Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1915-1966 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
284 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
William Piercy, 1886-1966, left school at the age of 12 and took a job with Pharaoh Gane, timber brokers, of which he later became joint managing director. He studied at the London School of Economics, 1910-1913, and became a lecturer in history and public administration at the LSE in 1914. From 1914 to 1918, he worked as a civil servant, later becoming principal assistant secretary in the Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Aircraft Production, and personal assistant to Clement Attlee when he was the deputy prime minister. Piercy was also very involved in the world of finance and business. He played a leading role in organizing the first unit trusts, was a member of the London Stock Exchange, 1934-1942, and headed the British Petroleum Mission in Washington during World War Two. In 1945, he became the first chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Ltd. He was also chairman of the Estate Duties Investment Trust, 1952-1966, and was appointed to the court of the Bank of England in 1946, 1950 and 1956. Piercy also served as a governor of the LSE and a member of the senate and court of London University, was president of the Royal Statistical Society, 1954-1955, and chairman of the Wellcome Trust, 1960-1965.
Archival history
GB 0097 PIERCY 1915-1966 collection 284 boxes Piercy , William Stuckey , 1886-1966 , 1st Baron Piercy , financier
William Piercy, 1886-1966, left school at the age of 12 and took a job with Pharaoh Gane, timber brokers, of which he later became joint managing director. He studied at the London School of Economics, 1910-1913, and became a lecturer in history and public administration at the LSE in 1914. From 1914 to 1918, he worked as a civil servant, later becoming principal assistant secretary in the Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Aircraft Production, and personal assistant to Clement Attlee when he was the deputy prime minister. Piercy was also very involved in the world of finance and business. He played a leading role in organizing the first unit trusts, was a member of the London Stock Exchange, 1934-1942, and headed the British Petroleum Mission in Washington during World War Two. In 1945, he became the first chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Ltd. He was also chairman of the Estate Duties Investment Trust, 1952-1966, and was appointed to the court of the Bank of England in 1946, 1950 and 1956. Piercy also served as a governor of the LSE and a member of the senate and court of London University, was president of the Royal Statistical Society, 1954-1955, and chairman of the Wellcome Trust, 1960-1965.
Notes, correspondence and other papers relating to Piercy's time at the Ministry of Munitions; at the British Ministry of Food in the USA; as General Trading Manager of Harrisons and Crosfield; as Joint Managing Director of Pharaoh Gane and Co Ltd; as a partner in the stock broking firms of Capel, Cure and Terry, and Fenn and Crosthwaite; as leader of the British Petroleum Mission; at the Ministry of Production; as personal assistant to Clement Attlee; as Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation; and his official appointments. Personal letters and biographical material, including the records of the Evelyn Trust and Chichester Estate Trust; essays, notes and other material relating to Piercy's education and lecturing; and material relating to Piercy's involvement with educational institutions, the Wellcome Trust, and his various other interests.
This collection is arranged in 15 sections:
- Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1921.
- British Ministry of Food in the USA, 1917-1918.
- Harrison and Crosfield, 1918-1925.
- Pharaoh Gane and Co, 1925-1933.
- Stock Exchange, including Capel Cure and Terry, and Fenn and Crosthwaite, 1934-1945.
- British Petroleum Mission, 1941-1950.
- Ministry of Production, 1941-1943.
- Personal Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, 1943-1954.
- Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation, including Estate Duties Investment Trust and Ship Mortgage Finance Company, 1945-1966.
- Official Appointments, 1924-1966.
- Family and Personal, including Evelyn Trust and Chichester Estate Trust, 1910-1966.
- Education and lecturing, 1909-1966.
- Universities and Colleges, 1928-1966.
- Wellcome Trust, 1932-1966.
- Other Appointments and Interests, 1923-1966.
OPEN
COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE FAMILY
English
Printed handlist and online catalogue available.
Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002 29 May 2002 Attlee , Clement Richard , 1883-1967 , 1st Earl Attlee , statesman x Attlee , 1st Earl British Petroleum Mission Capel Cure and Terry , stockbrokers London Chichester Estate Trust Education Enterprises Estate Duties Investment Trust Evelyn Trust Fenn and Crosthwaite Finance Government Harrisons and Crosfield , merchants London, Greater London Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Industry International conflicts Ministry of Food Ministry of Munitions Ministry of Production North America Petroleum industry Pharoah Gane and Co Ltd , timber agents London Piercy , William Stuckey , 1886-1966 , 1st Baron Piercy , financier Power industry Ship Mortgage Finance Company USA War Wellcome Trust World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events)
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Notes, correspondence and other papers relating to Piercy's time at the Ministry of Munitions; at the British Ministry of Food in the USA; as General Trading Manager of Harrisons and Crosfield; as Joint Managing Director of Pharaoh Gane and Co Ltd; as a partner in the stock broking firms of Capel, Cure and Terry, and Fenn and Crosthwaite; as leader of the British Petroleum Mission; at the Ministry of Production; as personal assistant to Clement Attlee; as Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation; and his official appointments. Personal letters and biographical material, including the records of the Evelyn Trust and Chichester Estate Trust; essays, notes and other material relating to Piercy's education and lecturing; and material relating to Piercy's involvement with educational institutions, the Wellcome Trust, and his various other interests.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged in 15 sections:
- Ministry of Munitions, 1915-1921.
- British Ministry of Food in the USA, 1917-1918.
- Harrison and Crosfield, 1918-1925.
- Pharaoh Gane and Co, 1925-1933.
- Stock Exchange, including Capel Cure and Terry, and Fenn and Crosthwaite, 1934-1945.
- British Petroleum Mission, 1941-1950.
- Ministry of Production, 1941-1943.
- Personal Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, 1943-1954.
- Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation, including Estate Duties Investment Trust and Ship Mortgage Finance Company, 1945-1966.
- Official Appointments, 1924-1966.
- Family and Personal, including Evelyn Trust and Chichester Estate Trust, 1910-1966.
- Education and lecturing, 1909-1966.
- Universities and Colleges, 1928-1966.
- Wellcome Trust, 1932-1966.
- Other Appointments and Interests, 1923-1966.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
OPEN
Conditions governing reproduction
COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE FAMILY
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Printed handlist and online catalogue available.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
Note
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Description control area
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Status
Level of detail
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Language(s)
- English