Collection GB 0074 CLC/L/SC - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SCRIVENERS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/L/SC

Title

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SCRIVENERS

Date(s)

  • 1392-1914 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

24 production units

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

There are references to "Writers of the Court and Text Letter" in 1357, and the Writers of the Court Letter had their bye-laws by 1374. The charter of the Scriveners' Company, dated 1617, gave them control and administration of their craft, and until the 17th and early 18th centuries scriveners were synonymous with notaries. The majority belonged to the legal and allied professions.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/L/SC 1392-1914 Collection 24 production units Worshipful Company of Scriveners

There are references to "Writers of the Court and Text Letter" in 1357, and the Writers of the Court Letter had their bye-laws by 1374. The charter of the Scriveners' Company, dated 1617, gave them control and administration of their craft, and until the 17th and early 18th centuries scriveners were synonymous with notaries. The majority belonged to the legal and allied professions.

The Company's archives have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1954. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners. The records have been compiled between 1392 and 1914, but they include copies of articles and ordinances enrolled at Guildhall from 1357. They also include members lists from 1392 and apprentices lists from 1478. There are no Court records of the Company held by the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

The archive has been arranged as follows:
A Constitutional records
C Membership records
D Financial records
E Trade records
F Clerk's records
G Charities and estates.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm

Copyright: Depositor.
English, Latin and French.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further information relating to Livery Companies, particularly using the company records for family history, please see Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Livery Company Membership Guide" and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section "Leaflet Guides to Records: Searching for Members or those apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies" (both available online).

For a general introduction to the history of the City of London Livery Companies please see entry in The London Encyclopaedia, ed Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert.
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. Oct-09 Organizations Worshipful Company of Scriveners City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe Associations Guilds Trade guilds Information sources Documents Apprenticeship records People People by occupation Personnel Workers Skilled workers Craft workers Scriveners

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The Company's archives have been deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates since 1954. The Manuscripts Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners. The records have been compiled between 1392 and 1914, but they include copies of articles and ordinances enrolled at Guildhall from 1357. They also include members lists from 1392 and apprentices lists from 1478. There are no Court records of the Company held by the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The archive has been arranged as follows:
A Constitutional records
C Membership records
D Financial records
E Trade records
F Clerk's records
G Charities and estates.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries. For further information please see LMA Research Guide "Consulting Archives at Guildhall Library", available at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright: Depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English, Latin and French.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area