This collection contains mostly personal and property papers of Silas Thatcher, carpenter, and his son Albert George Thatcher, teacher, as well as general family papers and photographs.

Papers, 1834-1937, collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising deeds and legal documents relating to properties in Enfield, Finchley, Harrow, Teddington, Hammersmith, Hackney and Camden. Documents include correspondence, papers relating to court proceedings, assignment of leasehold premises, papers relating to the administration of estates and bequests, and mortgages.

Papers, 1648-1671, collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising deeds and legal documents relating to properties in Hayes, comprising 2 bargain and sales, a mortgage and an indenture of a fine.

Papers collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising probates of wills as follows:

• Probate of will of Arundel T. Spens of 27 Hamilton Road, Ealing, late Colonel Bombay Staff Corps (will made 16 Feb 1898; four codicils, 1911-1920), 1921. Bequests include: household, domestic and personal effects to daughter Alice I. Spens (second codicil 12 June 1913); remainder of real and personal estate to be invested by trustees.

• Letters of administration of estate of Ruth C. Fortune of 171 East 60th Street, New York City, USA, widow, 1940. Administration granted to son James C. Fortune of 40 Grange Park, Ealing, member of Auxiliary Fire Service.

• Probate of will of Fanny Crucefix of 15 Elm Park Court, Pinner, widow (will made 16 Mar 1940), 1941. Bequests include: various pecuniary legacies; remainder of property, including trust funds of marriage settlement, 29 June 1885, and settled legacy of £12,000, to trustees for benefit of two duaghters Maud E. Hatch and Rosa G. Miller.

• Probate of will of Evelyn M. Horton of 92 Pope's Lane, Ealing, spinster (will made 28 May 1951), 1951. Bequests include: various pecuniary and other legacies; all real and remainder of personal estate and effects to trustees for benefit of sister-in-law Margaret Horton.

Records of Bevington and Sons, 1690-2001, including: partnership agreements, 1837-1946, minutes, 1859-1930, and partnership negotiations; financial records 1803-1949; records relating to types of stock, products and technical processes and innovations, 1879-1946; staff attendance books and photograph album, 1860-1877; records relating to property, 1792-1967; records relating to stock and finance, 1862-1946. Also family correspondence 1690-1837, and publications and articles on the history of the firm. The family correspondence offers insights into business practice, family relationships and domestic concerns, often in a single letter. Correspondents include women in the family, as wives and daughters of the company partners. Accounts for female family members are also represented.

Papers, collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising assignment of lease for 3 rooms forming back portion of ground floor of 133 Fenchurch Street, 1930; agreement for sale and purchase of land and buildings in Park View Road and Southwood Road, Eltham, 1938; agreement regarding 12 greenhouses and other material on land in Park View Road and Southwood Road, New Eltham, 1941; abstract of title for land and buildings in Park View Road and Southwood Road, Eltham, 1942.

Records of the Heelis family, including certificates of attendance of Edward Heelis at medical lectures at Apothecaries Hall, 1853-55; apprenticeship indenture of William Heelis, 1859; and testimonials of Robert Heelis, 1881-83.

Records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division, comprising minutes of summary proceedings held at Watch House and Angel Inn, Edmonton, 2 Jan 1837 - 21 Dec 1838. Cases heard include felonies, assault, larceny, highway offences, retailing beer etc. without licence, obstruction, injury to property etc. Volume records detailed statements by witnesses, statutes governing cases, outcome of each case. At rear of volume is a summary of cases heard with details of fines etc. Name index at front of volume. Volume also includes records of medical prescriptions prepared for named persons, January 1859.

Papers, 1865-1920, collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising deeds and legal documents relating to properties in Holloway, Tollington Park and Holly Park, including deed of covenant, mortgages, leases, assignments, sales particulars, letters of administration and plans.

Papers collected by the solicitors in the course of their work, comprising admission of John Durham, junior of 10 Great James Street, Bedford Row, as solicitor in court of Chancery, 8 May 1863, signed by John Romilly, Master of the Rolls; admission of John Durham as solicitor in Court of Queen's Bench, 8 May 1863. Also leases for 108 Stroud Green Road (formerly called Osborne House), Hornsey, 1887 and 1895.

Records relating to the Cook's Company, including extracts from the Company records and transcript of the register of freedom admissions and apprentice bindings.

This collection contains records which relate to the time in office of various Lord Mayors. They comprise:
diaries 1785, 1836-1838, 1847-1848, 1893-1898, 1902-1903, 1905-1908, 1913-14, 1926-7;
invitation books 1861-1862, 1886-1887, 1895-6, 1898-1899, 1905-1908, 1913-1914, 1922-1923, 1926-7;
visitors books 1856-7, 1859-1860, 1862-1866, 1868-1870, 1878-1879, 1882-3, 1886-7, 1895-1896, 1905-1906, 1907-1908, 1913-1914, 1926-1927;
autograph books 1926-7;
lists of shrieval duties 1938-9;
swordbearer's diary 1834-8.

Record of the Court of Common Pleas, comprising a brief for the defendants in an action for impounding and ill-treating cattle coming to Smithfield Market. The case arose from numerous complaints about the nuisance caused in Smithfield and other streets in the city by cattle dealers driving cattle and sheep on Sunday evenings into Smithfield in order to get the best stands and pens.

Records of Major Sir William Henry Champness, comprising journals recording his years as undersheriff and sheriff of the City of London, 1928-1938, autobiographical notes, 1873-1925 and personal diaries, 1926-1938.

These records of the Dollond family, optical instrument makers, comprise family and estate papers and business records.

These records were compiled or annotated by Samuel Gregory in the mid-19th century. They comprise: the "Lord Mayor's autograph book" which contains the original signature of every Lord Mayor from 1657 to the present date; notes and cuttings relating to Lord Mayors, Chamberlains, Recorders and aldermen; history and notes relating to liverymen of the Barber Surgeons Company; drawings of merchants' marks; and miscellaneous manuscript and printed items compiled by Gregory.

Papers of John Henley comprising notes of lectures delivered in London on historical, political and religious subjects.

Papers of Joseph Jackson Howard, antiquary, including sketches and rubbings of monuments in churches, especially St Helen Bishopsgate, copies of inscriptions, some original manuscripts, transcripts of monumental inscriptions, notes on the Barber Surgeons' Company, and notes on the aldermen, recorders and chamberlains of the City of London.

Records of Moses Levy Newton, mostly papers relating to properties in the City of London and Westminster, with some mercantile business and private papers.

Historical research by Sir Frederick Tidbury-Beer, comprising biographical notes on City of London aldermen, 1850-1950; the City of London mayors, aldermen, sheriffs and Members of Parliament since 1850; and historical and topographical notes on Bishopsgate ward.

The surviving archives of Anglo-Russian Cotton Factories Limited consist of board and general meetings minutes, and papers relating to the act of association and to dividends.

Records of Arthur Brown and Company, comprising ledgers and financial material, wage books and sketch books of staff caricatures.

Records of the Baltic Exchange (1821-1994); the London Shipping Exchange (1892-1903), which was purchased by the Baltic Exchange; and the Jerusalem Coffee House (1757-1833), which was purchased by the London Shipping Exchange. The records include minutes, agendas, financial accounts, letter books and correspondence, administrative papers, membership records, shipping papers and records of the Airbrokers Association, 1947-1976 and the Institute of Shipbrokers, 1917-1987.

Records of Butterworth and Company (Australia), including ledgers; Director's reports; annual accounts; correspondence; reports; and sales catalogues.

Records of Butterworth and Company (South Africa) (Pty) comprising financial accounts (ledgers, journal, cash book).

Papers of William Clowes and Sons, law publishers, including correspondence and agreements with authors.

Financial records of Research and Development Limited, scientific publishers.

Records of Butterworth Incorporated, the American subsidiary of Butterworth and Company (Publishers) Limited, including correspondence and lists of publications.

The records of Grahams Trading Company Limited consist of constitutional documents, minutes of the Board, executive committee, and annual general meetings, annual reports and accounts, financial material, register of directors, press cuttings and title deeds. This collection is held offsite and requires 24 hours notice for access.

Records of the Empire of India and Ceylon Tea Company, comprising constitutional documents, Board of Directors' minutes, a ledger and tea sales records. The records are held off-site and therefore require 24 hours notice for access.

Records of Charles Frodsham and Company, chronometer, clock and watch makers. The records comprise minutes of the board of directors 1893-1939 and annual general meetings 1894-1939 (Ms 19904); a ledger 1939-55 (Ms 19905), and watch manufacturing books 1876-1910 and 1895-7 (Ms 19906-7).

Records of Corney and Barrow Limited, wine and brandy merchants, 1799-1960, and subsidiaries George Nicholas and Son (1915-1938); William Coates and Company (1845-1960) and Williams and Day (1818-1912).

Records of George Barber and Son Limited, printers, consisting of ledgers and cash books, as well as letterbooks. The records are held offsite, and therefore require 24 hours notice for access.

Records of George White and Company, tea and rubber brokers, comprising ledgers.

Records of Gilbert Samuel and Company, solicitors, comprising general ledgers (internal and clients' accounts) 1934-1949 (Mss 24202-3), cash journals 1934-1957 (Ms 24204) and private ledgers 1902-1963 (Ms 24205).

The records of John T Clark Limited, fish factor, comprise financial material only.

Records of Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, traders in tea, coffee, rubber, timber, chemicals, and other agricultural products. The catalogue includes: corporate records (including articles of association, agreements, minutes and annual reports and accounts); share records; internal administration records (including directories of operations, directors' and general letter books); accounting records; operational records (including reports on estates); branch records (including correspondence and accounts); insurance department records; papers concerning the careers of directors; staff records; premises and property records; historical notes, photographs and plans; records of subsidiary companies, and companies for which Harrisons and Crosfield acted as secretaries and/or agents.

The archive includes records relating to Harrisons and Crosfield's activities as secretaries and/or agents for other companies. As these records were generated as part of Harrisons and Crosfield's role as secretaries and/or agents for another company, they have been catalogued as records of that particular company. However, they comprise correspondence and other papers of the head office of Harrisons and Crosfield, and supporting papers acquired by Harrisons and Crosfield (e.g. memoranda and articles of association, and annual reports and accounts) to assist in that role. The records of the companies for which Harrisons and Crosfield acted as secretaries and/or agents are arranged so that each company is followed by its subsidiary companies (if any).

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

Papers relating to staffing at Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, including lists of staff; correspondence; papers relating to recruitment and training; papers relating to staffing such as holiday and training arrangements, staff who were held as prisoners of war, and disputes; and financial records relating to staff pensions and benefit schemes.

Files containing personal information about staff have a 70-year closure period.

Records of Fisons (Ceylon) Limited, manufacturer of agricultural chemical products, comprising papers relating to business arrangements with Harrisons and Crosfield Limited.

Records of Sabah Plantations Limited, including articles of association, board minute book, annual reports, correspondence, and loan agreements.

Access to records less than 30 years old (or records less than 70 years old which relate to staff) should be sought from Elementis plc (contact details may be obtained from a member of staff).

Circulars of the United Cocoa Development Company Limited.

Ledgers of Henckell, Du Boisson and Company, merchants.

Archive of Hodder and Stoughton Limited, publishers; including records of Hodder and Stoughton, 1868-1919, Hodder and Stoughton Limited, 1919- , Matthew Hodder Limited (group holding company), 1959-76, and Hodder and Stoughton Holdings Limited, 1976-. It is a publisher-based, rather than an author-based archive, because the pre-1939 correspondence with authors was apparently destroyed during the Second World War. Its strength lies in the information it provides in aggregate about the multi-faceted business of publishing.

Of notable importance are the 46 authors' ledgers, 1907-1961 (Ms 16312) which detail what was published, including the various editions of the same title, with dates of publication, print runs, production costs, sales, remainders etc. These are supplemented by ten volumes of publishing ledgers, 1886-1938 (Ms 16310), and by smaller groups of royalty ledgers, 1907-12 and 1928-65 (Mss 16318-21), and of profit and loss ledgers, 1954-68 (Mss 16313-17). The ledgers are further supported by considerable quantities of other material, such as company minutes, sales reports, publicity material, and a number of author files for 1939-93 (Mss 16352, 16352A-C). These are rather haphazard, and many in-letters from authors appear to have been removed before deposit at Guildhall Library.

The archive contains much about the company's premises including many photographs including some of bomb damage in the Paternoster Row and Warwick Square area of the City of London. The archive also contains material about the firm's employees including registers and salaries books, staff handbooks and newsletters, material about company sports days, and photographs.

There are also records of subsidiary companies as follows:
Ms 16388: British Weekly Limited;
Ms 16389-95; 29067-70; 36525-6: Brockhampton Press;
Ms 29071-8; 29708-13; 36527-30: Edward Arnold Limited;
Ms 16396-407;29079-80; 36531: English Universities Press Ltd;
Ms 36532: Highland Books;
Ms 16408-11: Hodder Fawcett Limited;
Ms 16412-21: Hodder Paperbacks Limited;
Ms 16422-4: Hodder Publications Limited;
Ms 16425-7: Lancet Limited;
Ms 36533: Lloyd-Luke (Medical Books) Limited;
Ms 36534-6: New English Library Limited;
Ms 16428-30: St Hugh's Press;
Ms 36537: Sceptre;
Ms 16431-51; 36538: University of London Press;
Ms 36539: University Park Press;
Ms 36540: University Press of Liverpool;
Ms 16452-3: Publishers Association;
Ms 29714: Hodder and Stoughton (Australia) Proprietary Limited;
Ms 29715: Hodder and Stoughton (New Zealand) Proprietary Limited.

The records of the subsidiaries sometimes form distinct series, but are often mixed with those of the parent company. In addition, some original archival groups were altered by the creation of artificial collections by John Attenborough in the course of writing his history (see Mss 16355-7, 16362, 29668-72).

The records also include some Hodder family documents including genealogical notes and some papers of the Publishers' Association.

Finally, the archive includes the private correspondence of Sir Ernest Hodder-Williams (chairman of Hodder and Stoughton 1902-27), described as "the greatest publisher of my time" by Sir Newman Flower (Mss 16368-70); and the papers of the last Chairman of the company, Philip Attenborough, who was responsible for depositing much of the later material and played a major role in safeguarding of the future of the archive.

Records of the Borneo Company, as follows:
1.Deed of settlement; memorandum and articles of association: Ms 27174-7;

2. Board, AGM and committee minutes; annual reports and accounts: Ms 27178-90;
3. Secretary's papers: Ms 27191-8;
4. Accounts: Ms 27199-231;
5. Overseas operations records:-
   Agency and general agreements-Ms 27232-43;
   Java and Sumatra-Ms 27244-58;
   Malaya and Singapore-Ms 27259-76;
   Philippines-Ms 27277;
   Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei-Ms 27278-304;
   Siam-Ms 27305-29;
6. Investments, takeovers and subsidiary company papers:-
   Australia-Ms 27330-45;
   Canada -Ms 27346-50;
   Hong Kong-Ms 27351;
   Colombia-Ms 27352;
   Cuba-Ms 27353;
   India-Ms 27354-5;
   Java and Sumatra-Ms 27356-9;
   Malaya and Singapore-Ms 27360-400;
   Netherlands-Ms 27401-2;
   Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei-Ms 27403-19;
   Siam-Ms 27420;
   United Kingdom-Ms 27421-3;
7. Publicity and sales material: Ms 27424-6;
8. Staff records: Ms 27427-43;
9. Property records (London only): Ms 27430-6;
10. Centenary celebrations and notes for centenary history: Ms 27437-43;
11. Photographs: Ms 27444-66;
12. Branch records:-
    Sarawak: Kuching-Ms 27467-70;
    Siam: Bangkok -Ms 27471-4.

Records of Gibb, Livingston and Company, merchants and agents, including articles of association, minutes of meetings, and financial records.

Records of Islay, Kerr and Company Limited, comprising accounts, correspondence and photograph album showing office accommodation.

Records of J Tylor and Sons Limited, brass founders and manufacturers of sanitary appliances, including registers of patents granted to the company; specifications for water meters and sanitary appliances; patent certificates; certificates of registration of design, with designs attached; sales catalogues; and company histories.

Records of James Vickers and Company, wine and spirit merchants, comprising financial records 1867-87 (Mss 24588-91); records drawn up on the transfer of the business to Edward Vickers including trade ledger balances, stock records and lists of fixtures and fittings 1877-87 (Mss 24592-5); deed dissolving the partnership of E and J Vickers with other papers 1863 and 1877 (Ms 24596); family and business papers and correspondence 1869-1912 (Mss 24597-602); and plans, leases and sales particulars relating to various properties 1867-91 (Mss 24603-5).

Records of Janson, Cobb, Pearson and Company, solicitors. The records fall into 3 broad categories: the general business archives of the firm (Mss 18743-61); the records of partners, relating both to business and family concerns (Mss 18762-75; 18797); and documents deposited with or retained by the firm in the course of its business on behalf of clients (Mss 18776-96). 24 hours notice is required for access to these records.

The records of Joseph Preston and Sons, watch, clock and chronometer movement makers, comprise two volumes containing descriptions of parts c 1890-5 and 1892-1914 (Mss 14558, 14560), a cash book 1893-1904 (Ms 14545) and a bank pass book 1907-12 (Ms 14559).