From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Guildhall Library is administered by the Corporation of London, the government of the City of London, which is the historical heart of London, England. It was founded in the 1420s under the terms of the will of legendary Lord Mayor Dick Whittington. It was originally housed in the Old Library at the Guildhall, and moved to modern premises elsewhere in the Guildhall complex in the 1970s.

The library is a public reference library and specialises in subjects relevant to London. It is has greatest depth on topics specifically concerned with the City, but also contains a great deal of material on the other parts of metropolitan London. It is divided into three main sections: printed books; manuscripts; and prints, maps and drawings. The material dates from the 11th century onwards.

There are specialist book collections on the following subjects:

• London and its history
• Local history
• Family history
• English law
• Parliamentary material
• Wine and food
• Clocks and clockmakers
• Business history
• Marine history
• Several smaller collections

The manuscripts include the archives of:

• The Diocese of London
• St Paul's Cathedral
• the City wards and parishes
• around 80 of the City livery companies

However the archives of the City of London itself are administered separately by the Corporation of London Records Office.

The print room is a prime source of historical pictures and maps of Greater London, with very diverse collections of prints, drawings, photographs, press cuttings, maps, theatre bills, and ephemera. A large amount of material has been placed online.

The City of London also runs several conventional public libraries.

• Guildhall Library section of the City of London's site
• Collage database of images from the City of London's collections