The Lloyd's Register archive: An appraisal

Abstract

This research note presents the findings of an appraisal of the archives of Lloyd's Register recently undertaken by researchers from Blaydes Maritime Centre at the University of Hull. Funded by the Lloyd's Register Foundation, the aim of this project was to assess the character, extent and evidential quality of a rich yet underutilized assemblage of records relating to shipping and vessel safety from the late eighteenth century. After discussing material generated by the organization's management committees, ship classification process and labour deployment, the research note concludes with a discussion of current and future reader access to this large, historically significant and dynamically evolving collection of primary source materials.