19-- (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.5 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Guildhall has had a library since 1425, founded as part of a bequest by Mayor Richard Whittington. However, in 1550 the books were removed by the Duke of Somerset for his palace in the Strand and all but one of the original books is now lost. The survivor is a late 13th century Latin Bible. In 1828 a new Guildhall Library was established with the remit to collect material relating to the history and topography of the City of London, Southwark and Middlesex, including prints and drawings. This library was quite small and was rebuilt in 1873. In 1940 the library was hit by enemy action and 25,000 volumes were lost to the subsequent fire, with thousands more affected by water damage.
The collection is now of designated national and international importance and strengths include works on the history of London, English law reports, wine and food (including the Elizabeth David Collection), clocks and clockmakers (including the library of the Clockmaker's Guild), business history, marine history (material deposited by Lloyds of London), The Gardeners' Company collection (historic books on gardening), The Fletchers' Company collection (books on archery), the Gresham College collection (17th and 18th century music and early travel and exploration), the Cock Collection (material on Sir Thomas More), the Charles Lamb Society collection, the Chapman Bequest (19th century plays), the Hamilton Bequest (18th and 19th century plays), the Pepys Collection (Samuel Pepys) and a collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century books on shorthand.
Repository
Archival history
COL/LBD/GHL 1875 - 19-- Collection 0.5 linear metres Corporation of London
The Guildhall has had a library since 1425, founded as part of a bequest by Mayor Richard Whittington. However, in 1550 the books were removed by the Duke of Somerset for his palace in the Strand and all but one of the original books is now lost. The survivor is a late 13th century Latin Bible. In 1828 a new Guildhall Library was established with the remit to collect material relating to the history and topography of the City of London, Southwark and Middlesex, including prints and drawings. This library was quite small and was rebuilt in 1873. In 1940 the library was hit by enemy action and 25,000 volumes were lost to the subsequent fire, with thousands more affected by water damage.
The collection is now of designated national and international importance and strengths include works on the history of London, English law reports, wine and food (including the Elizabeth David Collection), clocks and clockmakers (including the library of the Clockmaker's Guild), business history, marine history (material deposited by Lloyds of London), The Gardeners' Company collection (historic books on gardening), The Fletchers' Company collection (books on archery), the Gresham College collection (17th and 18th century music and early travel and exploration), the Cock Collection (material on Sir Thomas More), the Charles Lamb Society collection, the Chapman Bequest (19th century plays), the Hamilton Bequest (18th and 19th century plays), the Pepys Collection (Samuel Pepys) and a collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century books on shorthand.
Corporation of London Records Office.
Records of the Guildhall Library, comprising office files on various subjects including staff instructions for air raids, evacuation of books, manuscripts and artworks and their storage during World War Two, damage sustained during World War Two and the subsequent reconstruction of the Library, list of artworks destroyed during World War Two, Public Libraries Acts 1892-1919, maintenance, notable collections, inventory and valuation of furniture and fittings, duties of the librarians, staff entertainments including annual staff dinners, relevant byelaws, insurance policies, donations, deposits and bequests, Art Gallery bequests and deposits and guidebooks and brochures.
Also petition asking for longer evening opening hours, 1875; petition in favour of Sunday opening, 1879 and petition opposing Sunday opening, 1879.
In sections according to catalogue.
Available for general access.
Copyright: City of London
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For Corporation of London records relating to museums, libraries and art galleries, see: CLA/076: Museum of London, COL/AC: Archives, COL/CC/BRA: Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party (Arts Centre), COL/CC/BRC: Barbican Centre Committee, COL/CC/GHY: Guildhall Yard East Building Committee, COL/CC/LIB: Libraries, Guildhall Art Gallery and Archives Committee, COL/CC/LMC: Library and Museum Committee, COL/CC/MLB: Museum of London Board of Governors, COL/LBD/AD: Libraries and Art Galleries: Administration, COL/LBD/AG: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Art Gallery, COL/LBD/GHL: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Library and COL/LBD/MUS: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Museum.
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. February 2009 Libraries and Art Galleries Department , Corporation of London x Department of Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery Libraries Information/library personnel International conflicts War War damage Air raid damage Wars (events) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Arts Works of art Information/library administration Library collections Information/library facilities Library buildings Guildhall Library City of London London England UK Western Europe Hertfordshire Europe Movable cultural property Cultural property Cultural heritage Collections Cultural resources
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Corporation of London Records Office.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Guildhall Library, comprising office files on various subjects including staff instructions for air raids, evacuation of books, manuscripts and artworks and their storage during World War Two, damage sustained during World War Two and the subsequent reconstruction of the Library, list of artworks destroyed during World War Two, Public Libraries Acts 1892-1919, maintenance, notable collections, inventory and valuation of furniture and fittings, duties of the librarians, staff entertainments including annual staff dinners, relevant byelaws, insurance policies, donations, deposits and bequests, Art Gallery bequests and deposits and guidebooks and brochures.
Also petition asking for longer evening opening hours, 1875; petition in favour of Sunday opening, 1879 and petition opposing Sunday opening, 1879.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: City of London
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For Corporation of London records relating to museums, libraries and art galleries, see: CLA/076: Museum of London, COL/AC: Archives, COL/CC/BRA: Barbican Arts Centre Joint Working Party (Arts Centre), COL/CC/BRC: Barbican Centre Committee, COL/CC/GHY: Guildhall Yard East Building Committee, COL/CC/LIB: Libraries, Guildhall Art Gallery and Archives Committee, COL/CC/LMC: Library and Museum Committee, COL/CC/MLB: Museum of London Board of Governors, COL/LBD/AD: Libraries and Art Galleries: Administration, COL/LBD/AG: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Art Gallery, COL/LBD/GHL: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Library and COL/LBD/MUS: Libraries and Art Galleries: Guildhall Museum.
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
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Libraries
- Information/library personnel
- International conflicts
- International conflicts » War
- Arts
- Arts » Works of art
- Information/library administration
- Information/library administration » Library collections
- Information/library facilities
- Information/library facilities » Library buildings
- Cultural heritage » Cultural property » Movable cultural property
- Cultural heritage » Cultural property
- Cultural heritage
- Cultural resources
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English