Papers related to the activities of the Royal Insurance Company Foreign Department during the time of British and other western European colonization of Africa and the West Indies. Also contains some plans from regions in the South Atlantic, Mexico, and Brazil. Primarily consists of insurance plans and related documents (mostly legislative), including correspondence, maps, and newspaper clippings. In addition to documents generated by the Royal Insurance Company, there is also a small number of pamphlets, reports, and volumes collected from other sources.

The Royal Insurance Company was founded in Liverpool, England in 1845, growing through a series of mergers and acquisitions. In 1919, it merged with the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company, at the time the biggest merger in British insurance history. After a merger with Sun Alliance in 1996 it became part of the RSA Insurance Group. From its inception, the Royal Insurance Company engaged in aggressive overseas expansion and was one of the first foreign insurers to open a permanent branch office in South Africa.

16 Linear Feet (44 msb, 3 flat boxes)

Collection is open for research. Materials must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.