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ICAEW history

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides a range of articles and publications that can help researchers looking into the history of ICAEW and Chartered Accountants' Hall.

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The Guide to historical resources

This guide highlights some of the material and the tools available within the ICAEW Library & Information collection that can be used by researchers to trace the history of the profession, the evolution of accounting practice and the lives of accountants.

History of the Institute and Chartered Accountants' Hall

Chartered Accountants' Hall
A brief history and overview of Chartered Accountants' Hall, home of ICAEW since 1893.
Henry Holiday stained glass windows
The four Henry Holiday stained glass windows, lost for almost 50 years, were returned in 2017 to their rightful home at Chartered Accountants’ Hall.
ICAEW Library history
The ICAEW Library & Information Service can trace its origins to 1871, when the Institute of Accountants founded a collection of material on accounting and commercial law.
The collection in wartime
A reflection on how ICAEW staff kept Chartered Accountants’ Hall open throughout the Second World War while protecting the rarest books on accountancy.
Institute Lady and the Coat of Arms
The identity of 'The Institute Lady' and the meaning of the coat of arms surrounding her is raised from time to time by curious members - and understandably so, as it can seem hard to imagine what connection the matronly figure with a ships rudder has to the Institute of Chartered Accountants...
Mystery of the missing members
The article, The mystery of the missing members: the first 600 Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, by Peter Boys, is of particular significance to the early history of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Timeline
Steps to a professional body - a timeline of the development of the Accountancy Profession in the United Kingdom.

Institute People

Chief Executives and Secretaries
  • Listing
  • 30 Jun 2023
This page lists the leadership of the ICAEW, currently called the Chief Executive, but previously the Secretary General or Secretaries.
Female Firsts
  • No content type
  • 25 Jan 2016
Find out about the key female firsts in accountancy who helped pioneer the way for women in the profession.
Membership Lists
  • Research guide
  • 27 Mar 2014
A guide to our unique collection of over 220 series of membership lists for accountancy bodies from 1877 to the present day.
Past Presidents 1880-
  • Listing
  • 18 Mar 2011
A chronological list charting the Presidents, Vice Presidents and Deputy Presidents of the ICAEW from 1880 to the present day.
With the colours
  • Hub page
  • 30 Jun 2014
The book 'With the colours; a list of Chartered and Incorporated Accountants and their Clerks who are serving with the British Forces on land and sea, 1914-1916' reproduced the lists of names previously published in The Accountant.
See more resources on accountancy ancestors

District Societies

Several of our district societies have written histories of their society
LSCA history
  • Article
  • 24 May 2011
The Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants is proud to be the oldest Society of Chartered Accountants in the country, having been formed in 1870. The Society celebrated its 140th Anniversary on 25 January 2010.
Manchester Chartered Accountants History
  • Article
  • 24 May 2011
The Manchester Institute of Chartered Accountants was founded by twelve good men and true on 12 December 1870 at a meeting at the Clarence Hotel.
WYSCA History
  • Article
  • 24 Jan 2011
A resume of the history of the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants (WYSCA) researched and compiled by Roger Oakley (WYSCA President, 2000/01) from the 19th century to the the present.

Institute documents and publications

Consultations and responses
The ICAEW Library & Information Service maintains a collection of consultation documents along with the responses from ICAEW and, in some cases, other parties.
Historic ethical guidance
The ICAEW Library & Information Service holds various editions of the ICAEW code of ethics and the ethical guidance that pre-dated this. On this page you can find a summary of the material held in the collection.
International members' handbooks
The ICAEW Library & Information Service maintains a historical collection of printed members' handbooks for key professional accountancy bodies other than ICAEW.
Membership Lists
A guide to our unique collection of over 220 series of membership lists for accountancy bodies from 1877 to the present day.
Press releases
The ICAEW Library & Information Service maintains a collection of press releases published by ICAEW and other accountancy bodies.
Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs)
The ICAEW Library & Information Service holds a collection of the Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs) issued by ICAEW and other bodies for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Many of these are available in digital format.
Technical Releases and representations
This guide provides information about Technical Releases and representations issued by ICAEW, and explains how you can find the full text of a Technical Release or representation.

Examinations

The structure of the ICAEW examination system and the names of examinations have changed over time, which can make it a hard task to track down past examinations.

In these pages we aim to help you track down the examination papers and their associated publications through the years - with pointers on where you can find online resources for recent and current examinations.

Historical examination papers
On this page we focus on sources for past examination papers published since the first ICAEW examinations in 1882.
Historical examination regulations and syllabuses
On this page we focus on sources for historical examination regulations and syllabuses, as well as related materials.
Historical learning materials
On this page we focus on historical ACA learning materials, study guides and revision guides held in the ICAEW Library collection.
Historical pass lists and related information
This page covers sources of information on historical ICAEW examination results, including pass lists, records of Orders of Merit and prize-winners, and sets of statistics.
Historical reports on examinations
This page provides an overview of the historical reports on examinations held in the ICAEW Library collection.
Historical suggested answers and illustrative scripts
On this page we outline the ICAEW Library's collection of suggested answers and illustrative scripts for historical ICAEW examinations.
See more resources on examinations

Archival material held at London Metropolitan Archives

A substantial collection of archival material from ICAEW has been deposited at London Metropolitan Archives, including material relating to the Institute of Accountants and Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors.

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.