Business Records
A variety of business records are held by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service. These records are the documents generated by the day-to-day running of a business and encompass everything from share records and minutes of meetings to publicity and sales material. It is worth noting that relatively few firms retained detailed archives, and that only a small proportion of local businesses have deposited records with the Archive Service.
Business material can prove a rich source for studying local or community history, sometimes providing a surprising amount of detail. Whether the business was a large manufacturing works employing the majority of the local population or a tiny shop which served a remote community, there is often something to be discovered which reflects the time and place in which the business operated.
To explore the Business Records online guide, please follow the links in the related content menu.