IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 1969
Held at: The Athenaeum
Title: The Athenĉum
Date(s): 1823-2000
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 75 linear metres
Name of creator(s): The Athenĉum | 1824
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Athenĉum was founded in 1824 as a social club for leading artistic, literary and scientific men and for patrons of the arts and sciences. Bishops and judges were exempted from the requirement to publish some 'literary or professional work'. The first secretary was Michael Faraday and the first Chairman Sir Humphry Davy. John Wilson Croker was an influential early member.
Meetings at first took place at the home of Joseph Jekyll in New Street, Spring Gardens, but the Club moved to rented premises at 12 Waterloo Place in May 1824. On the recommendation of John Nash, it commissioned the young Decimus Burton to design a club house, originally intended for a site nearer the present Trafalgar Square. However in 1825 it acquired part of the site of Carlton House, which required some alterations to the design Burton submitted. Building commenced in 1829 and the Club house opened in May 1830. The premises were extended by the addition of a top storey in 1898, which was remodelled in 1928. Further building work took place in 1962 when the Ladies' Annexe (now the Garden Room) was constructed. The Club had rented 6 Carlton Gardens for the entertainment of lady guests between 1936 and 1961.
The membership of the Athenĉum was originally limited to one thousand, and the waiting list was always long. The cost of the magnificent premises had resulted in a deficit of some £20,000 and 200 supernumerary members were elected in 1832 to restore the finances. By 1838 the Club was again in straitened circumstances after undertaking expensive remedial action because of the damage caused by the gas lighting. (It was one of the earliest buildings to be lit by this means). To alleviate the situation, 160 supernumeraries were admitted to ordinary membership and an additional forty brought forward from the waiting list. These "forty thieves", as they became known, included Dickens and Darwin. In 1886 the Clubhouse became one of the first buildings to be lit by electricity. In 2002, women became eligible for membership and the Club is now close to its present complement of two thousand members.
Over the nearly two hundred years since its foundation the Athenĉum has maintained its standard of high attainment and distinction in the membership. More than fifty members have won the Nobel Prize, including at least one in each category. The magnificent premises have been carefully maintained. Some of the mahogany furniture designed for the Club by Decimus Burton and recognisable from drawings in the archive, is still in use today. The tradition of holding a conversazione for members on Monday evenings, begun in 1830, continues today in the form of Talk Dinners.
The library, the finest club library in London, is housed in the drawing room and four additional rooms. It now numbers about 60,000 volumes. There is a continuing programme of refurbishment and new books are regularly acquired. The full time staff, under the supervision of the Library Committee, comprise the Keeper or Archives Books and Collections, a Librarian and an assistant. Particular emphasis is placed on the conservation and cataloguing of the Club's archive, which is substantially intact from the foundation in 1824.
The Club is governed by the Trustees and a General Committee of Members, and the day to day running is managed by an Executive committee founded in 1888. There are also a standing subcommittees for wine, library and archives, art, investments and talk dinners.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Archives of the Athenĉum comprising:
minutes of the General Committee 1823-1982; rough minutes of the General Committee, 1882-1888;
Annual Reports 1824-1972;
minutes of the House Committee, 1830-1859; House and Finance Committee, 1860-1889; Executive Committee, 1889-1988; Formal business, 1861-1937; Finance Sub-Committee, 1861-1883; Special Committee on election, 1869; Special committee on alterations to the Club house, 1856; Repair sub-committee, 1854-1899; Special sub-committee on alteration, 1882-1883, 1888; Library sub-committee 1830-1985; Wine and cigars subcommittee, 1883-present; Staff welfare committee, 1943-1954;
committee regulations 1824-1865; committee notices, 1824-1877; committee membership file, 1955-1999; Annual General Meeting papers, 1968-1993; papers for the Wine Committee, 1920s-1980s, Finance committee, 1955-1982; furniture committee, 1936-1953; Membership committee, 1970s; Library committee agenda papers, 1853-1864, 1922-1960;
Rules of the Club, 1876; papers relating to alterations in the Rules, 1889-1901, 1904-1908; papers relating to the rules 1936; notebook relating to Rule II;
Secretary's papers including letter books, 1832-1934; letters received, 1930s; correspondence and papers, 1979-1998;
accounts and financial papers including general accounts, 1824-1957; ledgers, 1838-1936; cash books, 1832-1973; vouchers c 1830-1850; annual and quarterly abstracts, 1836-1855; warrant books, 1855-1927, 1945; financial papers, 1860-1861, 1877-1879; papers relating to securities and investments 1928-1981; list of donations to special fund, 1920-1922; papers relating to the Poultney Bigelow bequest, 1950s; insurance papers 1936-1990; and related papers 1930s-1990s;
membership records including candidates books, 1824-1980; ballot books, 1826-1995; casualties, 1830-1854; certificates of candidates withdrawn, 1851-1861; candidates passed over, 1915-1918; ballot meetings, 1843-1922; elections under Rule XIII (honorary members), 1838-1891, 1902-1929; elections under Rule XI (supernumerary members) 1830-1926; elections under Rules II, III and XI, 1923-1936; Ccndidates dossiers, 1939-1990s; membership lists, 1824-1980s; subscription books (with addresses from 1861), 1850-1937; referendum papers, 1960; correspondence relating to subscriptions, 1980s-1990s; papers relating to deaths and resignations, 1934-1936, 1952-1998; papers relating to elections under rules II and III, 1950-1999; miscellaneous administrative papers including material relating to ladies membership, 1984-1985 and record cards, 1970s-1980s;
papers relating to the Club building comprising legal documents including original lease of site, building contact delaration of trust, 1928, lease renewal, 1899-1900 and related papers;
building papers 1828-1854, 1886-1888, 1898-1900; building books, 1845-1846, 1865-1866; papers relating to alterations, 1856; drainage, 1885, 1898-1900; installation of electric lighting, 1889-1892; assessment of the Club house, 1895, 1900; water charges, 1908; building, furniture and decoration papers, 1889-1908; repairs and estimates, 1901-1905; repairs and maintenance cost book, 1963-1964; building papers, 1900-2000;
architectural drawings, 1829-2000 including drawings of original design by Decimus Burton, drawings for alterations by Burton, 1940-1864, Charles Barry, 1882-1887, T E Collcutt, 1899, Collcutt and Hamp, 1926-1927, and M T Tudsbery, 1936;
inventories (general), 1830-1839, 1856-1866, 1901, 1930-1932; inventories of linen, cutlery and plate, 1863-1892; linen and plate stock books, 1898, 1932-1940; linen stock book, 1952-1961; furniture stock book, 1950s-1960s; and related papers;
equipment purchase book 1950s-1960s, papers relating to pictures and works of art, 1950s-1990s, correspondence relating to gifts to the Club, 1952-1976;
catering records including Coffee Room bills with members' comments, 1830-1910; papers relating to Coffee Room charges, 1877-1878; Coffee Room receipts, 1861-1972; Coffee Room abstract books, 1876-1883, 1890-1893; dinner guest book 1887; Guest book 1914-1916; wine bin books, and stock books and sheets, 1890s-1950s; wine lists, 1959-1964; reservations (including bedroom) 1980s-1990s; catering reports, 1884; and miscellaneous catering papers, 1940s-1980s;
staff records including letters from staff on active service, 1914-1918; staff records 1928-1996; liveries book, 1927-1962; wages books, 1942-1974; Christmas photograph, 1939; and related papers, 1930s-1990s;
library records including catalogues, 1845-1876; additions, 1881-1901, 1913-1914; books lost, 1830-1839; members' proposals 1866-1937; invoice book, 1863-1874; accessions, 1954-1993; binding books, 1928-1963; circulating library books required, 1914-1976; pamphlets received, 1905; acquisitions, 1930s-1960s and related papers, 1940s-1990s;
papers relating to events including Royal Jubilee celebrations 1887, 1897; Coronations, 1901-2, 1937, 1953; Dinner for holders of the Order of Merit, 1902;
photographs collections including group photographs of members taken by Campbell Swinton, [1889-1900]; photographs of Nobel Prize winning members, [1910]-present, compiled 1995; photographic inventory of the Club's art collection, 1999; photographs used in History of the Athenĉum Humphrey Ward, 1925; 11 photographs of the interior of 6 Carlton House (Ladies Annex), prior to its demolition in 1961; and photographs of Club house interiors;
manuscripts and personal papers including: Charles Blount (1654-1693) - notebook of 1680-1681 (and microfilm copy); Sir William Jones, Orientalist (1746-1794) - manuscript translation of Indian text relating to astronomy; Edward Magrath, secretary of the Club, 1825-1855, commonplace book, 1825-1840, and travel diary, 1828; Thomas Moore (1779-1852) - notes on the life of Lord Byron; William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) - illustrated story 'The Orphan of Pimlico', [1876]; Edward Gibbon's copy of a French atheist tract [18th century]; two volumes containing valuation and report on the Duke of Athol's Isle of Man properties, c 1826; and a Greek liturgical anthology, 1782.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The collection is not arranged at present.
Conditions governing access:
By written arrangement and appointment only. Contact the Keeper of Archives, Books and Collections, or the Librarian, The Athenĉum, 107 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ER.
Administrative records less than 70 years old are closed. Copies to be consulted in lieu of original material where they exist.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopies and photographs available at the discretion of the Keeper of Archives Books and Collections.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Shelf list contained in the Historical Manuscripts Commission Report on the records of the Athenĉum Club, R J Olney and K Hughes, Feb 2001.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Regular accruals
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Created and kept in situ by the Club
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
The Athenĉum archive holds microfilm copies - Charles Blount (1654-1693) - notebook of 1680-1681; and digital copies of 11 photographs of 6 Carlton House Gardens, (pre 1961).
Related material:
Photographs of the interior of the Club house are held by English Heritage.
Publication note:
The Athenĉum, club and social life in London 1824-1974, Heinemann, London, 1975; The Athenĉum and its associations, F G Waugh, 1888, 1892, 1900; History of the Athenĉum, H Ward, 1925; The Athenĉum Collection R Walker and H Tait, 2000.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Sources: Historical Manuscripts Commission's On-Line National Register of Archives; Historical Manuscripts Commission Report on the records of the Athenĉum Club, R J Olney and K Hughes, Feb 2001; The Athenĉum, club and social life in London 1824-1974, Heinemann, London, 1975.
Compiled by Alison Field as part of the London Signpost Survey Project.
Date(s) of descriptions: October 2003