Collection COL/LBD/GHL - LIBRARIES AND ART GALLERIES: GUILDHALL LIBRARY

0.5 linear metres

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

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

• anglais

• latin

English

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.

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

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais