Collection GB 0074 CLC/B/166 - NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/B/166

Title

NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY

Date(s)

  • 1830-2000 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

457 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The National Life Assurance Society was formed at a meeting of prospective shareholders on 31 December 1829, and became a mutual in 1847. It established agencies internationally, as well as acquiring many from the takeover of the Whittington in 1894. It premises were at 2 King William Street. Whittington Life Assurance Company was taken over by the National Life Assurance Society in 1894 after 3 years of negotiations.

The Mutual Life Assurance Society was founded in 1834 by the brothers James and William Burchell, and originally based at 37 Old Jewry. In 1848 it moved to 39 King Street, and expanded into no. 38 in 1859, new premises being built on the site.

The National Mutual Life Assurance Society was established by the merger of the National and the Mutual Life Assurance Societies in 1896, and was based at the Mutual's offices at 39 King Street (rebuilt in 1936) until its move to larger premises at Bow Churchyard in 1960.

From 1921-38 its chairman was the economist John Maynard Keynes, some of whose papers survive in the collection (his speeches to the AGM, which became City events, have been published in the Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes, vol.XII, ed D Moggridge, London 1981; they were also reproduced in The Times). During World War II the head office was located at Stanmore. The firm was taken over by General Electric in 2002.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/B/166 1830-2000 Collection 457 production units. National Mutual Life Assurance Society

The National Life Assurance Society was formed at a meeting of prospective shareholders on 31 December 1829, and became a mutual in 1847. It established agencies internationally, as well as acquiring many from the takeover of the Whittington in 1894. It premises were at 2 King William Street. Whittington Life Assurance Company was taken over by the National Life Assurance Society in 1894 after 3 years of negotiations.

The Mutual Life Assurance Society was founded in 1834 by the brothers James and William Burchell, and originally based at 37 Old Jewry. In 1848 it moved to 39 King Street, and expanded into no. 38 in 1859, new premises being built on the site.

The National Mutual Life Assurance Society was established by the merger of the National and the Mutual Life Assurance Societies in 1896, and was based at the Mutual's offices at 39 King Street (rebuilt in 1936) until its move to larger premises at Bow Churchyard in 1960.

From 1921-38 its chairman was the economist John Maynard Keynes, some of whose papers survive in the collection (his speeches to the AGM, which became City events, have been published in the Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes, vol.XII, ed D Moggridge, London 1981; they were also reproduced in The Times). During World War II the head office was located at Stanmore. The firm was taken over by General Electric in 2002.

Records given to Guildhall Library in 2002. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of the National Mutual Life Assurance Society and predecessors the National Life Assurance Society and the Mutual Life Assurance Society. The records include constitutional documents, minutes, annual reports and accounts, seal books, reports, policy records and other administrative papers.

24 hours notice is required for access to this material. The records are subject to a 30 year rule: the permission of the depositor is required for access to material less than 30 years old (ask a member of staff for further information).

The collection has been arranged in sub-fonds as follows:
CLC/B/166-01: National Mutual Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-02: National Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-03: Mutual Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-04: Whittington Life Assurance Company.

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

English

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

For further information, see The History of the National Mutual Life Assurance Society 1830-1930, by R Finch, London, 1930 and The History of the National Mutual Life Assurance Society, 1830-1980, by E Street, London, 1980.

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.

January to May 2011. Enterprises Companies Assurance companies Service industries Financial service industries Insurance services Business records Finance Insurance Life insurance Information sources Documents Insurance records Whittington Life Assurance Co Mutual Life Assurance Society National Life Assurance Society National Mutual Life Assurance Society UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records given to Guildhall Library in 2002. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the National Mutual Life Assurance Society and predecessors the National Life Assurance Society and the Mutual Life Assurance Society. The records include constitutional documents, minutes, annual reports and accounts, seal books, reports, policy records and other administrative papers.

24 hours notice is required for access to this material. The records are subject to a 30 year rule: the permission of the depositor is required for access to material less than 30 years old (ask a member of staff for further information).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection has been arranged in sub-fonds as follows:
CLC/B/166-01: National Mutual Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-02: National Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-03: Mutual Life Assurance Society;
CLC/B/166-04: Whittington Life Assurance Company.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

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

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

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

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area