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London Metropolitan Archives

EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0074 CLC/B/079-01

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY

Date(s): 1803-1976

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 125 production units.

Name of creator(s): Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorships
Equitable Life Assurance Society

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorships was formed in 1762. It was the first society to use a scientific form of life assurance which enabled the Equitable to accept a broad range of risks. By 1797 there were over 5,000 assurances in force. The name 'Equitable Life Assurance Society' appeared in brochures by 1857, but the Society only became incorporated with this name in 1893.

The Society acquired the Reversionary Interest Society in 1919; University Life Assurance Society in 1919; and Equitable Reversionary Interest Society in 1920.

The Society was based at Nicholas Lane (1762-74); New Bridge Street (1774-1870); Mansion House Street (1870-1924); Coleman Street (1924-c1992); and Basinghall Street (c 1993- ). The Society was closed to new business in 2000.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorships, later known as the Equitable Life Assurance Society. The records comprise: minutes 1834-1951, and indexes 1830-89 (Ms 38646-52; financial records, 1831-1972 (Ms 38653-62); policy records, 1803-1976 (Ms 38663-76); correspondence, 1833-61 (Ms 38677); and policy forms and other operational records, [1870]-1931 (Ms 38678-85).

A note at the front of the policy registers states that up to 1891 (policy number 13787), details of policies were entered in five books: policy ledgers; dockets (Ms 38667); ticket books; registers of notices of assignment (Ms 38668); and policy loan ledgers.

In 1908, new policy registers were compiled for all the policies up to number 13787 which were still in force (Ms 38664). These new registers contain all the information for each policy on a single page.

Ms 38664/3-5 are held as a deposit from Equitable Life and enquiries relating to access to these items should be addressed to Equitable Life.

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:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

In November 2006 the Actuarial Profession (comprising the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of Actuaries) funded the purchase acquisition of the records of Equitable Life up to 1950 (together with the records of the Reversionary Interest Society and the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society). The records covering the period circa 1834-circa 1950 were deposited in Guildhall Library. A very few post-1950 records were deposited in Guildhall Library at the same time; these are now Ms 38664/3-5 (policy registers). The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material:

See also CLC/102.

Records pre circa 1834 are held at the Institute of Actuaries, including policy ledgers, 1762-1806, 1817-40; dockets, 1767-75; 1814-16; and ticket books 1772-82, 1798-1800, 1824-35. Visits to the Institute of Actuaries Library need to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance.

Enquiries relating to publication of pre-1950 records should be addressed to the Librarian at the Institute of Actuaries, Staple Inn, High Holborn, WC1V 7QJ.

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: November 2010 to January 2011.


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Assurance companies | Companies | Enterprises
Business records | Documents | Information sources
Insurance policies | Insurance records | Documents | Information sources
Insurance services | Financial service industries | Service industries
Life insurance | Insurance | Finance

Personal names

Corporate names
Equitable Life Assurance Society
Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorships

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