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British Library of Political and Economic Science

Outer London Inquiry

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0097 OUTER LONDON INQUIRY

Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science

Title: Outer London Inquiry

Date(s): 1890-1909

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 5 boxes

Name of creator(s): Outer London Inquiry

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

A report dealing with life and labour in West Ham, with particular emphasis on the problems of unemployment and casual labour. The 'Inquiry' was initially planned to extend to other areas of the East End once the West Ham survey was complete. However, funding was only just sufficient to produce the survey of West Ham. The findings were published as a book: West Ham: A Study in Social and Industrial Problems (J.M. Dent and Co, London, 1907), by Howarth and Wilson. Unlike Booth's investigation, there is no actual household survey. The inquiry relied upon rent books, obtained from house agents, and contains no actual survey data, being a collection of indirectly related material, including examples of analysis drawn from other surveys.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of the Outer London Inquiry, 1890-1909, comprising material relating to life and labour in West Ham, notably correspondence and administrative papers, including correspondence and papers of the Inquiry Committee, the scheme of the Inquiry and related material regarding methodology, and records of visits to employers and factories; and financial material, 1905-1909, notably account books, papers concerning the financial appeal, and subscription lists. The material was published as West Ham: A Study in Social and Industrial Problems (J.M. Dent and Co, London, 1907), by Edward Goldie Howarth and Mona Wilson.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

The collection is divided into two sections: correspondence and administrative papers, and financial material.

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright unknown

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Printed handlist and on-line catalogue available.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Unknown

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The British Library of Political and Economic Science also holds the papers of Charles Booth's Survey of London (Ref: Booth).

Publication note:

Howarth and Wilson, West Ham: A Study in Social and Industrial Problems (J.M. Dent and Co, London, 1907).

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.