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| Business records |
Additional to the business records, the Collection also has material relating to the social activities of the workforce, identifying a camaraderie that was evident in many family-owned firms of the time. Minute and record books of the Company bowling, golf and rambling clubs demonstrate highly active groups and provide an important contribution to local sports history.
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| Stewart Rambling Club 1889-1905 (SL247/3/1/1) |
accompanying ephemera.
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| Stewart Golf Club 1902-1903 (SL247/3/3/1 |
Though Stewart & Co. were manufacturing stationers, they were closely involved with the printing industry. The Chairman, Alastair M. Stewart, was an important figure within the printing trade and served in a number of important positions, including Vice-President (from 1965) and then as President of the Federation of Master Printers (1966-67).
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| Printers’ Association Events 1965-66 (SL247/6/1) |
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| Printers’ Association Events 1967 (SL247/6/2) |
Unfortunately
the firm fell victim to a final salary pension scheme, that, like so many
others, had created an "impossible to fund" arrears. The directors
had tried to restructure the business and its funding and had been making good
progress, but were unable to find a solution for their major creditors. The
company went into administration on 6 December 2011.
The Company celebrated its 100 years in 1979, and there are documents connected with the event in the Collection, unfortunately no souvenirs seem to have survived: the Parker Pen, photographs, nor their “First Hundred Years” publication which was produced specially for the event. If any of these items exist, or even other papers or materials related to the firm, Edinburgh City Archives or the Ballast Trust, would appreciate being able to add these to this important Collection for future generations.
Stephen Hall