Collections and scope
Material from these collections is available to IFoA members, academics, bona fide researchers, and members of the public (including family historians) for consultation by appointment. The collections are held across various locations.
All viewing consultations are made on an appointment basis only. Research access to archives collections may be subject to signing a non-disclosure agreement as part of data protection safeguards.
You can find details of what we hold and how you can request access by reading the information below.
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Subjects
Subjects represented in the historical collections include books, pamphlets and manuscripts covering:
- early insurance and pensions
- demography (particularly mortality trends of populations)
- commercial arithmetic (application of compound interest in accumulating funds)
- statistics and probability theory leading to calculations of life expectation
- the business of offering life assurance and pensions based on 'actuarial' mathematics.
Most texts are in English but there are also significant items from French, German and Dutch writers and sources. There is also much evidence from insurance offices of the work of late eighteenth and early nineteenth century 'actuaries', including those whose work led to the formation of the first professional bodies, the Institute of Actuaries (1848) and Faculty of Actuaries (1856).
The archive collections include the IFoA鈥檚 own institutional archives, documenting the professional association work of the Faculty and Institute since their foundation, as well as the Archive of the Equitable Life Assurance Society (ELAS).
Quick links
Viewing the historical collections and archives
Institute of Actuaries historical books, pamphlets and manuscripts
A collection of items dating from the seventeenth century to the present, with some earlier items, relating to actuarial, demographic, financial, insurance and mathematical topics.
Location: London office
Contact: To request an appointment to view the material please email libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Finding aids: | Pre-1900 book list听
Faculty of Actuaries historical books, pamphlets and manuscripts
A set of early actuarial texts that served the Faculty鈥檚 founding members, along with a collection of contemporary insurance office pamphlets that acts as a key resource for research into the nineteenth century Scottish life assurance industry.
Location: London office
Contact: To request an appointment to view the material please email libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Finding aids: | Pre-1900 book list
Institute of Actuaries archive
This collection includes the archives of the Institute of Actuaries (1848-2010), the Actuaries Club, and selected personal archives deposited by members.
Location: London office
Contact: To request an appointment to view the material please email libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Finding aids:
Faculty of Actuaries archive
This collection includes the archives of the Faculty of Actuaries (1856-2010), the Association of Scottish Life Offices (ASLO) (1840-2000), and the Actuarial Society of Edinburgh (1859-1901).
Location: This collection is held in storage in Edinburgh. Please note that we are unable to transport material to London.
Contact: To request an appointment to view the material please email libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Finding aids: Faculty of Actuaries archive listing
Equitable Life Assurance Society (ELAS) archive (ca.1762-1833)
ELAS was established in 1762 and was the first insurance office to operate on scientific lines using actuarial mathematics and mortality analysis. The IFoA acquired its archive in 2006, and this part is held at IFoA London.
Location: London office
Contact: To request an appointment to view the material please email libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Finding aids: Equitable Life Assurance Society (ELAS) Archive 1762-1975, IFoA, London
Equitable Life Assurance Society (ELAS) archive (ca.1830-1950)
This part of the ELAS archive is owned by the IFoA but is stored at and accessible via The London Archives. also includes some post-1950 ELAS material.
Location:
Contact: To request an appointment to view material please . Access is subject to the London Archives鈥� regulations.
Finding aids:听Equitable Life Assurance Society (ELAS) Archive 1803-1976, Guildhall Library, London. The listing was created by The Guildhall Library, London.