SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 CLC/L/AA
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES
Date(s)	: 1617-1899
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 118 production units
Name of creator(s)	: Society of Apothecaries Friendly Medical Society

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Society of Apothecaries was incorporated by royal charter in 1617; previously apothecaries had belonged to the Grocers' Company in the City of London. The Society's members included apothecaries, chemists and druggists, as well as those unconnected with the trade. Following the Apothecaries' Act of 1815 many medical practitioners, particularly those from outside London, were licenced by the Society after a course of training.

The Society established the Chelsea Physic Garden (see Mss 8228-9, 8234-7, 8268, 8270, 8287). The Society's records also contain those of the Friendly Medical Society, established c 1725 "to establish and preserve a good understanding and friendship" amongst the members of the Society of Apothecaries, (see Mss 8278-80A). The Society's hall in Blackfriars Lane was destroyed in the Great Fire, but re-built shortly thereafter.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Society of Apothecaries, 1617-1899, including Court minute books; minutes of the Committee of Managers and of the Court of Proprietors of the laboratory stock; Chelsea Physic Garden Committee minute books; Building Committee minutes; Wardens account books, cash books and ledgers; freedom admission registers; quarterage books; united stock account books; catalogue of specimens of plants from the Chelsea Physic Garden; Court of Examiners' papers including minute books, candidates' declaration books, register of licentiates, Apothecaries' hall registers, student registers and fee books; deeds and other papers relating to property of the Society; papers relating to legal disputes and suits and Clerk's correspondence.

Also records of the Friendly Medical Society, including cash books, 1819-1922 (Ms 8279); transcript of minute books and cash book, 1915 (Ms 8280); and list of members, 1890-1913, and petty cash account, 1890-1915 (Ms 8290A).

PLEASE NOTE: THESE RECORDS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO OR RETAINED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SOCIETY. MICROFILM COPIES OF MANY, BUT NOT ALL, OF THESE ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE IN GUILDHALL LIBRARY.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

CLC/L/AA/A: Constitutional records;
CLC/L/AA/B: Court records;
CLC/L/AA/C: Membership records;
CLC/L/AA/D: Financial records;
CLC/L/AA/E: Trade records;
CLC/L/AA/F: Clerk's records;
CLC/L/AA/G: Charities and estates records.
Records were catalogued by various members of staff over many years.

Conditions governing access:

Not available for general access.

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:

The original records have been returned to, or retained, in the custody of the Society. Microfilm copies of many, but not all, of these items are available.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The records of the Society were deposited with the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library at various dates from 1953. The Section merged with London Metropolitan Archives in 2008. The records have been catalogued by various members of staff over many years.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

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:
Oct-09