Meaning
A person employed to keep written records, copy documents or assist with administrative work.
Description
Clerks were employed across a wide range of settings including law offices, merchants' counting houses, banks, government departments, railways and parish vestries. Their work involved writing, copying, filing and basic accounting. The role varied enormously in status from the lowly copying clerk to the senior clerk who effectively managed an office. Literacy and a neat hand were essential qualifications. The expansion of trade and administration during the Victorian era created demand for large numbers of clerks.
Also Known As
Copying Clerk, Law Clerk, Parish Clerk
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
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