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LONDON RECORD SOCIETY
Minutes of the 49th Annual General Meeting of the London Record Society
held at 6.30pm
on Thursday 16 October 2014
in the Music Room at Burgh House, New End Square
Hampstead, London NW3 1LT
Present:
Professor Caroline Barron
Dr Robin Eagles
Professor Jerry White
Dr David Lewis
Dr Helen Bradley
Dr Penny Tucker
Mr Roger Cline
Dr Norman James
Dr Deirdre Palk
Miss Elizabeth Scudder
Hon Chairman
Joint Hon Gen Editor
Joint Hon Gen Editor
Hon Treasurer
Hon Secretary
Hon Membership Secretary
and 8 members. Apologies were received from the Lord Mayor, the
Bishop of London, Mr Paul Double (City Remembrancer), Professor
Sally Alexander, Dr Justin Colson, Professor Matthew Davies, Mr
Stephen Freeth, Dr Hannes Kleineke (Joint Hon Gen Editor), Mr
Matthew Payne, Dr Patrick Wallis and others.
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The Minutes of the AGM held on 16 October 2013 were approved.
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Matters Arising Professor Barron drew attention to the Society’s support for
conservation work completed at LMA, and the ordering and listing of VCH
research notes on London and Middlesex. The VCH material is not yet listed
on LMA’s website, but can be produced on request within 48 hours.
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The Hon Treasurer’s Report Dr David Lewis presented the accounts for y/e
December 2013, which had been checked by the Hon Independent Financial
Examiner, Dr Clive Burgess, in February.
Dr Lewis reminded members that despite the sizeable deposit at CAF Bank
(just over £56,000), interest earned is low as market rates are still negligible.
A term deposit offered only a minimal increase, but would be kept under
review. Subscriptions and donations were largely unchanged and this covers
annual operating costs, while the Society was again grateful to the Scouloudi
Foundation for their generosity in renewing their grant (£1,250).
Conservation work at LMA had been funded (just over £3,700), and higher
expenses for the AGM (£840) reflected the cost of facilities and staff at
Guildhall.
Bookstock at Boydell and Brewer stood at just over 1,700 volumes valued at
£1 each, incurring reduced storage costs when compared with LMA.
Production costs are variable with the particular volume to be published, and
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usually 400 copies are printed. The books are better publicised on the Boydell
and Brewer lists, and sales were rising (accounted on a cash basis but
subject to revision, due to the ‘sale or return’ agreement between Boydell and
their American clients).
Dr Norman James proposed that the accounts be accepted, seconded by Dr
Stephen O’Connor, and the accounts for y/e December 2013 were accepted.
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The Hon Secretary’s and Membership Secretary’s Report Dr Helen
Bradley reported that the Society has published two titles this year. Volume
50, A Free-Spirited Woman: the London diaries of Gladys Langford, 19361940, edited by Patricia and Robert Malcolmson, would be launched after the
AGM at a joint meeting with the Camden History Society. Volume 49, The
Diaries of John Wilkes, 1770-1797, edited by Dr Robin Eagles, would be
launched at Mansion House on 25 November, thanks to the kindness of our
patron, the Lord Mayor.
Dr Bradley mentioned that the Council met in February, June and September
2014. Four Council members also attended the County Societies Symposium
(a forum for archaeological, historical, antiquarian, natural history and record
societies), which was held at the Institute of Historical Research. Conservation
work on the Southwark Dispensary Register of Patients 1787-9 and St John
Hackney Vestry Minutes 1613-59, both held at LMA, was completed. Funding
was agreed for conservation of one of the National Club’s volumes, held at the
Bodleian Library. The Council also agreed that volume 50, A Free-Spirited
Woman, should be publicised to a wider audience on Boydell and Brewer’s
trade list.
Dr Penny Tucker reported that current membership stood at:
Institutional Members
128
(last year 130)
Personal Members
109
(last year 106)
Complimentary
Total
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8
245
(last year 8)
(last year 244)1
The figures for 2013 were adjusted to reflect post-AGM payments
Only 3 subscriptions remained unpaid for this year. The institutional members
found themselves particularly hard pressed due to prevailing economic
conditions, and were selective in their ordering. Approximately half of the
institutional membership was based in the US, and a majority of ‘lost’
members were American.
Dr Tucker added that the drop in the number of subscribers seemed to have
been arrested, but the Council is actively looking at additional ways of
attracting new members and of making sure that existing members continue
to want to support the Society’s work. It does help if subscriptions are paid
promptly and membership numbers are quoted in correspondence. As
Boydell & Brewer imposes an administrative charge of over £10 for each
volume despatched individually, the Council has now decided that it will,
whenever appropriate, pass on this charge to any member who pays so late
that they miss the bulk despatch for the year.
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Mr Stan Newens suggested that the Society should advertise with the London
Topographical Society to attract new personal members.
Mr Roger Cline pointed out that the London Topographical Society’s
newsletter weighs in at the top of a postage band and no further enclosures
could be made. However, a London Record Society entry could be included in
the newsletter text, and leaflets could be left at LTS meetings.
Professor Barron thanked Mr Newens for his contribution, and hoped that the
Society might take up both methods of advertising suggested by Mr Cline in
his helpful reply.
Dr Tucker assured members that all ideas for expanding the membership
base would be very welcome, and invited emails on the subject.
Ms Hannah Renier added that London Historians (www.londonhistorians.org)
would publicise the Society, and agreed to give an email address to Dr
Tucker.
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The Hon Gen Editors’ Reports Dr Robin Eagles reported that there were an
excellent number of publications in train. The volume for next year was
expected to be Maryanne Kowaleski’s London Shipbuilding in the Middle
Ages, although Professor Barron’s and Dr Laura Wright’s London Civic
English 1377-1400 (the Jubilee Book) was also likely to be ready. Recent
proposals included Dr Sarah Milne’s Drapers’ Dinner Book, Mr Simon
Deveraux’s Diaries of the Reverend H S Cotton 1823-25 (Ordinary of
Newgate) and Dr John McEwan’s A Corpus of Seals in London c1050-c1300.
Professor Jerry White added that there were also two new proposals for
volumes on 20th century history. These were Mr Alan Argent’s The Angels’
Voice (the magazine of Trinity Congregational Church, Brixton, before the
First World War), and Dr Robin Woolven’s two-volume set of The Diaries of
Anthony Heap (a Second World War observer of bomb damage, living in St
Pancras).
Professor Barron said that these 20th century proposals were especially
welcome, following upon the Society’s publication of Kathleen Tipper’s diary,
A Woman in Wartime London edited by Patricia and Robert Malcolmson (LRS
41). A number of those represented at the County Societies Symposium had
regretted a lack of proposals for new volumes, and the Society is very
fortunate to have a growing programme covering the years to come. Professor
Barron thanked the Hon Gen Editors for their excellent work in bringing the
proposals to publication.
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Election of The Hon Chairman Dr Helen Bradley proposed that Professor
Caroline Barron should be re-elected, and was seconded by Dr Stephen
O’Connor. Professor Barron was unanimously elected.
7
Election of The Hon Gen Editors Mr Stan Newens proposed that Dr Hannes
Kleineke, Dr Robin Eagles and Professor Jerry White should be re-elected.
Dr Stephen O’Connor seconded the proposal, and they were unanimously
elected.
8
Election of The Hon Secretary and The Hon Membership Secretary Mr
Norman James proposed that Dr Helen Bradley be re-elected as Hon
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Secretary and Dr Penny Tucker as Hon Membership Secretary. The proposal
was seconded by Miss Elizabeth Scudder, and they were unanimously
elected.
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Election of Three Council Members Professor Caroline Barron thanked Mr
Matthew Payne and Mr Roger Cline for all their work, and particularly
mentioned Mr Cline’s involvement with the sorting and listing of VCH material
and with the sale of stock before the move to Boydell and Brewer. Professor
Barron added that a third Council member, Dr Patrick Wallis, had resigned
because he was now working in China.
Mr Roger Cline proposed the election of Professor Maria Hayward (University
of Southampton, editor of The Great Wardrobe Accounts of Henry VII and
Henry VIII, LRS 47), Dr Henry Summerson (an editor for the Oxford Dictionary
of National Biography, 13th century), and Dr Robin Woolven (editor of the
forthcoming Diaries of Anthony Heap). Dr Chris Kitching seconded the
proposal, and they were unanimously elected.
10
Election of The Honorary Treasurer Dr Penny Tucker proposed that Dr
David Lewis be re-elected, seconded by Dr Deirdre Palk. Dr Lewis was
unanimously elected.
11
Election of The Hon Independent Financial Examiner Professor Jerry
White proposed that Dr Clive Burgess (Department of History, Royal Holloway
College) be re-elected as Hon Independent Financial Examiner, and was
seconded by Dr Robin Woolven. Dr Burgess was unanimously elected.
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Any Other Business Professor Barron looked forward to the launch of The
Diaries of John Wilkes, 1770-1797 edited by Dr Robin Eagles (LRS 49) at
Mansion House on 25 November, and reminded members that the Lord
Mayor’s staff will need to know the names of those attending.
Meeting closed at 7.10 pm
Signed:
Hon Chairman
Hon Secretary
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