Scientific papers sent to the Royal Society, many of which were published in the 'Philosophical Transactions'. As the name implies, the series is a combination and continuation of Early Letters and Classified Papers into the 19th century. Later, the sequence divided into Philosophical Transactions and Archived Papers. From the time that the Letters and Papers (or New Guard Books as they were originally known) were created, none of these original papers were copied into Letter or Register Books. Scientists represented include William Herschel (66 papers) William Watson (36 papers) Henry Baker (32 papers) Everard Home (31 papers), William Stukely (30 papers), and John Smeaton (23 papers). As the series progresses, the character of the documents alters - the earlier decades contain larger numbers of short letters, but by the 19th century most of the manuscripts are in the form of long monographs. The texts are supported by a large quantity of original illustrations throughout the series. This collection provides a virtually unbroken run of presentations by leading 18th century scientists; the few gaps include 1746-1749, when no papers were collected. Occasionally such missing items may be located in the archives of other institutions.

Original of letters sent to the Royal Society, generally on official business, and usually to Officers or Assistant Secretaries. The collection is effectively in two parts; letters for the period 1800-1899 are bound as 17 volumes; those for 1903-1925 are held unbound in boxes. The full sequence forms a single chronological archive with only occasional gaps, the most notable being the complete absence of the years 1900-1902 and 1920. From 1885, the series may be used in conjunction with the New Letter Books, which contain the corresponding outgoing letters.

Miscellaneous letters and papers concerning the landed property of the Royal Society covering the nineteenth century.

Originals of the Fellows bonds for payment of fees to the Royal Society: Volume 1 covers 1674-1729, and Volume 2 covers 1729-1809.

Acquisitions book for the Royal Society Library, appears to be nineteenth century.

Secretaries Draft Minutes of Meetings of the Royal Society: these are the notes, more or less rough, which were written up to make the Journal Books. They fall into two sections;

1. 'Original Minutes' A series of guardbooks and packets of papers, 12 in number, containing original minutes of the Society's meetings. These minutes gradually approach nearer and nearer to the form and appearance of the Journal Book, and the last few volumes (from 15 onwards) are little different from the corresponding volumes of the Journal Book in their style.

2. 'Rough Minutes' A series of 5 notebooks containing rough minutes of meetings. It seems likely that these are the notes taken down by the Secretary at the meetings, which were later written out much more carefully to make the original minutes (which are usually more legible and more clearly intended to be preserved). These 5 notebooks cover fairly well the gaps in the series of Original minutes caused by the absence of Volume VI (almost certainly this is Sloane MS 3342 in the British Library) and the exceedingly fragmentary state of Volume V.

Disregarding the gaps, the period covered by the combined original and rough minutes is from August 1662 to November 1761. The period covered by the individual volumes are also shown on the backs of the volumes

Letters from various scientists to Walter White, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society. With occasional material addressed to Charles Richard Weld and others. Usually on Royal Society business.

The archive correspondence can be characterized as the routine treatment of important events. In 1863, for example, Richard Owen wrote to White with brief instructions for his paper describing the feathered dinosaur archaeopteryx. Occasionally the letters are more significant for the Society's history. In an extended note of 1865, ex Royal Society President the Earl of Rosse 'a plain well-grown man, farmer like in appearance' discussed the merits of signing an election certificate for Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). 'My opinion...was that it would be better to take the broad view and to elect men of great abillity...so as to strengthen the Society in carrying out, in the largest sense, its great object, that of improving natural science'. Tennyson was duly elected, an event which must have pleased White. The assistant secretary had become friendly with the Poet Laureate in the 1850s and White's published diary left a vivid picture of Tennyson reading aloud his Arthurian romances in the offices of the Royal Society.

Royal Society Library and Museum Account Book; the catalogue in account with the Royal Society.

The Archive of the Society of Public Teachers of Law comprises:

• Minute books and correspondence of the Council, General Committee, sub-committees and special committees

• General correspondence and subject files

• Papers of annual conferences and meetings and annotated papers presented at SPTL meetings

• Registers, directories and lists of members and rules

• Financial records

• Printed material including the Journal of the SPTL/Legal Studies and SPTL Reporter

• Correspondence and papers of individual officers of the Society

• Records of officers of the Society

• Conference and seminar records

The Archive of the United Kingdom National Committee of Comparative Law contains the Constitution of the UKNCCL, 1960, 1971; minutes and papers of Council, 1969-1989; correspondence and papers of joint honorary secretaries, 1965-1973; papers of UKNCCL colloquia, 1970-1971.

Records of the organisation known variously as the Polytechnic Sports Club, the The Institute of the Polytechnic Sports and Social Clubs, and The Polytechnic Sports Club Committee, as well as records of the Polytechnic's Men's and Women's Council, and Joint Council.

This collection includes all records relating to the organisation of sports and social activities by members of the Polytechnic except for records of the individual clubs themselves, which are catalogued as separate collections. However it does include correspondence with the clubs by the Secretary and Committees. This collection also includes papers relating to the award of Polytechnic-wide medals and trophies, including the Elsie Hoare Trophy, Studd Trophy and Ditchman Trophy.

Papers of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Stillbirth and neonatal death/management of perinatal deaths working party, comprising background papers and correspondence, 1983-1984; President's background papers and correspondence, 1978-1985; Committee chairman's correspondence and papers on publication of report, 1984-1986; background literature and chairman's papers, 1983-1984; Chairman's correspondence and papers, 1984-1985; Report of the RCOG Working Party on the Management of Perinatal Deaths, with circulation list, 1985; minute book of the working party, 1984.

Minute book of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists working party on intimate examinations, 1996-1997; final report 1997.

Papers of the RCOG Gynaecological laparoscopy and confidential enquiry into laparoscopy working party, comprising Professor Chamberlain's correspondence and papers, 1977-1981, his signed copies of the working party's minutes, 1975-1977, a copy of the report of the working party, Gynaecological Laparoscopy: report on the Confidential Enquiry into Gynaecological Laparoscopy conducted by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in co-operation with the Department of Health and Social Security and the Medical Defence Union, Medical Protection Society, the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Apr 1978, and copies of two reviews of laparoscopy equipment undertaken by the working party in 1980 and 1982.

Minutes, correspondence of Miss Mallon, College Secretary, background papers and reports of the RCOG Institutional versus Domiciliary Midwifery Committee, 1946-1957, including the committee's Report on the Obstetric Service under the National Health Service, July 1954 and 1956 revised edition.

Agenda, minutes, including signed minutes of the Chairman, and papers, correspondence, questionnaire and the final report, 1982-1984, of the RCOG medical gynaecology working party.

First and second reports of the RCOG Manpower advisory sub-committee, with related correspondence, comments and papers, 1982-1990; photocopies of Hospital Recognition Committee forms: annual review of recognised hospital appointments, which provide data on staffing and training, and obstetrical and gynaecological statistics for individual hospitals, 1979-1980.

Correspondence between the Ministry of Health and the RCOG concerning the Ministry of Health and Scottish Home and Health Department working party on ambulance training and equipment; a copy of the report; drafts of the RCOG's comments on the report, 1966-1967.

Minutes, papers and correspondence relating to the RCOG working party on unplanned pregnancy, drafts and comments on the report and the report itself, 1988-1992.

Agenda, minutes and papers and the draft report of the working party on effective representation within the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1995-1996.

Personnel file for one College Secretary only.

Records relating to the internal management and administration of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1999-2004, comprising notes from Heads of Departments' meetings (2001-2004) and records relating to the organisational structure of the College (1999-2001).

Correspondence files which reflect the changing responsibilities of the College Secretary, with records relating to the Journal, gifts and donations, and correspondence with other royal colleges and related bodies. College papers regarding Dr Ornella Moscucci's unpublished history of the RCOG (1987-1999). Also records concerning the Faculty of Family Planning (1976-1992) and Birthright, later Wellbeing (1985-2003), and papers of College Secretary's meetings (1996-2003).

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Scottish Standing Committee / Scottish Executive Committee, 1950-2006, comprising copy minutes and papers held by the College in London, 1950-1990 and a publication on the future of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Scotland, 2006.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Consumers Forum, 1993-2007, comprising agenda, minutes and papers, 1993-2007.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Guidelines and Audit Committee, 2000-2004, comprising minutes, agenda and circulated papers; clinical governance and consent advice publications.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' House Committee, 2003, comprising minutes of two meetings of the short-lived House Committee, May 2003.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Fellowship Selection Committee, 1930-1998. This series contains minute books of the Committee for its period of existence, also minutes, agenda and related papers running 1990-1997.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Services Board, 2000-2003, comprising correspondence relating to the remit and membership of the Services Board (2000-2002) and agenda and minutes running from 2000 to 2003.

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Equivalence of Training Committee, 2005-2008, comprising committee files including agendas, circulated papers and associated correspondence, including decisions about recommendations on individual doctor's applications to the Specialist Register.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists records of the Advisory Appointments Committees, 1955-1994, comprising correspondence regarding the functions of advisory appointment committees, such as nomination to the committees, appointment to the regional hospital boards and the criteria for consultant appointments (1962-1967). Also includes: a list of nominations to the committees (1962-1967); a sample of assessors reports on candidates and appointments to consultant posts (1978-1994, 1998-1999); papers relating to censuses conducted by regional college advisers; papers concerning regional advisers' censuses of Senior House Officer (SHO) posts (1982, 1986).

Records of the Joint Standing Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives, 1988-2001, comprising agenda, minutes and papers for the working party, 1988-2001.

Report of the Joint Working Party of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Academic Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology on improving recruitment.

Published report of the Joint Working Party of the RCOG and Royal College of General Practitioners on training for obstetrics and gynaecology for general practitioners, 1981.

The Archive of the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools consists of agenda, minutes and papers of the Committee, 1974-2000; papers of the Chairman, Professor William Twining, and Secretary of the CHULS Working Party on Four Year Degrees, 1978-1980; papers of the Convenor, Professor William Twining, of the CHULS Working Party on Implications for Law as a Discipline of the Leverhulme Report and the Circular Letter from the Chairman of the University Grants Committee, Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, 1983-1984; correspondence and papers of Professor Graham John Zellick, CHULS Chairman, 1988-1990; file on CHULS' participation in the Law Society's Academic Consultative Committee, 1990.

Papers of Vivian Bartley Green-Armytage, 1915-1967, comprising certificates as Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, 1952, Foundation Fellow of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1930, as officier and chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur, 1958, 1967, Membre D'Honneur of the Societe Francais de Gynaecologie, undated; display labels for the display cabinet, and certificate of Green-Armytage having been mentioned in a despatch during action in World War One, 1915.

Midwifery certificates donated to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, comprising certificate of competence in midwifery presented to John Harvey, signed by William Smellie M D obstetrician, on 1 Dec 1757 (S52/1); certificate in midwifery awarded to Esther Lavinia Potter by the Obstetrical Society of London on 24 Oct 1888 (S52/2); certificate in midwifery awarded to Isabella Board by the Obstetrical Society of London in 1892 (S52/3).

The History of the Origin and Rise of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists by William Blair Bell, 1934-c1940; photocopy of the same with additional prefatory matter, 1934-c1940.

Papers of Sir William Fletcher Shaw, 1906-1962, mainly relating to the history of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, including draft history of the foundation of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, drafted 1943-1946 and subsequently amended, 1943-1960; various drafts of chapters for the history; correspondence with Sir Boyd Merriman, Solicitor General, mainly concerned with the College's registration by the Board of Trade, 1929-1934; correspondence with William Blair-Bell, 1924-, with H Russell Andrews, 1926-1929, with Hempsons, Solicitors, 1926-1929, with Comyns Berkeley, 1925-1931, with Eardley Holland, 1928-1949, with J S Fairbairn, 1928-1929, with Victor Bonney, 1928-1929, with Ewen MacLean, 1926-1929, with Sir Francis Champneys, 1926-1929, with J M Munro Kerr, 1926-1945, with T W Eden, 1926-1929, with Lord Riddell, 1931-1933, with Carlton Oldfield, 1926-1929, with C G Lowry, 1927-1929, with F J McCann, 1927-1929, with AA Gemmell, 1927-1929;

papers preserved by Fletcher Shaw for their importance in the foundation of the College, including his earliest note on the subject, copies of GVS (Gynaecological Visiting Society) minutes, 1925-1927, counsel's opinion on the draft memorandum and articles of association with a copy of the draft, copies of the minutes of the Executive Committee, 1927, copies of correspondence and circular letters, 1927-1929, minutes of signatories and first full Council meeting, and other papers relating to the earliest activities of the College, 1924-1929;

typescript extracts from Fletcher Shaw's diaries including a letter to his son David (1940) explaining nature of their compilation and his wish to rival Blair-Bell's history, 1930-1943; typescript extracts from Fletcher Shaw's diary, 1930-1943,1947-1949,1953; correspondence with Sir Ewen Maclean on the presidency of Sir Eardley Holland and the early history of College, 1943-1946; minutes of Council with a few agenda and other papers, 1929-1935; draft memoirs of L C Rivett, J S Fairbairn, Russell Andrews, Sir Ewen Maclean, Sir Comyns Berkeley, Sir Eardley Holland, and Sir Francis Champneys, undated; file relating to the Standing Joint Committee of the three Royal Colleges, with later papers relating to Fletcher Shaw's account of the role of the RCS in the foundation of the College, 1942-1944; description and notes with related correspondence on the formation of a committee representing the medical profession in relation to the Beveridge Report, 1943; College's report on 'The health of women war workers from the gynaecological aspect' with associated papers and correspondence, 1942; papers relating to D W Roy and the Inter-Departmental Committee on abortion and Fletcher Shaw's later dispute with him, 1937-1938, 1940; correspondence relating to proposal to build RCOG, Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons on one common site, 1942-1943; correspondence with Sir Alfred Webb-Johnson, President, RCS, 1943-1946; personal correspondence of Shaw, 1951-1955; diary, 1938-1943;

papers relating to the College in wartime, and medical and maternity services in wartime, including the evacuation of pregnant women, 1938-1943, the College's relations with the BMA, 1938-1943, the College's relations with the RCP and RCS, 1939-1943, the appointment of gynaecologists to the armed services, Fulmer Chase Officers' Wives Maternity Hospitality, and women war workers, 1939-1943; correspondence with the Central Medical War Committee of the BMA, 1939-1941; papers and correspondence on infertility, 1944-1945;

various papers including an appeal for funds, 1932, standing orders for Council meetings, a paper on the drafting of the contentious clauses in the College's memorandum of association, Council papers relating to inter alia the Australian Regional Council, the Central Consultants and Specialists' Committee, Standing Joint Committee of the Three Royal Colleges memorandum on gynaecological cancer, and the National Birthday Trust Fund, programmes for Manchester Royal Infirmary Old Residents Club Dinners, 1910-1958; newspaper cuttings - one dated Feb 1907 re Manchester University students rowdy 'gown' debate mentioning Fletcher Shaw, the other confirming appointments at Manchester Royal Infirmary - Fletcher Shaw one of two house surgeons, c1907; copies of speeches, lectures and addresses made by Fletcher Shaw, 1938-1959; Fletcher Shaw's Memorial Service programme and transcription of address given at the service by Professor W I C Morris, 1961; obituary of Fletcher Shaw by E A Gerrard: 'The One Hundred and Second Record', 1962; copies of published gynaecological articles by Fletcher Shaw, 1906-1954.

Copy of a memorial speech given by Braithwaite Rickford FRCOG commemorating the jubilee year of the death of James Montague Wyatt, with related correspondence between Braithwaite and Sir John Dewhurst, 1978.

Joint Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of General Practitioners committees and working parties, 1968-1993, comprising records from joint committees and working parties exclusively between the RCOG and the Royal College of General Practitioners. The majority discuss training for general practitioners in obstetrics and gynaecology and provision of services. They include: correspondence and reports on general practitioner maternity units (1968); correspondence, papers and a minute book for a working party on training in obstetrics for general practitioners (1972-1974); a study on attitudes to pregnancy (1972-1976); papers of Sir Rustam Feroze on a joint working party on obstetrics and gynaecology for GP's (1980-1981); papers and report of a joint working party on vocational training in obstetrics and gynaecology for GP's (1990-1993).

Agenda, minutes and papers of the working party, submissions and a final report and policy document on the future of the RCOG, 1989-1992.

Official Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists position statements on a range of issues, 1987-2008.

Printed announcement of meeting of Obstetrical Society of London on obstetrical instruments, 1866.

Records of the Gynaecological Visiting Society (GVS), 1911-1992, comprising record books of meetings, 1911-1985, correspondence 1925-1983, including correspondence between W Blair-Bell, C Berkeley, E Holland, R J Johnstone, A A Gemmell, J W Burns and L Murray concerning the establishment of a Junior Gynaecological Society, and material relating to the founding of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1925-1935, newsletters and other printed material, 1912-1992 and some artefacts.

Off-print of 'The birth of a College' by Sir William Fletcher Shaw, in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire, Vol 57 No 6 (1950) pp 876-890.

Papers of C A Tacey, [1928-1982], including material relating to the Social Credit Party and the Kibbo Kift Kindred, 1928-1982, notably Kibbo Kift songbooks, a biographical essay on John Hargrave, press cuttings, leaflets, pamphlets and journals.

YMA/WF: papers of the Woodcraft Folk, 1910-1975, including yearbooks and annual reports, 1928-1973; administrative material, 1930-1972, notably agenda and minutes of National Delegate Conferences, the National Folk Council and its various committees, membership details, and financial papers such as account books, paysheets and correspondence; general correspondence, 1929-1972, on subjects including the Public Order Act, Folk organisation during World War Two, conscientious objection, and the organisation of campsites; material concerning teaching undertaken by the Folk, 1938-1956, notably papers concerning National Training Camps, tests and badges; correspondence and papers concerning the National Folkhouse, 1938-1958; publications and propaganda, [1926-1965], also including song sheets, play scripts, draft articles and newspaper cuttings; correspondence and papers concerning relations with other organisations, 1929-1972, notably the Co-operative Union; material relating to international activities, 1931-1975, including correspondence with international youth groups, participation in international children's camps and European conferences; papers relating to local Woodcraft Folk groups, 1924-1973; papers of individual Folk, [1925-1975]; photographs of Folk activities, 1938-1971; printed materials and periodicals, 1910-1973. (114 boxes).

YMA/WF/2003 (accessions M3199 and M3204): Additional papers of the Woodcraft Folk, including minutes, annual reports, correspondence, publications, photographs, c 1929-c 1989 (80 boxes).

YMA/WF/2005 (accession M3293): Papers of the Woodcraft Folk: Mount Pleasant Group, 1970s (1 box).

Records, c1946-1985, of Christian Aid and its predecessors, comprising correspondence, minutes and reports concerning aid projects in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean; papers of the Directorate including constitutional material, committee minutes of the British Council of Churches, and Christian Aid Board papers; organisational material including correspondence with other fund-raising bodies such as Oxfam, the Red Cross, and a selection of Christian Aid publicity material including Annual Reports.

Papers, 1839-1863, of William Lockhart, comprising two volumes containing his personal expenses accounts, 1839-1857; notebook, c1845, largely containing Chinese texts, also including notes in English on subjects including Chinese measurements, trades, guilds, religion, and other customs; Chinese passport, 1863.