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London Metropolitan Archives

CORPORATION OF LONDON: LORD MAYOR OF LONDON


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/283

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: CORPORATION OF LONDON: LORD MAYOR OF LONDON

Date(s): 1659-1879

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 24 production units.

Name of creator(s): The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The first recorded Mayor of London was Henry Fitz-Ailwyn in 1189. Since then, some 700 men and one woman have over the centuries held the position of chief officer of the City of London. The most famous of them all is Dick Whittington, who held office three times, in 1397, 1406 and 1419.

The Lord Mayor has throughout the centuries played a vital role in the life of the City of London and continues to do so today. In the City, the Lord Mayor ranks immediately after the sovereign and acts as the capital's host in Guildhall and Mansion House, his official residence. On behalf of the City and the nation he carries out numerous engagements at home and abroad.

The right of citizens to elect their own Mayor dates from the Charter granted by King John to the City in 1215. The election of Lord Mayor is held at the end of September each year in Guildhall. The assembly, known as Common Hall, consists of all liverymen of at least one year's standing together with certain high officers of the City. All aldermen who have served the office of sheriff and who have not already been Lord Mayor are eligible.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records relating to Lord Mayors of the City of London, including lists of Mayors since 1189; the Lord Mayor's Autograph Book (containing the signature of every Lord Mayor since 1659); notes on the procedures for ceremonies; lists of the armorial bearings of the Mayors; minutes of committees for organising entertainment at Guildhall on Lord Mayor's Days; and visitors books.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Conditions governing access:

Restricted access: please see staff.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection 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:

Deposited in the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, which merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material:

See also CLC/274 and COL/MH/LM.

DESCRIPTION NOTES Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: August to October 2010.


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Blazonry | Heraldry
Mayors | Local government personnel | Personnel | People by occupation | People
Visits | Cultural activities | Cultural action

Personal names

Corporate names
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London

Places
City of London | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe