Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1823-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
56 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Society of Public Notaries of London was formed in 1823 as a society to represent the profession of notaries public within London. The Society is now known as the Society of Scrivener Notaries (a term first used in 1978), in recognition of the sole entitlement ot its members, until 1998, by virtue of their being members of the Scriveners' Company, to practise within London and a three mile radius thereof. A notary public is a member of the legal profession who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, and witness and authenticate documents and legal instruments. In London, as the majority of these instruments were of an international nature, and were usually required for international exchanges, notaries public (now scrivener notaries) were also the translators of such documents. All notaries public in London had to be members of the Scriveners' Company, having served an apprenticeship, and then undergo additional examinations set by the Company (in conjunction with the Society and the Faculty Office). Notary appointments are then made by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. There are currently only four City firms who are members of the Society of Scrivener Notaries.
The Society's affairs are managed by a Committee of no less than 9 members, including a Secretary and Treasurer. Meetings were held at offices of members, usually the Secretary (and, occasionally in the early 1880s in the London Tavern). But from 1885 they were often held in the Society's library, variously sited at Martin's Bank, 68 Lombard Street (1885-1901); 96 Bishopsgate St (1901-28), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, 6 London Wall (1928-36), 8 Whittington Avenue (1936-40), 9 Bishopsgate (1940-60), 120 Moorgate (1960-75) and Stone House, Bishopsgate (1975-7).
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/B/203 1823-1993 Collection 56 production units. Society of Public Notaries of London
The Society of Public Notaries of London was formed in 1823 as a society to represent the profession of notaries public within London. The Society is now known as the Society of Scrivener Notaries (a term first used in 1978), in recognition of the sole entitlement ot its members, until 1998, by virtue of their being members of the Scriveners' Company, to practise within London and a three mile radius thereof. A notary public is a member of the legal profession who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, and witness and authenticate documents and legal instruments. In London, as the majority of these instruments were of an international nature, and were usually required for international exchanges, notaries public (now scrivener notaries) were also the translators of such documents. All notaries public in London had to be members of the Scriveners' Company, having served an apprenticeship, and then undergo additional examinations set by the Company (in conjunction with the Society and the Faculty Office). Notary appointments are then made by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. There are currently only four City firms who are members of the Society of Scrivener Notaries.
The Society's affairs are managed by a Committee of no less than 9 members, including a Secretary and Treasurer. Meetings were held at offices of members, usually the Secretary (and, occasionally in the early 1880s in the London Tavern). But from 1885 they were often held in the Society's library, variously sited at Martin's Bank, 68 Lombard Street (1885-1901); 96 Bishopsgate St (1901-28), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, 6 London Wall (1928-36), 8 Whittington Avenue (1936-40), 9 Bishopsgate (1940-60), 120 Moorgate (1960-75) and Stone House, Bishopsgate (1975-7).
They were deposited at Guildhal Library by the Society of Scrivener Notaries in 2002. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Society of Public Notaries of London records comprise rules of the Society, minutes, some accounts, and extensive correspondence, especially on laws affecting the profession, qualifications required, attempts by solicitors and other professions to encroach on notaries' area of expertise.
Note: RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO A 30 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD.
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Available for general access.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
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.
January to May 2011. Documents Business records Organizations Associations Professional associations People People by occupation Personnel Workers Skilled workers Craft workers Scriveners Information sources Public notaries Notaries Legal profession Society of Public Notaries of London London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
They were deposited at Guildhal Library by the Society of Scrivener Notaries in 2002. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Society of Public Notaries of London records comprise rules of the Society, minutes, some accounts, and extensive correspondence, especially on laws affecting the profession, qualifications required, attempts by solicitors and other professions to encroach on notaries' area of expertise.
Note: RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO A 30 YEAR CLOSURE PERIOD.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
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
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