- TitleW.H. SMITH Business Archive
- ReferenceWHS
- Production date1773-1990s
- Creator
- Creator HistoryHenry Walton Smith (1738-1792) and his wife Anna Smith (nee Eastaugh, c.1756-1816) first established a news vendor’s business in around 1790 in Little Grosvenor Street, London. Upon Henry’s death in 1792, Anna took control of the business partnering with Zaccheus Coates until 1812, whereupon Coates was replaced by Anna’s son William Henry Smith (1792-1865, the first W.H. Smith). The latter inherited the business, along with his brother Henry Edward Smith (1787-1846), on the death of their mother. In 1820 the business took its first steps in newspaper wholesale distribution. Henry Edward Smith left the partnership in 1828, and at this point the name “W.H. Smith” came into use. By 1848 the business had expanded and began opening new stands in railway stations, starting at Euston station in London; by 1850 Smith’s had opened stands in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool stations. In 1855 the first bookstall contract was established with the North London Railway; advertising contracts with the South Eastern Railway were also obtained.
- Scope and ContentThe W.H. Smith business archive covers the period 1773 to 1996 and contains records that cover all aspects of the company’s work. The administrative records include correspondence, meeting minutes, policy reports, legal advice, deeds and leases, accounts, and miscellaneous business documents. There are also business diaries from W.H. Smith II dating from the mid- to late-19th century, partners dated 1888 to 1909, and Peter W. Bennett dated 1972-1981. The collection includes plans and maps that relate primarily to W.H. Smith premises, with a number of plans by architects Tubbs, Messer & Poulter. There is a large amount of photographs within the collection as well. There are photo albums of past employees, company outings, and various W.H. Smith shops, manufacturing premises, and other properties. There are also photographs of staff, employee groups, events, shops and stalls, wholesale houses, specialist stores, and various buildings. There are some negatives of W.H. Smith stores, product displays, and portraits. There are many items scattered throughout the collection relating to W.H. Smith staff. These records include service sheets from 1854-1938, employee medical checks from 1892-1938, some taped reminiscences from old staff, and annual staff census records from 1944 and 1952-1956. The collection also includes a collection of wood engraving blocks, framed pictures, Smith family estate papers, invention patents, marketing material, and press cuttings. Minutes and supporting papers are closed for 50 years. Staff service records are closed for 100 years. Files can be closed because they contain sensitive information concerning an identifiable individual, and disclosure of this information may not be in the interest of that individual or their family. However, if evidence of the death of a named individual can be provided, then we will review the closure of any files related to that individual.
- Extent808 boxes and 822 volumes
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Content Subject
- Archival historyPlease note WHS CO 1-CO 214 Early English Newspapers Collection listed in 267. Sold at Sotheby's on 28 Jul 1980
- Related objectsHAM, SEP, BAB
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