Charles Barker

History

1812-, London.
Charles Barker started in business brokering advertising space in The Times, mainly for applications for shares in newly floated companies. In 1812 his agency was established in Birchin Lane in the City as Lawson & Barker, in partnership with James Lawson, a Times printer. Financial support from the merchant banker Nathan Mayer Rothschild gave them an early advantage over their competitors. During the railway mania of the 1840s the agency came to additional prominence through excessive advertising placed by new railway company promoters. Non-commercial and charity concerns, such as the Seaman's Hospital, the Royal National Institution and London University, as well candidates for parliamentary elections were also among their high spending clients .

Charles Barker has had a long association with many City firms, especially banks and other financial companies. Charles Barker died in 1859 and the company became known as Charles Barker & Sons, Advertising Agents. It became a private limited company in 1913. Subsidiary companies have included Charles Barker Films Ltd. and Charles Barker Recruitment Ltd.
In 1986 the agency was floated and changed its name to BNB Resources in 1989 and subsequently to BNB Recruitment Solutions in 2004. The agency's longevity makes it the oldest advertising agency in the City of London.

Archive content

Date range: 1902-1979

Scope

20th century bank and financial business press advertising proofs are the collection's main strength. Most of the internal company and business papers date from the 1951-1974 period. There are a number of photocopies of original Charles Barker archives (1815-1974) held at the Guildhall Library (see link below.)

Formats

Over 200 guardbooks (1960s-1970s) containing press advertising proofs and cuttings. Bank and financial companies are well represented, including Barclays, Midland, Merrill Lynch etc. Also some audio, film, published books, histories etc. There is one general advertising guardbook 1912-1920.

Company papers (1902-1974) include correspondence, accounts, annual reports, salaries, expenses, advertising policy and client lists etc, and there is material from the 1960s and 1970s to do with advertising/recruitment films, scripts, casting, etc. There is a rare early collection of prospectuses for various other companies (1831-1913).

Notes: The main historical and corporate Charles Barker archive is kept at the London Metropolitan Archives: http://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/LMA_OPAC/web_detail/REFD+CLC~2FB~2F041?SESSIONSEARCH

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