Irish International Trading Corporation Descriptive List.

From the collections of Cork City and County Archives Service.

Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd.

Descriptive List

Ref. IE 627/B639

Cork City and County Archives

Table of Contents IDENTITY STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 2

CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................................. 2

Creator ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Biographical/Administrative History................................................................................................... 2

Archival History ................................................................................................................................... 2

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE .................................................................................................................... 2

Scope and Content.............................................................................................................................. 3

System of Arrangement ...................................................................................................................... 3

Accruals ............................................................................................................................................... 3

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE.......................................................................................................... 3

Conditions Governing Access.............................................................................................................. 3

Conditions Governing Reproduction .................................................................................................. 3

Finding Aids ......................................................................................................................................... 3

ALLIED MATERIALS .................................................................................................................................. 4

Related Units of Description ............................................................................................................... 4

RULES /CONVENTIONS USED .................................................................................................................. 4

ARCHIVIST’S NOTE .................................................................................................................................. 4

LIST OF ITEMS AND DESCRIPTIONS ......................................................................................................... 5

A: Minute Books.................................................................................................................................. 5

A/1 Board of Directors' and Shareholders' General Meetings Minute Book...................................... 5

A/2 Board of Directors Minute Books................................................................................................. 9

A/3 Shareholders General Meetings Minute Book........................................................................... 10

B: Financial Records .......................................................................................................................... 13

C: Printed Reference Booklets .......................................................................................................... 16

D: Publications .................................................................................................................................. 17

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IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference: IE 627/B639

Title:

Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd.

Level of description: fonds

Date:

1920 - 1969 (2021)

Extent:

15 items

CONTEXT

Creator

Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd.

Biographical/Administrative History Established c1920, office originally located at 27 Grand Parade, Cork. Liam de Róiste was the first company Secretary and Mr. James C. Dowdall the first board Chairperson. De Róiste was a director and company secretary from 1920 to 1956. Office/warehousing at 6 Lapps Quay and later at Rocksavage, near Anglesea Street, Cork and finally at Tramore Road, Cork. (See item B639/D/01, a book on the history of the Company).

Archival History Donated 2021 by IITC

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

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Scope and Content 4 minute books, 5 financial account books, 5 printed reference booklets, 1 published book

System of Arrangement A: Minutes

B: Financial Records

C: Printed Reference Booklets

D: Publications

Accruals Expected

PERSON/INSTITUTION INDEX: Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd.

SUBJECT/EVENT ETC. INDEX : Business Records

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE

Conditions Governing Access

Hard copy only. Available for research by appointment to registered Readers

Conditions Governing Reproduction Restricted. Permission of Managing Director IITC is required

Finding Aids Descriptive List and Catalogue Entry

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ALLIED MATERIALS

Related Units of Description Reference Description

Other

IE 627/U271 IE 627/PR81

Liam de Roiste Papers Diarmaid L. Fawsitt Archive

RULES /CONVENTIONS USED ISADG

ARCHIVIST ’ S NOTE Description Prepared By:

Brian McGee Senior Archivist, 19 January 2022

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LIST OF ITEMS AND DESCRIPTIONS

A: Minute Books

Reference: B639/A

Date:

1920 - 1969

Title: Level:

Minutes

series

Extent:

4 vols.

Scope and Content: Minute books recording decisions and proceedings of Board, and Shareholder, meetings.

A/1 Board of Directors' and Shareholders' General Meetings Minute Book

Reference: B639/A/1

Date:

23 Jul 1920 - 18 Jan 1938

Title: Book Level:

Board of Directors' and Shareholders' General Meetings Minute

item

Extent:

487pp

Scope and Content: Directors ’ minute book recording proceedings and resolutions of the Board of the company, meeting approximately every 2 weeks. Also includes minutes of annual general meetings of shareholders (1st to 16th annual meetings). Much of the book is written in the hand of Secretary Liam de Roiste.

Includes (for example):

Appointment of James C Dowdall as first Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Secretary's salary fixed at £350 per annum.

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Sean O Sullivan appointed office manager. General discussion of trading policy, decision that '...as far as possible, the Company trade with wholesalers on a commission basis. Decided to get experienced advice as to rates of commission to be charged'. (p3) Correspondence from Emmet J. MacCormack of Moore and MacCormack Co. Inc. New York, re. Irish American Trading Company, '...Mr. JL Fawsitt (Diarmaid Fawsitt) had been taken into confidence and advocated a working agreement between the two companies'. (pp.1-3) (23 Jul 1920) Application for shares amounting to £8,939 had been received, decision to proceed to allotment. (p.6) (18 Aug 1920) Procurement of wholesale goods looked at, including Basic Slag, Cottonseed Cake and Meal, Flax, Cured Mackerel, Fine Chemicals, Tweeds and Homespuns, Lace, Automobiles (pp11-13) (20 Oct 1920)

Correspondence from Flax growers, Clonakilty district (p.22) (11 Jan 1921)

Resolution prohibiting trade of firearms, ammunition or explosives unless authorised by a meeting of Shareholders (p27) (1 Feb 1921)

Trading with Germany, correspondence from Victor Zorn, Berlin. (p.31) (15 Feb 1921) Dissatisfaction with serious delay in arrival of SS Sarcoscie with 5000 tons of American coal from the Allegheny coal and mining company of New York, Messrs. Sutton and Co. to be given handling of the cargo on account of the IITC. (p41) (7 Jun 1921) 1st ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the company, held at Victoria Hotel, Patrick Street, Cork. Chairman's statement that 'with normal and settled conditions, the Company should prove to be of great utility to the mercantile community and a good investment for the Shareholders...'. Lord Mayor Domhnaill O Cealleachain, speaking in Irish, proposed re-election of Liam de Roiste as Director. (p65-66) (28 Sep 1921) 200 shares allocated to JL Fawsitt (Diarmaid Fawsitt), 100 of which without payment owing to his services to the Company in America. (p68) (4 Oct 1921)

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Lease of new IITC premises at 6 Lapp's Quay from Messrs. Sutton Ltd. (p.107) (16 May 1922) General meeting of shareholders, Director's and Chairman's reports referring to 'great difficulties of trading', and 'confusion of affairs in Ireland during the past two years' and optimism that the company can secure 'goods required in reconstruction work' (reference to Anglo-Irish war and Civil War). Also notes British Safeguarding of Industries Act 'was working to the detriment of Ireland as a trading and manufacturing country', and '...that the reconstitution of the country's economic life is the surest and cheapest way to peace'. (p126-7) (4 Oct 1922) Involvement/investment in the proposed Saorstat Broadcasting Co. (p202) (8 Oct 1923) Agreement with the O'Brien Co. Louisville for sale of tobacco leaf in Ireland, former agreement was with Tansy Tobacco Co. (p203) (8 Oct 1923) Ordinary General Meeting. Dividend payment of 5% agreed to shareholders, free of income tax. (p208) (4 Oct 1922) JL Fawsitt to be offered position as Company representative in the Dublin Office, working solely on commission. (p219) (19 Nov 1923) Special meeting of Board to discuss with Herr Victor Zorn, methods of operating the agencies of German firms being offered. (p241) (27 Mar 1924) Terms of agreement for electrical supplies (wires and cables) from Efficient Engineering Company (p315) (11 Apr 1927) Annual Accounts. Gross profit of £3,218:4:10 for year ending 30 Jul 1927. (p319) (19 Sep 1927) 11th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, chairman's statement that 'The value of sales during 1931 was the highest of any year since the Company was formed, excepting the first year...'. (p375) (27 Jan 1932) 12th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, Chairman's statement that 'Trading generally... very difficult...particularly so for this Company, as our

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business is with foreign countries. The imposition of tariffs naturally affected us...'. (p396) (31 Jan 1933) 14th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, Chairman's statement '...that we have purchased over £15,000 worth of Irish manufactured goods (these taking the place of goods imported) being practically half of our sales. The rate of profit on these goods is less than that of imported goods...Irish manufacturers are not able to compete in price...' . (p427) (30 Jan 1935) Boxmaking Company, Dundalk, agreement for sale of filler and flats, approved. (9 Nov 1937)

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A/2 Board of Directors Minute Books

Reference: B639/A/2

Date:

1938 -

Title: Level:

Board of Directors Minute Books

sub-series

Extent: Scope and Content: 4 minute books, 5 account books, 4 reference books

Reference: B639/A/2/1

Date:

15 Feb 1938 - 12 Feb 1954

Title: Level:

Board of Directors Minute Book

item

Extent:

198pp

Scope and Content: Includes (for example:)

Monthly statement of accounts for January 1938, nett sales £8,585:9:2. Increase in sales, chiefly due to cargo of whitewood timber to Drogheda and sales of fillers and flats from stock. (p1) (15 Feb 1938)

Sale of pyramid butter boxes (p11) (12 Jul 1938)

Special Meeting on death of James C. Dowdall, the 'chief founder of this company'. (p35) (29 Jun 1939) Bonus and Wages, discussion of effect of Emergency Orders Nos. 88 and 166 on remuneration of employees. (p101-102) (14 Dec 1942)

Transfers of certain shares sanctioned (p111-112) (29 Oct 1943)

Eggcases, margarine boxes, butter boxes and other boxes, to be obtained from Sweden. (p140) (20 Dec 1946)

Christmas Bonuses sanctioned (p169) (21 Dec 1949)

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Reference: B639/A/2/2

Date:

[Feb 1954- Sept 1956]

Title: Level:

Board of Directors Minute Book (- NOT EXTANT)

item

Reference: B639/A/2/3

Date:

1 Oct 1956 - 18 Nov 1969

Title: Level:

Board of Directors Minute Book

item

Extent:

158pp

Scope and Content: Meetings are held mostly monthly.

Includes (for example:)

Manager reported on the company's arrangement with Liam Grainger re. manufacture of timber boxes. (p1) (15 Oct 1956) Decision to purchase plat for mixing minerals from Messrs. O'Mearas of Thurles for the sum of £375. (p17) (17 Dec 1957) Offer by Labour Court to intervene in dispute with ITGWU re. dismissal of an employee. (p33) (11 May 1959)

Sanction of various share transfers (p61) (5 Jul 1962)

A/3 Shareholders General Meetings Minute Book

Reference: B639/A/3

Date:

27 Jan 1938 - 23 Mar 1961

Title: Level:

Shareholders General Meetings Minute Book

item

Extent:

175pp & 2pp enclosure

Scope and Content: Minutes of proceedings and resolutions of 17th to 40th general meetings plus a number of extraordinary general meetings.

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The minutes often contain the full text of the Chairman's Statement. The Director's report and audited statement of account are mentioned for approval, but not detailed.

Includes (for example)

'...the trend of our trade has been more and more in the direction of marketing goods'. (27 Jan 1938)

Regret at death of J.C. Dowdall (14 Feb 1940)

'satisfactory increase in the profits.... due to increased turnover.... largely attributable to the eagerness of our customers to secure stocks because of the abnormal conditions prevailing.... the greater proportion of the goods we deal in are procured at home...' (14 Feb 1940)

"no little difficulty in obtaining supplies' (2 Feb 1942)

'decreased profit...governmental restrictions on sales owing to the emergency of the war situation' (3 Feb 1943)

Dividend of 10%, less income tax, to be paid for the year 1944 (12 Feb 1945)

Purchase of butter boxes in Sweden, ship 'got in the way of German transports then engaged in the invasion of Norway" (1 Feb 1946) Volume of sales substantially lower that in the preceding year, particularly in butter boxes, egg cases, nails, parchment, wire, woodwool and asbestos, (13 Feb 1953) 'The usual pattern of our trading was rapidly, almost violently, upset last year. Firstly, we had the full results of disease in rabbits....', also, a very rapid swing over to cardboard instead of timber boxes for butter, by the creameries and also a substantial loss in sales in eggcases and fillers and flats as a result of a severe fall in egg production. (17 Feb 1956)

Enclosure- Report of Directors for year ended 31 Dec 1961, 2pp

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Death of Liam de Roiste, one of the founders of the Company in 1920 and a director and secretary from then up to his retirement in August 1956. (7 Mar 1960)

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B: Financial Records

Reference: B639/B

Date:

1920 - 1967

Title: Level:

Financial Records

series

Extent:

5 vols.

Reference: B639/B/1

Date:

1925 - 1956

Title: Level:

Accounts Ledger

item

Extent:

85ff plus 5pp enclosure

Scope and Content: Accounts include, for example: Capital, Unpaid Dividends, Investments, Office Furniture and Fittings, Profit and Loss, Dividends Received, Bank Deposit, Income Tax, Interest on Deposit, Reserve, Premises, Directors' Fees, travellers’ cars, loan, commission, bonuses.

Enclosures contain notes on investments.

Reference: B639/B/2

Date:

1953 - 1956

Title: Level:

Day Book

item

Extent:

79pp

Scope and Content: Records monies to be debited from various accounts, such as, wages and salaries, commission, travelling expenses, petty cash, rents received, rates, audit fees, trade charges (such as printing, advertising, office supplies, lighting and heating, post, cartage, insurance, charity donations, etc), cash sales, rents paid, bad debts.

Reference: B639/B/3

Date:

1953 - 1967

Title:

Cash Book

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Level:

item

Extent:

282ff

Scope and Content: Records debits and credit in cash, from cash sales, wages and salaries, travelling expenses, rent, and amounts from various purchasing companies, for example: Houghtons Ltd. Cork, DS Bennett Caherciveen, Eggsports Ltd. Dublin, Irish Wire Products Ltd., Dwyer & Co, Nat Ross, St. Patrick's Woollen Mills Ltd., Southern Chemicals Askeaton, Drinagh Co-op Creamery Ltd., James Murphy Bandon, Finnish Papermills Association, Roches Stores, Mangan's Medical Hall Tralee, Montana Trading Co. London, James Scott & Co. Cork, CIE, Punch and Co. Ltd, Sunbeam Wolsey, WJ Hickey Ltd. , Clyde Shipping Co. , Cork Farmers Abbatoir Ltd. , Carrigaline Co-Op Creamery, Gunther Hartmann Hamburg, Irish Steel, Irish Sea Fisheries, CA Duggan Millstreet.

Reference: B639/B/4

Date:

1956 - 1958

Title: Level:

Time and Wages Book

item

Extent:

c100ff & 2pp enclosure

Scope and Content: Records weekly employee time and wages for the Stores, Office, and Travellers, such as, name, address, total hours worked, overtime hours and rate, total wages earned, national insurance contribution, total deductions, balance due, employer national insurance contribution, weekly totals. Enclosure- Department of Social Welfare rates of contribution from 3 Sept 1956.

Reference: B639/B/5

Date:

1920 - 1921

Title: Level:

Bank Book

item

Extent:

c200p

Scope and Content: Bank book for The Munster and Leinster Bank Ltd., Cork in account with Irish

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International Trading Corporation Cork Ltd. Records amounts lodged and withdrawn in cash and cheques and charges form wires and telegrams.

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C: Printed Reference Booklets

Reference: B639/C

Date:

Early 1900s - 1970

Title: Level:

Printed Reference Booklets

series

Extent:

5 items

Reference: B639/C/01

Date:

nd (Early 1900s)

Title: Haworth's Practical Timber Measurer and Timber Buyer's Table by Alfred Haworth. Published by John Heywood Ltd., London, Manchester, and Blackburn. Level: item Extent: 128pp

Reference: B639/C/02

Date:

nd (Early 1900s)

Title: Level:

The Express Ready Reckoner

item

Extent:

48ff

Reference: B639/C/03

Date:

nd (Mid 1900s)

Title:

The New Practical Reckoner. Collins Press, London, and Glasgow.

Inscribed 'Coughlan & Co. Ltd. Cork Road Bandon Co. Cork'. Level: item Extent: 320pp

Reference: B639/C/04

Date:

nd (Early to mid 1900s)

Title: The FactVeyor by J. Collis and Sons Ltd. (Engineering Company) London with various table for calculating and converting measurements, weights of paper, heat, discounts, profit as percentage on cost price, areas, and volumes.

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Level:

item

Extent:

9pp

Reference: B639/C/05

Date:

March 1970

Title:

The Concise Metric Converter compiled by EW Herbert. Published

by the Pentice Press Ltd, Winchester, Hants. Level: item Extent: 108pp

D: Publications

Reference: B639/D

Date:

2021

Title: Level:

Publications

series

Extent:

1 item

Reference: B639/D/01

Date:

2021

Title:

Book, 'Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Ltd.

Celebrating 100 Years' by Kieran McCarthy Level: item Extent: 88pp

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