Records of Hull Printers Ltd

The business records cover the period 1897 to 1978 and comprise minute books of the board of management and accounts, contract files, share registers and miscellaneous items such as examples of the work of the firm.

The collection in more detail is as follows: minute books (1913-1973) several of which were damaged during second world war bombing; files of minutes and reports (1973-1975); attendance registers (1953-1975); accounts (1901-1975) including ledgers from 1941, two petty cash books 1956-1973, a day book 1969-1971, sales ledgers 1950-1974, sales books 1948-1970, purchases ledgers 1962-1971 and accounts of capital items written off 1942-1974; contracts (1958-1966) including with H M Stationery Office; files (1943-1975) including the printing register of electors for the West Riding of Yorkshire and Leeds 1954-1974, material relating to the Factories Acts 1961-1975, shares 1968-1975, Cooperative Bank files 1969-1975 and staff and wages files for the early 1970s; membership and shares (1948-1975) including share registers and share certificate issue books and miscellaneous material (1897-1978) including reports and balance sheets 1897-1974, a brochure about the company dated 1937, an accident book 1946-1975, an insurance register 1951-1973 and a list of the items formerly at U DX110.

Hull Printers Ltd. was founded in 1897 as a co-operative co-partnership society which undertook all kinds of printing and publication work. Its original premises were opposite St Mary's church in Lowgate, Hull, and the founder and president of the society was Francis Askew. It was the only co-partnership printery in the north of England. The business quickly expanded and surrounding premises bought, including 10-11 Lowgate in 1924 which allowed for access from Alfred Gelder Street. Considerable emphasis was placed on space, light, good heating and ventilation for the staff, and workers were involved in the management of the company as well as sharing in its profits. From 1930 the firm was running a savings scheme for its employees with employer contributions and there was a Welfare Association to meet the needs of charity. The value of the trade done by the company grew steadily in the first few decades with the greatest success in the 1950s when over 80 people were employed. However, the firm suffered a fairly fast collapse over the next two decades, being beset by shortage of capital and labour difficulties and went into liquidation in 1975.

U DHP/1 Minutes and Attendance Registers, 1913 - 1975

U DHP/2 Accounts, 1941 - 1975

U DHP/3 Contracts with Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1958 - 1966

U DHP/4 Files, 1943 - 1975

U DHP/5 Membership and Shares, 1948 - 1975

U DHP/6 Miscellaneous, 1897 - 1978

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Entry in Business records subject guide

The records arrived in several instalments between 1975 and 1979, some of them originally being catalogued as U DX110. Mainly deposited by Messrs. Gibson and Co., 17 Wright Street, Hull, 29 March 1979