Archive video transcript

Hello.

I've been really looking forward to sharing some of the treasures from our archive as part of our 175th birthday celebrations.

We're going to be showing two contrasting ones today and where else to start than with this partnership deed, which has somehow survived the two world wars and numerous office moves.

It was Samuel Price who got the ball rolling for us in 1849, but in 1865, with the business expanding, he decided to go into partnership.

It's this deed, which is the legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of the arrangement.

Elsewhere, that year, in 1865, saw the publication of Alice in Wonderland and the sensational arrival of Jumbo the Elephant, at London Zoo.

But for us, the big news was that Mr. Price was joining forces with William Holyland and Edwin Waterhouse, and here, incredibly, are their original signatures. Mr. Waterhouse’s is even slightly smudged, I have to say.

So who were these people in at the start of the fledgling profession of accountancy?

Samuel Price came from a family of Bristol pottery manufacturers and was a tall, bearded man, often seen in a velvet coat, so a hipster way ahead of his time. He'd gone into business with William Edwards in the city of London, but on Christmas Eve 1849, presumably having got Secret Santa out of the way, they dissolved the business and Price became a sole practitioner.

William Holyland was 58 when he teamed up with Price and he retired just six years later in 1871.

Meanwhile, Edwin Waterhouse was just 24 when he joined the party. He was referred to as “the young pup” by Price. He was one of three gifted Waterhouse brothers. Alfred was the brilliant Gothic revivalist architect, while brother Theodore established the law firm Waterhouse and Co. Edwin would go on to become Senior Partner for 18 years. As far as we are aware, he's the only person from the firm to have a blue plaque in his name.

Rather easier a reading matter than the fancy scripts on our deed, comes in the shape of our second item today, the humble staff magazine.

Staff mags were definitely at the softer end of journalism, but as sources of knowledge and curiosity for the business historian, they're an absolute goldmine.

 Our collection spans the 1950s to the 2000s, and the magazines document astounding changes in terms of demographics, globalisation, how we worked and how we played.

When Coopers Journal was launched in the 1950s, it was a rather severe affair. One thing it did do, however, was bind the international firm together.

 Communication was pretty primitive back then, so it was down to Coopers Journal to share news from the UK and overseas territories.

The 1970s is probably the most interesting phase, and the magazines went from black and whites to colour. Sometimes too much colour.

New offices were always big news and the magazines are fantastic for taking a peek at our former homes. Long forgotten locations such as Dudley, Maidstone, Middlesbrough and Windsor.

By the 1980s and 90s, more diversity among staff and partners was evident and rapid changes in tech were getting attention. Computers were here to stay. 

So by the 2000s, Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand, great rivals for so long, they joined forces to become PwC. 

Articles about the rise of the Internet showed how digital tech was essential to our growth. By association, these articles also gave a clue as to the staff magazine's demise. Our world was going online.

Staff magazines celebrated the careers of thousands and thousands of our people. Maybe you were featured.

But development means progress, which is why today you are watching this, rather than waiting for one of these to land on your desk once a month. 

But it was fun while it lasted, and I should know, I used to edit this one.

We'll share more historical treasures from the archives over the coming months.

Thanks for watching.