IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/121
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: LONDON COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DISTRESSED IRISH
Date(s): 1822-1843
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 116 production units.
Name of creator(s): London Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Irish
British and Irish Ladies Association for Improving the Condition of Female Peasantry
Irish Peasantry Society
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
In May 1822 'a numerous meeting of merchants, bankers and others' in London formed itself into a committee, known by many names, but most often described as the London Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Irish. Their aim was to raise a general subscription to relieve famine in Ireland caused by crop failure. Money was raised from individuals and organisations in London and the UK, and as far afield as India. The intention was to provide small loans to the poor, administered by local agents. After some initial success, the committee became mired in allegations of misuse of funds, and officially closed its books in April 1824. During its existence, the Committee met at the City of London Tavern.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the London Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Irish including subscription books and papers 1822-3 (Mss 7440-3, 7469); general financial records 1822-4 (Mss 7444-7); Friendly Loan Society Bank accounts 1839-43 and indexes to loans 1837-43 (Mss 7448-50); letter books 1822-3 (Mss 7451-4); resolutions, some minutes and correspondence 1822-4 (Mss 7455-8); vouchers, receipts and miscellaneous papers 1822-3 (Mss 7459-64); agents' reports 1822 (Ms 7465) and reports and papers re local administration of relief, arranged by county, 1822-4 (Mss 7470-92); letters and reports of the British and Irish Ladies Association for Improving the Condition of Female Peasantry 1822-4 (Ms 7466); committee resolutions and correspondence of the Irish Peasantry Society 1822-4 (Ms 7467) and correspondence with the Irish Fishery Board 1822-3 (Ms 7468).
The collection was previously catalogued as the 'Irish Relief Fund' until 2007, when it was renamed 'The London Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Irish' following a reassessment of its contents.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The records have been sorted into an order which reflects divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the City of London.
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
This collection of books and papers was preserved by Messrs. Smith, Payne and Co, bankers, of Mansion House Place and then (ca .1824) of No.1 Lombard Street. The records were presented to Guildhall Library in 1912. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Publication note:
For more background information see Craig Bailey's 'Micro-credit, misappropriation and morality: British responses to Irish distress, 1822-1831' in Continuity and Change (2006), vol 21, pp 455-474.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.