Stock Exchange records

Research Guide

1. About this guide

The London Stock Exchange was officially founded on 30 December 1801, although its history can be traced back to 1698.

This guide outlines the key records within the Stock Exchange collection for researching listed companies and members.

All Stock Exchange records must be viewed at Guildhall Library.

Please contact guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk to arrange a visit - advance booking is essential.

2. Searching the catalogue

The Stock Exchange collection consists of historic archives and library books.

For archival records, browse CLC/B/004 in our catalogue. For library items, please see search the Guildhall Library catalogue.

3. Searching for listed companies

3.1. Applications for listing, 1850-1965

Companies would have to formally apply to the Stock Exchange for the authority to deal or to be listed. Applications from 1850 to 1965 can be viewed at Guildhall Library.

For the period 1850 to 1938, please start with the card index in MS 18001. The card index is arranged alphabetically by company name and will give you the bundle number and file number of the relevant application. These details can be used to order the actual applications for listing in MS 18000. For example, bundle 93B, file 186 can be found in MS 18000/93B/138-187.

For the period 1939 to 1965, there is no index as the applications for listing in MS 18000A are themselves arranged alphabetically by company name. The quotation reports in MS 29798 can be used as a rough guide to the companies included in the applications each year from 1939-1949 and as a reliable guide from 1950-1964.

Files after 1965 have been destroyed by the Stock Exchange on a rolling basis with only the most recent six years being retained.

Further information about companies can be found in the following records:

Report Books, 1881-1938 in MS 29797
Quotation Panel minutes, 1946-83 in MS 29754
Minutes of the Sub-committee on New Issues and Official Quotations, 1930-63 in MS 29763

3.2. Annual reports, 1880-1965

Guildhall Library holds annual reports for many companies listed on the Stock Exchange. These reports are bound alphabetically by company name within subject/industry headings devised by the Stock Exchange such as British Railways; Tea, Coffee and Rubber; Electric Lighting and Power etc.

The following sources can be used to identify which subject/industry heading a company is listed under:

Burdett's official intelligence, 1882-1898
Stock Exchange Official Intelligence, 1899-1933
Stock Exchange Yearbook, 1934 onwards

Please note that the collection is not complete as some companies failed to deposit annual reports with the London Stock Exchange.

3.3. Loan and company prospectuses, 1824-1964

Guildhall Library holds prospectuses for many companies listed on the Stock Exchange. The prospectuses for the period 1824-1880 are bound in one alphabetical sequence by the name of the company. From 1881 to 1964 the prospectuses are bound alphabetically on an annual basis. Printed indexes to company names are available in the library.

4. Searching for jobbers and brokers

Since 1802, the London Stock Exchange has only been open to members. These members were split into two classes:

Jobbers - dealers in stocks and shares
Brokers - mediators between the jobber and the public

Everyone had to apply for membership and then reapply each year.

Membership application forms from 1802 to 1948 in MS 17957 are held at Guildhall Library. They are bound annually and arranged alphabetically by surname. The membership forms up to 1924 are searchable on Ancestry.co.uk. See London, England, Stock Exchange Membership Applications, 1802-1924 (charges apply)

The forms include successful and unsuccessful applicants. The General Purposes Committee minutes, 1802-1946 in MS 14600 or the register of new applicants, 1886-1903 in MS 17974 can be used to discover if an applicant was successful.