IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0097 PEC
Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science
Title: Political Economy Club
Date(s): 1821-1989
Level of description: collection
Extent: 15 boxes
Name of creator(s): Political Economy Club
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Political Economy Club was founded in 1821 to support the principles of free trade. The prime mover for the formation of the society appears to have been Thomas Tooke (1774-1858), economist, perhaps at the instigation of David Ricardo. The first meeting, on 18 April 1821, took place at the house of Swinton Holand, a partner in Baring and Co, and James Mill was given the task of preparing a draft set of rules for consideration. The first full meeting of the Club took place on 30 April at the Freemason's Tavern.
From the beginning, the Club was composed mainly of businessmen, followed by politicans, civil servants and professional economists. Each meeting was to discuss 'some doubt or question on some topic of political economy' and no official record was kept of the discussion. At first the rules of the Club stated that the remarks of the opening and subsequent speakers should not be written down, although later on opening speakers were allowed to circulate a printed synopsis of their argument. Eventually the practise of reading a written paper became the norm.
The Political Economy Club continues to meet to the present day.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of the Political Economy Club, include minute book, 1821-1824, with loose handwritten minutes by James Mill, 1821; minute book 1911-1919; membership records, c 1920s-1960s; nominations book, 1917-1927; Sydney Caine's files as secretary, 1958-1968; secretary's files, 1927-1929, 1966, 1969 and 1973-1976; typescript copies of speeches, correspondence and other documents relating to the Political Economy Club, 1883-1897; treasurer's files, 1959-1965, 1967-1984 and 1985-1989; bank correspondence, 1975-1988; accounts and balance sheets, 1927-1949; correspondence relating to printing, 1977-1979; correspondence files, 1914-1951; lists of members, 1977-1985; bank book, 1924-1932; membership subscription papers, 1966-1967; minutes of centenary meeting, 1921; rules, 1917-1976, with printed membership lists, notices of membership nominations and ephemera; correspondence, c1830s; printed volumes relating to the Club's history
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Unsorted
Conditions governing access:
Open
Conditions governing reproduction:
Bound volumes may not be photocopied. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.
Finding aids:
No additional finding aids.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited by the Political Economy Club in 2001.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Sources: Copied from LSE Archives CALM database by Anna Towlson.
Date(s) of descriptions: Apr 2008