Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1825-1957 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
75 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The University Life Assurance Society was founded by a group of graduates of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in 1825 and received its Royal Charter in 1826. The Society was established to effect assurances on the lives of past and present members of these two universities only. However, by a Supplemental Charter of 1851, eligibility for membership of the Society was extended to past and present members of any university in the United Kingdom. Currently, membership is open to those educated at universities, public schools and similar educational institutions.
The Society was originally based at 24 Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East which it occupied under a Crown lease. It purchased the freehold of 25 Pall Mall in 1865 and occupied the premises from 1871 until 1941 when they were destroyed by an enemy land mine. During the Second World War the Society carried on most of its business from Russettings, Balcombe, Sussex. From 1941 until 1966 it was based at 19A Coleman Street. In 1966, the Society moved to its present head office at 4 Coleman Street. This is also the home of the Equitable Life Assurance Society which had acquired the University Life Assurance Society in 1919.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/B/079-04 1825-1957 Collection 75 production units. University Life Assurance Society
The University Life Assurance Society was founded by a group of graduates of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in 1825 and received its Royal Charter in 1826. The Society was established to effect assurances on the lives of past and present members of these two universities only. However, by a Supplemental Charter of 1851, eligibility for membership of the Society was extended to past and present members of any university in the United Kingdom. Currently, membership is open to those educated at universities, public schools and similar educational institutions.
The Society was originally based at 24 Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East which it occupied under a Crown lease. It purchased the freehold of 25 Pall Mall in 1865 and occupied the premises from 1871 until 1941 when they were destroyed by an enemy land mine. During the Second World War the Society carried on most of its business from Russettings, Balcombe, Sussex. From 1941 until 1966 it was based at 19A Coleman Street. In 1966, the Society moved to its present head office at 4 Coleman Street. This is also the home of the Equitable Life Assurance Society which had acquired the University Life Assurance Society in 1919.
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 25 March 1992. On 1 June 2007 University Life Assurance Society was acquired by Reliance Mutual Insurance Society Limited. This purchase included the whole of the archives of University Life Assurance Society. These records are therefore now held as a deposit from Reliance Mutual Insurance Society Limited, and enquiries about publication should be addressed to Reliance Mutual. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Records of the University Life Assurance Society, including the Royal Charter and supplemental charters; minute books; share certificates; life policy registers; register of deaths of policyholders; letter books; legal case papers and register of probates.
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Generally, records after 1920 have been retained by the Society.
For a brief history of the Society see University Life Assurance Society 1825-1975 [150th anniversary commemorative booklet] by Alan E. Campbell, Deputy Manager and Secretary (London, 1975), a copy of which is held in the Printed Books Section of Guildhall LIbrary.
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.
November 2010 to January 2011. Companies Assurance companies Business records Service industries Financial service industries Insurance services Finance Insurance Life insurance Information sources Documents Insurance records Insurance policies Enterprises University Life Assurance Society Cambridge Cambridgeshire England UK Western Europe Europe Oxford Oxfordshire City of London London
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 25 March 1992. On 1 June 2007 University Life Assurance Society was acquired by Reliance Mutual Insurance Society Limited. This purchase included the whole of the archives of University Life Assurance Society. These records are therefore now held as a deposit from Reliance Mutual Insurance Society Limited, and enquiries about publication should be addressed to Reliance Mutual. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the University Life Assurance Society, including the Royal Charter and supplemental charters; minute books; share certificates; life policy registers; register of deaths of policyholders; letter books; legal case papers and register of probates.
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
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
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
Generally, records after 1920 have been retained by the Society.
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