David Allens. The history of a family firm, 1857-1957

Notes:

Commissioned history. The section covering 1840-1918 was provided by an anonymous contributor, the rest was written by a family member who had worked at a senior level in the business [which was still family dominated]. Includes much on family's history and on the management contribution of Cissy Allen in 1920s and 30s. Also covers in detail the history of billposting. The account effectively ends in 1945. Structured in four parts: 1] 'The shores of Lough Neagh' - 'Origins of the name' / 'The Allens of Randalstown' / 'The end of a business'; 2] 'Portrait of a Victorian family' - 'The Belfast background' / 'David Allen and his sons'; 3] 'Billsticking becomes outdoor advertising' - 'The beginnings of billposting' / 'Growth of the Allen billposting interests' / 'Posters, parliament and people'; 4] 'Big business' - 'The breaking years - personalities of the old London office' / 'Billposting in World War I - service in World War I' / The Matriarch' [the contribution of Cissy Allen who controlled the business from 1919 to 1943]; 'The team - service in World War II'. An appendix includes biographical notes on members of the Allen family [not diagrammatic].