City Chamberlain’s Department (and City Collector's Department)
- Reference:GB 243 D-CC
- Dates of Creation:1697 - 1975
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:54.50 Linear Metres
Scope and Content
D-CC1: Treasurer's and Chamberlain's Account, 1697 - 1785
D-CC2: Abstracts of Municipal Accounts, 1817 - 1975
D-CC3: Itemised Accounts, 1807 - 1970
D-CC4: Sundry Public Accounts, 1840 - 1955
D-CC5: Wages Records, 1891 - 1950
D-CC6: Pensions Records, no date
D-CC7: Minor Trust Accounts, 1810 - 1937
D-CC8: Rentals, Feu-duties, Ground Annuals and Tiends, 1775 - 1945
D-CC9: General Administration, 1873 - 1952
D-CC10: Collector's Department: Rate Book, 1802 - 1952
Administrative / Biographical History
The predecessor of the later City Chamberlain was the treasurer, an official who certainly existed by 1574, and probably considerably earlier. He was then an annually appointed member of the town council, who accounted for his receipts and disbursements during his year of office. It was not until 1755 that the council began to employ a full-time official as ‘touns accountant and chamberlain’. The largely honorific title of treasurer was retained by a member of council. During the 19th century the police authorities had a separate accounting staff and a separate Treasurer of Police, an office which was only amalgamated with that of City Chamberlain in 1912. Many of the 19th century records summarised in the description are in fact of the Treasurer of Police. Therefore in the 19th century two financial systems were maintained, since the Treasurer of Police was a separate official with his own department, which lasted until 1912. Initially revenue-generating departments such as Gas, Electricity and Water were responsible for their own income, but in 1910 a City Collector appointed, to be responsible for collecting their revenues as well as the municipal rates. The assessment of rates remained the function of the City Assessor. In 1935 the Collector’s Department was merged with that of the City Chamberlain.
Access Information
Open
Access restrictions may apply. Please contact the Archives for further information
Note
Note: The annual treasurer's accounts and occasionally other miscellaneous accounts and rentals of burgh property were transcribed into the council minute books and consequently survive from 1573/4, with gaps. This practice ceased in 1753.
A substantial microfilming project was carried out on the early 20th century records of this department before the involvement of the Archives, and a number of the more modern records listed are in fact on film. Microfilm records were not always distinguished from original records in the original paper catalogue. We have now attempted to mark any microfilmed records in this electronic catalogue if it is possible to do so, but the exact format of some records may be unknown at the time of electronic cataloguing.
Other Finding Aids
Descriptive list available at Glasgow City Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
Application for reproduction should be made to the Archivist
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with GB243 procedures.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
Related Material
Glasgow City Archives, TD18, Photograph of City Collector's Department
Glasgow City Archives, TD312, Papers of Mr Esslemont, City Chamberlain, Glasgow Corporation
Glasgow City Archives, TD74, Miscellaneous items from the City Chamberlain
Glasgow City Archives, TD68, Records of Dilettante Society of Glasgow
Glasgow City Archives, A, Burgh and City - Privileges and Powers
Glasgow City Archives, E, Glasgow Police
Glasgow City Archives, C, Records of Glasgow Council
Bibliography
'Municipal Glasgow: Its Evolution and Enterprises' (Glasgow Corporation, 1914), pp.326-328.Corporate Names