The Actuarial Profession has acquired by purchase the archives of the Equitable Life Assurance Society that date from the Society’s origins in 1762 through to 1950. The profession intends to preserve the Archive, which is of fundamental importance in the history of actuarial science, and make it available for researchers. The Archive takes a special and complementary place alongside the existing special collections of key texts in demography and mathematics also owned and held by the libraries of the Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries.

• Equitable Life Assurance Society Archive 1762 - 1975 at Institute of Actuaries Library, Staple Inn, London [pdf]
• Equitable Life Assurance Society Archive 1803 - 1976 at Guildhall Library, London [pdf]
  Items dated after 1950 relate to research files about the Society's early history

• Importance of the Archive
• The wider historical context
• Access to the archive and extent of the archives held in library locations (broad descriptions)
• Historical research papers in actuarial journals
• Some highlights in the Archive
• Catalogue of launch display 03 Apr 2007 [pdf]

The profession gratefully acknowledges the very generous support of the many individuals, members and corporate groups who contributed to the purchase of archive. The names of donors have been engraved on a plaque which was unveiled by Richard Macve, FCA Hon FIA, at the launch reception on 3 April 2007 at Staple Inn Hall. The list of donors can be viewed below in a slightly different form, in accordance with the donors' preferences.

• Donors to the appeal

For more information, contact David Raymont