Historical documents relating to the accountancy profession can be found in various archives across the UK. This page highlights some of the key archives and resources that can help you with your research.
The ICAEW conducted an archive survey of member firms in 1991-1992 and the information gathered was published in Chartered accountants in England and Wales- a guide to historical records in 1994. It is a useful starting point for research into accountancy firms, with an overview of the types of records that may have been retained.
Archival material held by the ICAEW Library and Information Service
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Archive of Accountancy Journals
The ICAEW Library & Information Service holds an archive of over 600 historic accountancy journals (UK and International titles) covering the late nineteenth century to the present day.
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Members Lists of Accountancy Bodies
A guide to our unique collection of over 220 series of membership lists for accountancy bodies from 1877 to the present day.
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Obituaries & Photographs
The Accountancy Ancestors database provides an index to obituaries, historic photographs of general interest and photographs of individuals from 1874 to 1965 that we hold within our collection.
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Rare Books
The Institute of Chartered Accountants has been collecting early works on accounting for over 100 years and it is the proud possessor of the finest collection of books in this field in the world, covering a timespan that reaches from 1494 to 1914.
If you find any historical material about the ICAEW or the accountancy profession in general and would like to discuss lodging it within the LIS Archive please contact us.
Archival material held by other institutions
Commissioning Research
Many firms and individual members have commissioned us to undertake research from the material held by the Library, for a range of projects that have included biographies, family histories, and centennial histories of the foundation of firms (although we are not able to conduct research into archival material held by other institutions). If you would like to speak to a member of the Library & Information Service enquiry team about commissioning research and the costs involved you can reach us by telephone, fax, email and post.
Post: Library & Information Service
Institute of Chartered Accountants
Moorgate Place
London EC2P 2BJ
PO Box 433
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7920 8620
Fax: +44(0)20 7920 8621
Email: library@icaew.com
Examples of research projects completed
- Research into the early careers of the founding members of a Far-Eastern accountancy firm for a celebration of the firm's history.
- Research into early accounting journals to establish when an accountancy firm was founded.
- Research into the development of an accountancy firm through membership/firm directories.
- Research into the grandfather of a current member for a family history project, to locate details of the prizes he won.
- A listing of the previous offices of a firm of Chartered Accountants in Manchester for their records.
Information on these projects are provided with the kind permission of our clients.