Minutes of the 50Th Annual General Meeting of the London Record Society
draft
LONDON RECORD SOCIETY
Minutes of the 50th Annual General Meeting of the London Record Society
held at 7.00pm
onTuesday 13 October 2015
in the Wolfson Room,Institute of Historical Research
Senate House, Malet Street
London WC1E 7HU
Present:Professor Caroline BarronHon Chairman
Professor Jerry WhiteJoint Hon Gen Editor
Dr David LewisHon Treasurer
Dr Helen BradleyHon Secretary
Dr Penny TuckerHon Membership Secretary
Dr Maria Hayward
Dr Norman James
Miss Elizabeth Scudder
Dr Henry Summerson
Dr Robin Woolven
and10members
1The Minutes of the AGM held on 16 October 2014were approved.
2Matters ArisingFollowing his suggestion that the Society might advertise through the London Topographical Society, Mr StanNewens had recently attended their AGM and found no London Record Society leafletswere available.
Professor Barron thanked Mr Newens and assured him that his suggestion would be pursued.
3The Hon Treasurer’s Report
Dr David Lewis presented the accounts for y/e December 2014, and explained that the Society's income in the year was little changed from 2013(subscription income is recognisedon a cash basis and can vary year-to-year slightly if subscriptions are received late).Book sales through Boydell and Brewer, the Society's publishers, continue at a much higher levelthan previously when the Society dealt with book sales itself. Some points of detail have come tolight with the Boydell contract, however, such as overseas sales, which the Society is due to resolve.
Book production costs in 2014 were roughly double those of 2013 because the Society publishedtwo volumes in the year: The Diaries of John Wilkes and A Free Spirited Woman. Distribution costswere also greater in consequence, increasing from £1,459 in 2013, to £1,689 in 2014.Postage and stationery costs in 2014 of £509 relate in part to expenditure made in 2013 but not paidout until the following year.The restoration grant paid in 2014 relates to two items:special conservation grade stationery to
protect the archive material relating to the Victoria County History London volume (£750), and(£1,000) donated to the London Metropolitan Archive to conserve the 17th century vestry minute book ofSt John's Hackney (P79/JN1/137).
The Society's reserves decreased by £7,322 in the year, in line with the Society's intention todistribute its accumulated fund in support of its objects.The Society's assets, in the most part, are represented by cash held in Barclays and CAF banks,£50,372, and book stock of £2,023 held by Boydell and Brewer, each volume being valued at £1.Following the year end the Society has made two substantial financial commitments: to digitallyscan volumes 33- 45 (£8,772), and reprint eight volumes currently out of stock (£3,000).
Dr Lewis concluded by pointing out that income was stable, and that the Society’s policy was to pay down reserves as the earlier level of approximately £60,000 was considered too high.
Mr Graham Javes proposed that the accounts be accepted, seconded by Dr Robin Wooven, and the accounts for y/e December 2014were accepted.
4TheHon Secretary’s and Membership Secretary’s ReportDr Penny Tucker reported that current membership stood at:
Membership
Institutional Members 122(last year 130)1
Personal Members 111(last year 113)1
Complimentary 8 (last year 8)
Total 241(last year 251)1
1The figures for 2014 have been adjusted to reflect post-AGM payments
Dr Tucker highlighted a particular problem this year, the bankruptcy of an agency that represented some 20 institutional members. The concern was that institutions might be tempted to use this as a natural ‘break point’ even if otherwise they might have continued their subscription. In the event 5 of these institutional members have, as was feared, decided not to renew rather than to transfer to another agent or pay directly.
Subscriptions from 2 personal members and 5 other institutional members who paid in 2014 remain unpaid for this year. It is likely that most of these will eventually pay and that, although the total for this year will be lower than last year, it will still be higher than in 2013. On the positive side, we are currently managing to maintain the level of personal memberships. However, even if we are not experiencing the sharp drops in institutional memberships of previous years, despite the bankruptcy of the one of the agents, it is proving difficult to generate the numbers of new members needed to outweigh natural wastage.
Dr Tucker pointed out that at this time last year, total membership was 245 and so the current figure was very close, despite the 5 institutions which had been unwilling to subscribe. Membership was an attractive offer, considering the range of publications and price of books, and Dr Tucker thanked Professor Barron for her work in recruiting new members.
Dr Helen Bradley reported thatthe Society published two volumes during 2014. A Free-Spirited Woman: the London diaries of Gladys Langford, 1936-1940 (volume 50), edited by Patricia and Robert Malcolmson, was launched at a joint meeting with the Camden History Society at Burgh House, Hampstead in October. The Diaries of John Wilkes 1770-1797 (volume 49), edited by Robin Eagles, was launched at Mansion House in November 2014.
The Council continued to work towards the digitisation of volumes 33-45, so that the majority of the Society’s catalogue would be available to readers online. In addition, some out-of-print volumes were being reprinted, enabling new members to order a complete set of LRS publications. The Council was very grateful to the Scouloudi Fund for its generous donation in support of the Society, and members were reminded that subventions from a number of different sources now play a vital role in bringing proposals to the point of publication. The Society had also established reciprocal digital links with London Historians (a very active club for Londoners keen to find out more about their city’s heritage).
The volume for 2015,Seals in Medieval London, 1050-1300: A Catalogue (volume 51) edited by John McEwan, is in larger format than the usual volumes, and in full colour. It will be launched at the British Museum’s conference ‘Seals and Status 800-1700’ (4-6 December). The volume for 2016, featuring magazines produced at Trinity Congregational Church, Brixton between 1910 and 1913, edited by the present minister Revd Dr Alan Argent, will be launched in Spring2016.
5The Hon Gen Editors’ ReportProfessor Jerry Whitereported that the volume for 2015, Seals in Medieval London, 1050-1300: A Catalogue (volume 51) edited by John McEwan, would be quarto and full colour. Consequently the sale price would be higher than the usual volume, and so subscription represented particularly good value. A further three volumes – The Angels’ Voice edited by Revd Dr Alan Argent ,‘Records of the Jesus Guild in St Paul’s Cathedral’edited by Dr Elizabeth New and the ‘Drapers’ Company Dinner Book’ edited by Dr Sarah Milne– were expected to be ready for publication in 2016, followed by the ‘Diaries of Anthony Heap’ edited by Dr Robin Woolven in 2017. Among the new proposals received, ‘Russian Views of London before 1914’, edited by Dr Anna Vaninskaya, would be a venture into new territory.
Professor Caroline Barron added that the Society was very lucky to have a number of new proposals and would be trying to publish two volumes each year while funds allowed. Mr Donald Clarke said that there were too few volumes on the Elizabethan period. Professor Barron drew attention to the Society’s recent publicationof eighteenth century and twentieth century volumes, and assured Mr Clarke that proposals falling within the Elizabethan period would be welcomed.
Dr Norman James proposed a vote of thanks to the Honorary General Editors in appreciation of the considerable time and hard work expended in readying texts for publication. Dr Maria Hayward seconded the proposal, which was unanimously agreed.
6Election of Hon Chairman Dr Helen Bradley proposed that Professor Caroline Barron should be re-elected, and was seconded by Mr Stan Newens. Professor Barron was unanimously elected.
7Election of Hon Gen EditorsProfessor Caroline Barron proposed that Dr HannesKleineke, Dr Robin Eagles and Professor Jerry White should be re-elected. Dr Robert Wood seconded the proposal, and they were unanimously elected.
8Election of HonTreasurer,Hon Secretary and Hon Membership SecretaryProfessor Caroline Barronproposed that Dr David Lewis, Dr Helen Bradley and Dr Penny Tuckerbe re-elected respectively as Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretaryand Hon Membership Secretary.The proposal was seconded by Mr Graham Javes, and they were unanimously elected.
9Election of Council Members Professor Caroline Barron indicated that Dr Norman James and Dr Deirdre Palk were due to retire from the Council, and expressed the Society’s gratitude for their work during their period of service. Professor Barron proposed that Revd Dr Martin Dudley (rector, St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield and Common Councilman) be elected. Miss Elizabeth Scudder seconded the proposal, andRevd Dr Dudley was unanimously elected.
10Election of Hon Independent Financial Examiner Professor Caroline Barron 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.
11Any Other Business Professor Caroline Barron reminded members that the quarto full colour 2015 volume,Seals in Medieval London, 1050-1300: A Catalogue (volume 51) edited by John McEwan, will be launched at the British Museum’s conference ‘Seals and Status 800-1700’ (4-6 December). The 2016volume, The Angels’ Voice, edited by RevdDr Alan Argent, will be launched at the Trinity Congregational Church, St Matthew's Road, BrixtonSW2 1NF, next Spring.
Meeting closed at 7.30 pm
Signed:
Hon ChairmanHon Secretary
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