Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Business employees

The Rothschilds employed many people in their banking and finance businesses. Unfortunately, few historical records of the employees of N M Rothschild & Sons survive.

Employees of N M Rothschild & Sons

The Rothschild Archive London primarily holds the business records of the London firm of N M Rothschild & Sons, together with some papers of Rothschild banking businesses in Paris and Vienna. Regretfully, records of employees of the business at the bank's London office of New Court, St Swithin's Lane are scant, and most staff records have not survived. The Archive holds limited staff lists and records of salaries and pensions paid before the First World War, together with record books of bonus payments and Christmas gifts. See Treasure of the Month: staff wages file for information about early staff employment. A charming photograph album dated 1937 contains images of many of the New Court staff, and the Archive also holds photographs of the New Court bank premises.

For a lively account of what life was like at New Court for a Rothschild clerk, 1925-1965, please see Rothschild Relish, Ronald Palin (Cassell, London: 1970)

Employees of The Royal Mint Refinery

From 1852 until 1967, The Rothschilds operated the Royal Mint Refinery. Sited close to the Tower of London and near to the London Docks, the Royal Mint Refinery became part of the Rothschild family’s developing range of interests in gold. The first Rothschild refinery manager in London was recruited from France, a Monsieur Michel Poisat, and for many years experienced workmen were recruitedfrom an area north of Paris where the necessary skills were already established. Other specialists were recruited from Belgium by the firm’s manager and there was a succession of managers of either French or Swiss descent at RMR. The first English name – that of Mr Smith – does not occur until 1937. The Second World War saw the refinery turned over to the manufacture of copper wire for military use and in the post-war years, diversification became important for survival. The Refinery business was sold to Engelhard Industries Limited in 1967.

The Rothschild Archive London holds a limited number of records about staff of the Royal Mint Refinery including information about salaries and pensions, and photograph albums of staff and the refinery premises.

Men of the Rothschild Royal Mint Refinery 1933

Men of the Rothschild Royal Mint Refinery 1933

New Court c.1927

New Court c.1927