Business and Legal Correspondence of Joseph Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line.

Joseph Bruce Ismay was born in Crosby, Liverpool on 12 December 1862. He was the eldest son of Thomas Henry Ismay and Margaret Bruce. Thomas Ismay was the senior partner in the firm of Ismay, Imrie & Co., and founder of the White Star Line. After being educated at Elstree School, Harrow and tutored for a year in France. J.Bruce Ismay was apprenticed to Thomas Ismay's office for four years. After touring the world for a year, J. Bruce Ismay was appointed as the White Star Line agent in New York. Whilst in New York, he married Julia Florence Schieffelin and had two sons and two daughters. In 1891 the family returned to England, and J. Bruce Ismay was made a partner in the firm of Ismay, Imrie & Co. Following the death of Thomas Ismay in 1899, J. Bruce Ismay became head of the business. In 1901 Ismay was approached from America to form an international conglomerate of shipping companies. After lengthy discussions with John Pierpont Morgan, it was agreed that the White Star Line would form part of the International Mercantile MarineCo. (I.M.M.C.), led by C.A. Griscom of the American Line. In 1904 J. Bruce Ismay succeeded Griscom as president of the I.M.M.C., and held the position until 1913. He was also on the Boards of a number of other companies, including the Asiatic Steam Navigation Co. and the Liverpool, London & Globe Insurance Co. J. Bruce Ismay died on the 17 October 1937, having survived the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic in 1912. The collection includes correspondence regarding the speed and arrival of the RMS Olympic in New York and the I.M.M.C. The correspondence also includes letters regarding Ismay's directorship and resignation from the I.M.M.C. There are a number of documents within the collection regarding the Ismay family's property in Liverpool and London, the family coat of arms and the Ismay family's donations to the Liverpool Seamen's Pension Fund and the Mercantile Marine (Widows) Fund. The collectiona lso includes papers relating to the will of J. Bruce Ismay and the clauses affecting the family.