An important collection of material that relates to Paul McCartney’s and George Harrison’s time at the Liverpool Institute. Comprising Paul McCartney’s student information card from the Liverpool Institute and a ledger for the Institute detailing leaving dates for pupils between 1959 and 1979.
The student information card includes the following information relating to Paul McCartney: his student admission number ‘7226’ which is written in the top left corner of the card, his full name - McCartney, James Paul, date of birth - 18th June 1942, date of entry into the school - 9th September 1953, previous school - Joseph Williams primary school, the form when he entered the school - 3C and his date of leaving - 21st July 1960, all handwritten on the left side of the card.
Paul’s father’s name, address and occupation ‘Cotton Classer’ are written on the right side of the card. The family lived at 12 Ardwick Road, Liverpool 19 at the time Paul entered the school. (They subsequently moved to 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool 18 in 1955.) It is noted that Paul’s younger brother entered the school in September 1955. Details of all of Paul McCartney’s forms and places are listed between 1953 and 1960 with some of his examination results including passing GCEs in Spanish, English Language, Art, Maths and Advanced GCEs in English and Art. Subjects failed are Latin, History, Geography, Scripture and German.
The original ledger for Liverpool Institute details the leaving date of pupils at the school between 1959 and 1979 this includes records for Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Neil Aspinall.
Paul McCartney (J. P. McCartney) is listed in the ledger with a home address of 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool 18, there is no date given for notice of leaving the school. Paul’s form was 6AM2, his age when he left was 18 years and 1 month. Paul first entered Liverpool Institute in September 1953 and he left on 21st July 1960, his job is listed in the remarks column as ‘Working in Hamburg’. (In early August Paul along with the other members of The Beatles left England to perform at both the Indra and the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, Germany.)
George Harrison is listed in the ledger with a home address of 25 Upton Green, Liverpool 24, he gave notice of leaving on the 8th June 1959. George’s form was RC, his age when he left was 16 years and 4 months. George first entered the school in September 1954 and left on 23rd July 1959, no job has been listed for him.
Neil Aspinall is also listed in the ledger with a home address of 43 Liddell Road, Liverpool 12. He gave notice of leaving on 4th June 1959. Neil’s form was U5Sc, his age when he left was 17 years and 9 months. Neil first entered the school in September 1953 and left on 23rd July 1959, he went on to be an Articled Clerk at a company named Oakley Worrall.
Provenance: the items were formerly the property of a member of The Board of Governors at the Liverpool Institute. Accompanied by a letter that reads:
‘My father worked on the board of governors at the Liverpool Institute School. When the school was closing down, they were told to shred or put in skip all paper work and many other items. My father came across Paul McCartney’s school report card which he kept. It was in the papers in 2003 that he has this report card and register book. My father past [sic] these to me in 2007. I have had these ever since.’
The student information card measures 20.5cm x 12.5cm (8 inches x 4.9 inches). There is a very small tear on the top edge near the admission number and a few small creases across the surface. The condition is very good.
The school ledger measures 20.5cm x 32.5cm (8 inches x 12.7 inches). The cover pages are worn with marks and scratches. The edges of the ledger pages are also worn, corners have creases and there are small tears on the edges of some pages. The condition is very good minus.