The directory
Title page
- Title page and dedication (PDF 227kb/2 pages)
List of accountants
- List of accountants in England - arranged by surname (PDF 4mb/8 pages)
- List of accountants in England - arranged by town or county (PDF 3.5mb/9 pages)
- List of accountants in London (PDF 1.7mb/4 pages)
- List of accountants in Ireland (PDF 58kb/1 page)
- List of accountants in Scotland (PDF 1.2mb/3 pages)
The Institutes
The directory also contained 'advertisements' which listed the members of councils for each of the Institutes.
- Incorporated Society of Liverpool Accountants (PDF 257 kb/1 page)
- The Institute of Accountants (PDF 344 kb/1 page)
- The Institute of Accountants & Actuaries in Glasgow (PDF 257 kb/1 page)
- The Manchester Institute of Accountants (PDF 344 kb/1 page)
- The Society of Accountants in Aberdeen (PDF 257 kb/1 page)
- The Society of Accountants in Edinburgh (PDF 257 kb/1 page)
- The Society of Accountants in England (PDF 636 kb/1 page)
Background
The profession in the 1870s
The first professional bodies were established in Edinburgh and Glasgow (1853) and Aberdeen (1866). These were followed by the Incorporated Society of Liverpool Accountants (1870), the Institute of Accountants (1870), Manchester Institute of Accountants (1871) and the Society of Accountants (1872). Another society was established in Sheffield during 1877, but this falls after the compilation date for this edition of the directory.
The directory
The first edition of the combined diary and directory was published in December 1874 and subsequently revised on an annual basis. At first the title was published with a diary but this was dropped for the 1877 edition (published in December 1876).
In 1879 it was announced that the proprietors of 'The Accountant' had reached agreement with Alfred Harper for the transfer of his rights to the title. As a result, GEE & Co, took over producing and publishing the title with effect from the 1880 edition. From the 1883 edition GEE & Co offered the publication with a choice of content combinations (ie. diary on its own, diary with directory). In time, this became 'The Accountants' Diary' and was published without a directory.
Alfred Harper
Alfred Cotton Harper was secretary to the Society of Accountants in England at the time of the announcement and in 1880 became one of the first council members of the ICAEW as well as a partner in the founder firm of E Norton Harper & Sons, London (1873). In 1921-22 he became Vice-President of the ICAEW. Alfred Harper was the last surviving member of the first council of the ICAEW when he died at the age of 80 on 27th November 1930. 'The Accountant' carried an autobiographical article (with accompanying portrait photograph) about his early working life shortly after the announcement of his death.
Where can I see other editions of 'The Accountants' Diary & Directory'?
See also
Can't find what you're looking for?
The ICAEW Library can give you the right information from trustworthy, professional sources that aren't freely available online. Contact us for expert help with your enquiries and research.