This recent donation to The WS Society is a collection of items from the WS firm Fyfe Ireland, originally at 71 Hanover Street, Edinburgh. The enamelled deed box belonging to Adam Fyfe contains a brass name plate of the firm’s New Town office, a wooden box belonging to Alexander Ireland, and the personal cashbook of Adam Fyfe.
The deed box had a great deal of rust, particularly across the base, so we decided to remove as much of it as possible without removing any of the enamel or historic qualities. I used a mixture of oxalic and citric acid applied with stiff nylon brush - very satisfying! The box then had museum wax applied to slow down any future oxidation.
Since the conservation work was undertaken, we have been in kind receipt of a further deposit of papers relating to Fyfe and Ireland which throw open a window onto the lives and careers of the firm and its partners during often difficult and turbulent times.
The Signet Library is dedicated to the preservation of the memory of the legal profession in Scotland and we are keen to assist with the appropriate preservation of records, materials and archival matter relating to Scotland’s solicitors and law firms. We are eager to hear from anyone with material of this kind that needs a home or who is aware of such material under threat of disposal. Please contact us at library@wssociety.co.uk .
