Records of James Finlay & Co, letterbooks and correspondence

Includes:

• Private letterbooks;
• Private telegrams;
• Letterbooks;
• Business correspondence (general).

This description is part of the main James Finlay & Co collection which has been divided into the following sections, each with its own separate description:

• UGD 091/1/1, administrative records;
• UGD 091/1/2, shareholders' records;
• UGD 091/1/3, letterbooks and correspondence;
• UGD 091/1/4, financial records;
• UGD 091/1/5, production records;
• UGD 091/1/6, staff and salary records;
• UGD 091/1/7, branch records;
• UGD 091/1/8, property records;
• UGD 091/1/9, public relations material;
• UGD 091/1/10, Finlay and Muir family records;
• UGD 091/1/11, miscellaneous records;

In 1750 James Finlay (1727-c1792) established the firm of James Finlay & Co in Glasgow, Scotland. He operated in a number of overseas and UK markets, entering into a number of trade agreements. After his death, his son Kirkman Finlay (d1842), one of the most influential merchants of his generation, became senior managing partner of the firm.

In 1798  the company purchased mills at Ballindalloch, Balfron, Stirling, Scotland, and soon became major textile manufacturers, later purchasing additional mills at Catrine, East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1801  and Deanston, Perth & Kinross, Scotland, in 1808 . The firm also established many trading connections overseas, initially in Europe, but later further afield. These trading operations were facilitated by a staff of travelling agents and by the formation of branch establishments in major trading centres.

Gradually the company's trading activities outstripped their textile manufacturing business and in 1844  the works at Ballindalloch, Stirling, were sold. In 1858  the company merged with Wilson, James & Kay. Their Indian business connections were strengthened in 1862  when Finlay Clerk & Co was established in Bombay, known as Finlay Muir & Co from 1870  when and a branch was opened in Calcutta. In around 1882  the firm began to diversify into tea estate management and by Finlay, Muir & Co 1901  was managing extensive tea estates in India and Sri Lankra. In 1909  the company became incorporated as a limited liability company, James Finlay & Co Ltd, with head offices at Nile Street, Glasgow. For a more detailed administrative history see the full James Finlay & Co collection description.

Arranged chronologically within record series.

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

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.