GB 2107 Birley - BIRLEY, Sir Robert (1903-1982)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2107 Birley

Title

BIRLEY, Sir Robert (1903-1982)

Date(s)

  • 1924-1981 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

3 filing cabinet drawers

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Robert Birley began his career as a history teacher at Eton in 1926 and was then appointed headmaster of Charterhouse in 1935. During this time, he authored the Fleming Report, 1944, on the relationship between public schools and mainstream education. After World War Two, he became, in 1947, Educational Advisor for the Control Commission in the British Zone in Germany responsible for educational reconstruction. On his return to the UK in 1949 he was appointed headmaster of Eton, where he remained until 1963. He subsequently became a visiting Professor at Witwatersrand University, South Africa from 1964-1967, and was Professor and Head of Department of Social Science and Humanities at City University from 1967-1971. He wrote and lectured extensively on education, apartheid and human rights issues.

Repository

Archival history

GB 2107 Birley 1924-1981 Collection (fonds) 3 filing cabinet drawers Birley , Sir , Robert , 1903-1982 , Knight , Professor of Education
Robert Birley began his career as a history teacher at Eton in 1926 and was then appointed headmaster of Charterhouse in 1935. During this time, he authored the Fleming Report, 1944, on the relationship between public schools and mainstream education. After World War Two, he became, in 1947, Educational Advisor for the Control Commission in the British Zone in Germany responsible for educational reconstruction. On his return to the UK in 1949 he was appointed headmaster of Eton, where he remained until 1963. He subsequently became a visiting Professor at Witwatersrand University, South Africa from 1964-1967, and was Professor and Head of Department of Social Science and Humanities at City University from 1967-1971. He wrote and lectured extensively on education, apartheid and human rights issues.

Papers of Robert Birley, 1924-1981, relating to his writing and speaking activities in the fields of education, including post-World War Two educational reconstruction in the British Zone of Germany; English universities in South Africa and apartheid; human rights issues. The papers comprise letters, manuscripts, typescripts of speeches and articles, related printed material, presscuttings and reprints of articles.

Arranged in files by topic or publication title.

On written application to the University Librarian.

At the discretion of the University Librarian.
English.

List by S John Teague, 1986.

Borthwick Institute, York, holds political and research papers of Birley in regard to South Africa, 1945-1983 (Ref: BIR Acc, see also list at National Register of Archives, NRA 19618); Centre for South African Studies, University of York holds other papers of Birley; Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities holds papers of Walter Fraser Oakeshott, 1926-1986 which includes several letters, 1962-1965, from Sir Robert Birley regarding conflicts between English universities in South Africa and the South African government over apartheid and "liberalism." (Ref: Special Collections and Visual Resources Accession no. 900204).

History and idealism: essays, addresses and letters - Robert Birley edited by Brian Rees (c1990).

Compiled by Janet Foster, AIM25 Project Surveyor. NCA rules for construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997), and ISAD (G), Second edition. Aug 2000 Apartheid Birley , Sir , Robert , 1903-1982 , Knight , Professor of Education City University Clerkenwell Educational planning England Europe Germany Humanitarian law Interethnic relations London Occupied territories Racial discrimination Racial segregation South Africa Southern Africa UK Western Europe Islington

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Robert Birley, 1924-1981, relating to his writing and speaking activities in the fields of education, including post-World War Two educational reconstruction in the British Zone of Germany; English universities in South Africa and apartheid; human rights issues. The papers comprise letters, manuscripts, typescripts of speeches and articles, related printed material, presscuttings and reprints of articles.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in files by topic or publication title.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

On written application to the University Librarian.

Conditions governing reproduction

At the discretion of the University Librarian.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

List by S John Teague, 1986.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Borthwick Institute, York, holds political and research papers of Birley in regard to South Africa, 1945-1983 (Ref: BIR Acc, see also list at National Register of Archives, NRA 19618); Centre for South African Studies, University of York holds other papers of Birley; Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities holds papers of Walter Fraser Oakeshott, 1926-1986 which includes several letters, 1962-1965, from Sir Robert Birley regarding conflicts between English universities in South Africa and the South African government over apartheid and "liberalism." (Ref: Special Collections and Visual Resources Accession no. 900204).

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

City University

Rules and/or conventions used

NCA rules for construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997), and ISAD (G), Second edition.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area