Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1891-1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
9 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1891 the Charter of the Methodist and General Assurance Society came into the possession of The Salvation Army. The name became Salvation Army Life Assurance in connexion with The Methodist and General Assurance Society, Limited but was shortened to The Salvation Army Assurance Society, Limited in 1904. The Society operated under this name until 1972 when it merged with the Wesleyan and General Assurance Society which continues to operate today (October 2013) independently of The Salvation Army.
Until the Second World War, the Chief Office of the Salvation Army Assurance Society was in London, alongside International Headquarters in Queen Victoria Street, but for the duration of the War the offices were evacuated to 'Rosehill', a country house near Reading. During 1947, the Chief Office moved to new premises at 220-226 Tottenham Court Road, London W1, but 'Rosehill' was retained until 1960 as a Conference Centre.
The dual aims of the Society were to undertake life insurance business (industrial and ordinary) and to promote and support the religious and charitable work of The Salvation Army. The Society was staffed by officers and non-officers in its Chief Offices and by non-officer 'agents' in its branches. The vast majority of agents and non-officer clerical staff employed by the Society were Salvationists to aid it in accomplishing its evangelical objectives. The Society began issuing life assurance policies in 1894. It also produced several successful bands and songster brigades including The Assurance Songsters and The Rosehill Band.
Archival history
The custodial history of much of the collection is unknown. Some small deposits of policy documents and photographs are documented, but the majority of the collection seems to have been deposited by internal transfer after the merger of the Salvation Army Assurance Society or to have been collected on an ad hoc basis.
GB 2133 SAAS 1891-1989 Collection (fonds) 9 boxes Salvation Army Assurance Society Ltd
In 1891 the Charter of the Methodist and General Assurance Society came into the possession of The Salvation Army. The name became Salvation Army Life Assurance in connexion with The Methodist and General Assurance Society, Limited but was shortened to The Salvation Army Assurance Society, Limited in 1904. The Society operated under this name until 1972 when it merged with the Wesleyan and General Assurance Society which continues to operate today (October 2013) independently of The Salvation Army.
Until the Second World War, the Chief Office of the Salvation Army Assurance Society was in London, alongside International Headquarters in Queen Victoria Street, but for the duration of the War the offices were evacuated to 'Rosehill', a country house near Reading. During 1947, the Chief Office moved to new premises at 220-226 Tottenham Court Road, London W1, but 'Rosehill' was retained until 1960 as a Conference Centre.
The dual aims of the Society were to undertake life insurance business (industrial and ordinary) and to promote and support the religious and charitable work of The Salvation Army. The Society was staffed by officers and non-officers in its Chief Offices and by non-officer 'agents' in its branches. The vast majority of agents and non-officer clerical staff employed by the Society were Salvationists to aid it in accomplishing its evangelical objectives. The Society began issuing life assurance policies in 1894. It also produced several successful bands and songster brigades including The Assurance Songsters and The Rosehill Band.
The custodial history of much of the collection is unknown. Some small deposits of policy documents and photographs are documented, but the majority of the collection seems to have been deposited by internal transfer after the merger of the Salvation Army Assurance Society or to have been collected on an ad hoc basis.
See Archival history.
Records of The Salvation Army Assurance Society Ltd, 1891-1989.
The collection comprises the records of the Salvation Army Assurance Society, Rosehill Conference Centre and Band, and The Assurance Songsters. Where original order was in evidence within series, it has been maintained but an overall logical structure has been imposed.
The records are arranged as follows:
SAAS/1 Administrative records
SAAS/2 Financial records
SAAS/3 Property records
SAAS/4 Staff records
SAAS/5 Product records
SAAS/6 Publications and communications
SAAS/7 Ephemera
SAAS/8 Rosehill
SAAS/9 Assurance Songsters
SAAS/10 Photographs
See Scope and Content.
Some files containing personal information are closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act. Please enquire for details. Open files can be viewed in the reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. An appointment will be required to view these records as they are stored offsite. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.
Contact the Archive for further information.
English
Contact the Archive for further information.
Catalogued by Ruth Macdonald, September-October 2013
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.
EAD into AIM25 October 2014 Assurance companies Salvation Army Assurance Society Ltd Companies Enterprises
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
See Archival history.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of The Salvation Army Assurance Society Ltd, 1891-1989.
The collection comprises the records of the Salvation Army Assurance Society, Rosehill Conference Centre and Band, and The Assurance Songsters. Where original order was in evidence within series, it has been maintained but an overall logical structure has been imposed.
The records are arranged as follows:
SAAS/1 Administrative records
SAAS/2 Financial records
SAAS/3 Property records
SAAS/4 Staff records
SAAS/5 Product records
SAAS/6 Publications and communications
SAAS/7 Ephemera
SAAS/8 Rosehill
SAAS/9 Assurance Songsters
SAAS/10 Photographs
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
See Scope and Content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Some files containing personal information are closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act. Please enquire for details. Open files can be viewed in the reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. An appointment will be required to view these records as they are stored offsite. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.
Conditions governing reproduction
Contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Contact the Archive for further information.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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