IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/L/SC
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SCRIVENERS
Date(s): 1392-1914
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 24 production units
Name of creator(s): Worshipful Company of Scriveners
CONTEXT
Administrative/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.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
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.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English, Latin and French.
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 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.
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
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.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Publication note:
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.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: Oct-09