Guide to the Collections held by the Hackney Archives Department (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2534 - M2535
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Hackney Archives Department
- Title
- Collections held by the Hackney Archives Department (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1827 - 1986
- Collection Number
- M2534 - M2535
- Extent
- 41 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Records 1886-1962 of Berger Jenson and Nicholson printmakers, concerning their Australian and New Zealand operations. They include extracts from minute-books, reports, agreements and correspondence.
Records 1931-43 of British Xylonite (Australia) Pty Ltd referring to the Australian tariff and the company's factory in Melbourne.
Records 1827-58 of Refuge for the Destitute at Hackney relating to male and female emigration to Australia.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Material selectively filmed at the Hackney Archives Department as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP Reels: M2534-2535). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
Hackney Archives Department, London, England. For further information see Hackney Archives Department (https://www.hackney.gov.uk/archives).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2304320] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Related Materials
The archives of Bryant and May (M2476-M2491) [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn776618] have been filmed separately.
Finding-aid Notes
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2018. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
The identifiers used in this finding aid were accurate at the time of filming. They have been kept to preserve the historical context of the collection.
Pieces that were not filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project have not been included in this Finding Aid.
Subjects
Australia: emigration; Australia: visits to; Berger Jenson and Nicholson; British Xylonite Ltd.; Business records; C.E. Casella & Co Ltd.; Refuge for the destitute; Trade:Australia; Trade: New Zealand; Tarrifs;
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 202, p76.
Item Descriptions
Fonds D/B. Business Records, 1882 - 1986
28 itemsSeries D/B/BER. Berger Jenson and Nicholson, 1911 - 1938
3 itemsPaint makers. Records, 1783-1986.
Lewis Steingenberger said to come to London from Frankfurt, Germany in 1760 as a 19 year old colourchemist to manufacture Prussian Blue, changing his name to Lewis Berger.The business expanded and in 1780 he moved from Shadwell, East London, to Homerton. He was then offering 12 dry pigment colours and within 7 years another seven. Three of his four sons also entered the business.
In 1879 the firm was turned into a limited company as Lewis Berger and Sons Ltd. But the company was badly managed and shareholders continually complained about the company's financial affairs. Trade however expanded - to India, Australia and America. Eventually, in 1905, the company was sold to Cottingham of Sherwin Williams Co. of America, Paint Manufacturers, and a new American board was appointed.
A small trading depot had been established in Sydney by the early 20th century, then in 1911 a separate company was established and a new factory built in 1910 at Rhodes, N.S.W. The company later also established subsidiaries in Victoria, 1929 and New Zealand in 1923.
In 1960 the company merged with Jenson and Nicholson Ltd. to form Berger, Jenson and Nicholson. Jenson and Nicholson had been established in 1821 as coach paint manufacturers, and they had several overseas subsidiaries. Operations at Homerton were run down and the works closed in 1960.
In 1970 Berger, Jensen and Nicholson were taken over by Hoechst AG of Frankfurt, Lewis Steingenberger's home town. They became the holding company of the whole Berger group which now manufactured and distributed paint, resins, wood preservatives, industrial sealants, household chemicals and wallcoverings. In 1977 there were 35 companies and divisions running 46 factories in 25 countries, employing 10,000 people.
In 1988 Berger, Jenson and Nicholson was sold by Hoechst AG to Williams holdings and Jenson and Nicholson was re-established as a private company at Dagenham.
Subseries D/B/BER/3. Subsidiary Companies, October 1911 - January 1938
3 itemsFilmed selectively.
Lewis Berger and Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd, October 1911 - January 1938 (File D/B/BER/3/5)
3 itemsSeries D/B/CAS. C.E. Casella & Co Ltd, 1910 - 1912
1 itemBiographical / Historical
Louis Paschal Casella came to London in 1810 from Italy, a skilled optical glass worker, barometer and thermometer maker. Tagliabues were already an established firm of instrument makers, and in 1838 Louis Casella joined Caesar Tagliabue at 23 Hatton Garden Louis Casella & Co. superceded Tagliabue & Casella in 1848 and expanded, becoming instrument makers to the Admiralty, and the government of Noth America in 1856, and to the East India Company and the Board of Trade in 1860. The company continues to manufacture at Britannia Walk, Shoreditch.
Series D/B/PUC. Puckeridge and Nephew Ltd, 1897
1 itemBiographical / Historical
Puckridge and Nephew Ltd. of the Mount, (later 96 Upper Clapton Road).
Makers of gold beaters' skins and moulds. Changed name in 1950 to Mount Works Ltd. and went into voluntary liquidation in 1951.
Series D/B/XYL. British Xylonite Ltd, 1930 - 1950
4 itemsBiographical / Historical
Xylonite is the trade name for the celluloid (early type of plastic) manufactured first by Daniel Spill and Co. and then by British Xylonite Co. Daniel Spill had been an assistant to Alexander Parkes, inventor of celluloid (in 1864). Later Spill set up his own factory in Homerton, East London, manufacturing celluloid under names of Xylonite and Ivoride. In 1877 Spill's business was taken over by British Xylonite Co. Ltd. This company merged in 1879 with L.P. Merriam Homerton Manufacturing Co. which occupied adjacent premises and made articles out of xylonite. In 1887 a new factory opened at Brantham, on Suffolk/Essex border for manufacture of Xylonite. Manufacture of goods continued at Homerton until 1897 when a new factory at Hale End, Walthamstow, London, was opened. The Homerton works were then sold.
In 1931 the British Xylonite (Australia) Proprietory Ltd. was set up to 'manufacture, buy, sell or otherwise deal in xylonite' in Melbourne.
Subseries D/B/XYL/10. British Xylonite (Australia) Proprietory Ltd, June 1930 - June 1950
4 itemsAnnual accounts, October 1931/June 1932, - July 1942/June 1943, July 1949/June 1950 (File D/B/XYL/10/2)
c. 280p. and sales analysis 1932-1941 4p. Some years also have general report and comments on trading.
Series D/B/BER/2. Lewis Berger & Sons Ltd./Berger Jenson & Nicholson, 1882 - 1986
21 itemsFilmed selectively.
Minute book 2, May 1886 - August 1892 (File D/B/BER/2/1/2)
10 itemsDiscussion and agreement with Gavin Scott of R. Morrison Stewart & Co. of Sydney N.S.W that his firm is appointed Australian agents, 10 June 1889 - 1 August 1889 (Item ff.247-251)
Discussion and agreement with Gavin Scott of R. Morrison Stewart and Co. of Sydney N.S.W that his firm is appointed Australian agents (10/06/1889, 02/07/1889, 25/07/1889, 01/08/1889)
Minute book 3, December 1892 - June 1896 (File D/B/BER/2/1/3)
23 itemsMinute book 5, August 1901 - September 1904 (File D/B/BER/2/1/5)
10 itemsMinute book 7, May 1911 - September 1925 (File D/B/BER/2/1/7)
10 itemsMinute book 8, January 1931 - September 1935 (File D/B/BER/2/1/8)
15 itemsMinute book 9, April 1936 - October 1945 (File D/B/BER/2/1/9)
19 itemsMinute book 10, January 1946 - June 1949 (File D/B/BER/2/1/10)
12 itemsVisit of W.J. Darby to Australia, and purchase of site for new warehouse in Auckland, 2 January 1946 (Item ff.2-3)
Report on Darby's visit to Australia and reorganization of Australian company, 11 June 1947 (Item ff.48-49)
Minute book 11, August 1949 - June 1960 (File D/B/BER/2/1/11)
37 itemsAnnual Reports, December 1954 (File D/B/BER/2/1/24)
1 itemPrime Minister of Australia Rt. Hon. R.G. Menzies opens the New Berger plant in Coburg, Victoria, 6 December 1954 (Item)
Includes plan of factory site, speech by W.J. Vines, Managing Director Lewis Berger & Sons (Victoria) Pty. Ltd. and replies by W.J. Darby World Group Managing Director, and Menzies.
(16p. (printed).
Copy order confirming alterations of memorandum of association, 18 October 1921 (File D/B/BER 2/1/40)
Durrant Cooper Hambling. (5p.)
Correspondence between Lewis Berger and Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Ltd, January 1921 - December 1921 (File D/B/BER 2/1/41)
13 itemsBank of New South Wales, (London) to Lewis Berger & Sons (Homerton) re advance limit to Berger & Sons (Australia) Ltd, 25 January 1921 (Item)
Director, Bergers (Sydney) to Bergers (Homerton) re the transfer of Montreal's guarantee to Bergers. Also copy of Telegram 13 October 1921, 19 October 1921 (Item)
Copy of memorandum of agreement between Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Ltd. and Lewis Berger & Sons (New Zealand) Ltd. establishing the latter. (6p, typescript), 1 March 1929 (File D/B/BER 2/1/44)
Sales and Marketing Records: Agreements with Agents, December 1882 - June 1883 (File D/B/BER/2/5/3)
3 itemsFrom Bundle 1. Filmed selectively.
Agreement between Lewis Berger & Sons Ltd. with Hugh Dugan Fisher. Exporting products to Asia, Australia, Africa and South America (4p.), 8 December 1882 (Item)
Advertising and Public Relations, 1930 - 1956 (File D/B/BER/2/7)
4 itemsFilmed selectively.
Chairman's speeches at AGM and Miscellaneous, December 1945 (Item D/B/BER/2/7/7)
1 itemIssue to Australia of Mr. L.J. Pearson: prospectus Invitation to executive luncheon at Dorchester Hotel (4p.)
Way Back in 1760, 1930 (Item D/B/BER/2/7/46)
A brief history of the 170 years trading of the House of Berger makers of fine dry colours, paints, varnishes, lacquers, corroders of white lead. Rhodes, Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Ltd, 1930. 24p.
General history of the company with special emphasis on trading in Australia, includes pictures of Australian directors, the Australian factory at Rhodes; and Australian buildings which have been painted with Berger products. (including Sydney Harbour Bridge.)
Berger expansion in Victoria, 1938 (Item D/B/BER/2/7/47)
Melbourne, Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd, 1938. (16p, printed)
General history of the company with pictures of the Victorian shop, offices and warehouse; includes picture of the Adelaide and Wellington offices.
The House of Berger, 1956 (Item D/B/BER/2/7/50)
Forty years of colour service in Australia. A brief history of Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Sydney, Lewis Berger & Sons, 1956. (64p, printed).
General history of the firm with special emphasis on the development of the company in Australia and biographies and photographs of Australian personnel.
Includes photographs of Berger premises at Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
File of Correspondence on the History of Berger, April 1958 - March 1960 (File D/B/BER/2/7/52)
6 itemsMaterial concerning Charles Berger, January 1935 - September 1952 (File D/B/BER/2/7/56)
3 itemsBiographical / Historical
Charles Berger (1908-), Managing Director of Bergers New Zealand.
Collected Publications on History of Company, 1944 (File D/B/BER/2/7/67)
3 itemsMarilyn Herbert, (BJN Australian holdings Ltd., Rhodes) to R. Tamplin (Berger Jenson and Nicholson Ltd., Dagenham), with details of Jenson and Nicholson in Australia., 21 May 1986 (Item)
Fonds D/E. Religious Records, 1880 - 1941
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series D/E/233/CLA. Clapton Park. Congregational Church Lower Clapton Road, 1880 - 1941
2 itemsMinute Book of Church Meetings, June 1880 - November 1881 (File D/E/233/CLA/8)
3 itemsRev. Hebditch announces for the sake of the health of his son he is going to Australia for 16 months, 3 June 1880 (Item ff.5-7)
Fonds D/F. Family Records, n.d.
1 itemFilmed selectively.
Fonds D/S. Society Records, 1827 - 1858
10 itemsFilmed selectively.
Series D/S/4. Refuge for the Destitute, 1827 - 1858
10 itemsBiographical / Historical
The Female Refuge (founded in 1805) moved in 1811 to Hackney Road and the Male Refuge in Hoxon, slightly later. Both institutions were intended for the relief of destitute young people on release from prison. In November 1848 the government reduced its grant to the Refuge and the Male Refuge closed, all resources being concentrated in the new Female Refuge at Dalton.
General Court of Governors Minute Book, January 1827 - January 1836 (File D/S/4/1)
8 itemsMale discharged to service in Sydney. Females discharged to emigrate to Australia. Details of arrangements with H.M. Government to send large numbers of females to Australia as servants under care of a matron, 30 January 1833 (Item ff.3-4,7-8)
Man discharged to Hobart, 33 females discharged to Sydney as emigrants, details of sailing on 13 April 1833, 29 January 1834 (Item ff.3-7)
General Court of Governors Minute Book, January 1849 - February 1858 (File D/S/4/2)
5 itemsGeneral Committee Female Refuge 25 January 1828 - 23 October 1830 Minute Book, July 1829 - August 1829 (File D/S/4/8)
3 itemsGeneral Committee Female Refuge 30 October 1830 - 3 May 1834 Minute Book, June 1831 - May 1834 (File D/S/4/9)
68 itemsMeeting with C. Bracebridge re cooperation with a society to be formed to facilitate emigration of females to Australia, 28 April 1832 (Item ff.149-50)
The committee agreed to house girls destined for Australia until ships were ready, 5 May 1832 (Item ff.152-53)
Letter to Lord Goderich re need for female emigration to NSW and Van Diemen's Land; desire of Mr. and Miss Hoskins, the Superintendents, to emigrate, 26 May 1832 (Item ff.158-161)
Receipt of letter, 28 May 1832, from Colonial Office that they approve of the project, 9 June 1832 (Item ff.166-7)
Letter from Thornton re female emigration, and Letter from Elliott re female emigration. formation of subcommittee, 15 December 1832 - 22 December 1832 (Item f.239 & ff.240-1)
includes
Letter from Thornton re female emigration (15/12/1832)
Letter from Elliott re female emigration. formation of subcommittee (22/12/1832)
Details of female wanting to emigrate; Emma Wellington, her criminal career (later goes to Van Diemen's Land), details of Mary Hickey (later goes to Van Diemen's Land), 29 December 1832 (Item ff.242-4)
Letter of 4 January 1833 from Colonial Office that H.M.G. will contribute to expense of female emigration; circulation of handbills, 5 January 1833 (Item ff.246-8)
Report of subcommittee on emigration; to sail on 13 April; copy of agreement for charter of ship, 1 March 1833 (Item ff.281-4)
Report of subcommittee on emigration including instructions to Mr. Hoskins, 10 April 1833 (Item ff.318-25)
Report on sailing of 217 emigrants from Gravesend in Bussovah Merchant; and report that Elizabeth Clarke admitted (later goes to Van Diemen's Land), 27 April 1833 (Item ff.332-3)
Report of subcommittee on emigration re sending of another ship to Sydney, and Report of subcommittee on emigration, 1 May 1833 - 3 May 1833 (Item f.335 & f.336)
includes
Report of subcommittee on emigration re sending of another ship to Sydney (01/05/1833)
Report of subcommittee on emigration (03/05/1833)