Catalogue description Records of the London Museum

Records of the London Museum prior to it's succession by the Museum of London in 1975 including:
DC 1: Trustees Minutes
DC 2: In Letters
DC 3: Letter Books (Out Letters
DC 4: General Correspondence and Papers
DC 5: Cash Books
DC 6: Archaeological Papers
DC 7: Exhibitions
DC 8: Photography: Correspondence and Papers
DC 9: Publications
DC 10: Visitors Books
DC 11: Press Cuttings
DC 12: Registers of Accessions
DC 13: Photographs

London Museum, (1911-1975)

Access conditions: No records held at The National Archives in this departmental code

The London Museum was founded in 1911 and was opened to the public in the State Apartments of Kensington Palace in 1912. Two years later it was transferred to Lancaster House, St James where it remained until 1945 when the building was taken over for government hospitality. The museum was subsequently granted a lease of premises at Kensington Palace, re-opening there in 1951. In 1965 a merger of London Museum's collections with those of the Guildhall Museum to form a comprehensive museum of the history of London was approved by Act of Parliament and the building of a new joint museum was stated in 1971.

The Museum of London was opened in December 1976 in its new building at the corner of London Wall and Aldergate Street in the city. The museum was originally controlled by a Board of Governers, appointed (6 each) the Government, the Corporation of London and the Greater London Council. The first Board of Governers was chaired by Viscount Harcourt.

The museum is currently controlled by a board of Coverners appointed (nine each) by the Corporation of London and the Government and is funded jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Corporation of London.

The museum's exhibitions illustrate the history of London from prehistoric times to the present day.