Records of Finlay, Clark & Co

Includes:

• Administrative records;
• Minutes;
• Accounting records.

Finlay, Clark & Co, cotton textile merchants, Bombay, India, was formed in 1862  as a subsidiary of James Finlay & Co Ltd, textile manufacturers, tea planters, and merchants, Glasgow, Scotland. In 1862 , the market for raw cotton was in turmoil as a result of the American civil war. The war had to a great extent closed the supply of American cotton and had created distress at James Finlay & Co Ltd's mills at Catrine and Deanston in Scotland. India was seen by many as a possible alternative source of cotton, and in 1862 , James Finlay & Co Ltd established a branch in Bombay, India, under the name Finlay, Clark & Co. The branch survived a difficult first couple of years, and prospered to such an extent that by Finlay, Clark & Co 1968  were the largest exporters of cotton to Europe. It was this success which encouraged James Finlay & Co Ltd to open a branch in Calcutta, India. This new branch opened in 1870  under the name Finlay, Muir & Co Ltd, agents, and merchants, Calcutta. The two branches were consolidated under this name. The main business of the Bombay branch, now trading under the name Finlay, Muir & Co Ltd, was as importers of piece goods and yarns, and exporters of cotton. It also dealt in a small way with other goods, importing coal, iron, and other metals, and exporting shellac, hides, vegetable wax, bullhorns, and other profitable items. Finlay, Clark & Co were still trading under the name Finlay, Muir & Co Ltd in 1950 .

Files arranged as received.

Some files in this collection are subject to Data Protection legislation as they contain sensitive information and material under 30 years old is closed to access. It is advised that you should contact the Duty Archivist before visiting: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

None which affect the use of this material

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Any work intended for publication that is based on research from this collection must be approved in advance. Apply in the first instance to Archives and Special Collections, email: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures. Duplicates have been removed.

None expected

See GB 248 UGD 091/1/7/1 Bombay branch records; GB 248 UGD 091/1/6/3/2/1 and UGD 091/1/6/2 for overseas staff.

Material in other repositories: GB 059 Finlay Campbell & Co and Finlay Muir & Co (British Library: Oriental and India Office Collections)

No known publications using this material

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Collection catalogued by members of Glasgow University Archive Services staff. Catalogue converted to Encoded Archival Description by Michelle Kaye, Archives Assistant (Cataloguing), May 2012. Additional material catalogued and converted into Encoded Archival Description by Peter Morphew, Cataloguing Archivist, January 2016.