Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1820-2004 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
43 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, (BCRPM) was founded following the UNESCO International Conference of Ministers of Culture in Mexico, Aug 1982, when Melina Mercouri appealed for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens. The idea to set up a British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles came from architect James Cubitt. The Committee was set up in 1983 under the chairmanship of Robert Browning, Emeritus Professor of Greek at the University of London. Eleni Cubitt, film producer and wife of James Cubitt (who died shortly after the Committee was established) became, and continues to be, the Secretary. The aims of the Committee are as follows:
'To secure the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece in accordance with the resolution of the UNESCO Conference of Ministers of Culture held in Mexico on 4 August 1982. To this end - we intend to present the case as fully as possible to the British public and to bring the most effective pressure on the Trustees of the British Museum and the British Government.'
Repository
Archival history
GB 0100 Parthenon Marbles 1820-2004 Collection (fonds) 43 boxes British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles
The British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, (BCRPM) was founded following the UNESCO International Conference of Ministers of Culture in Mexico, Aug 1982, when Melina Mercouri appealed for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens. The idea to set up a British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles came from architect James Cubitt. The Committee was set up in 1983 under the chairmanship of Robert Browning, Emeritus Professor of Greek at the University of London. Eleni Cubitt, film producer and wife of James Cubitt (who died shortly after the Committee was established) became, and continues to be, the Secretary. The aims of the Committee are as follows:
'To secure the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece in accordance with the resolution of the UNESCO Conference of Ministers of Culture held in Mexico on 4 August 1982. To this end - we intend to present the case as fully as possible to the British public and to bring the most effective pressure on the Trustees of the British Museum and the British Government.'
Received Sep 2007
Papers of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, (BCRPM), 1820-2004 including press releases, copies of newspaper cuttings and correspondence chiefly between Eleni Cubitt and Anthi Poulos Jones, Chairman and General Counsel for the Committee on the Parthenon. Reports, newsletters and correspondence to government officials seeking support, the latter mainly from David Hill, Director of International Affairs for the Australian Committee for the Restoration of the Parthenon Marbles. Photocopy of Report from the Select Committee on 'The Earl of Elgin's collection of Sculptured Marbles', Mar 1816. Correspondence and reports from Hansard relating to early day motions concerning the Marbles and brief lists of debates on the Marbles in Commons and Lords, 1816-1999. Correspondence and data relating to surveys of MPs on their support for the return of the Marbles, 1984 and 2001. Press releases, correspondence, reports and proceedings relating to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 'Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade.' Correspondence, press releases and press cuttings relating to 'Parthenon 2004', campaigning for the British Government to agree for the temporary return and display of the Marbles to Greece in time for the 2004 Olympics. Correspondence, exhibition texts, list of photographs, etc, relating to the touring exhibition 'Stones of No Value, Monuments of the Gods', 1998-1999. Papers and reports relating to meetings of the UNESCO 'Intergovernmental Committee for promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation', 1980-2003. Papers, correspondence and newspaper articles relating to publication of book by William St Clair, Lord Elgin and the Marbles, particularly on the controversy surrounding the restoration of the Marbles by the British Museum which removed their original surface finish, 1998-2001. Publications and press cuttings on the Parthenon marbles, 1998-2003. Photographs, chiefly of BCRPM exhibitions. British Museum study on cleaning the Marbles, 1932. Papers relating to exhibitions and other BCRPM publicity and financial papers including accounts, 1993-2001.
Awaiting arrangement.
The collection contains personal information, apply to the Director of Archives and Information Management, King's College London, for details on access.
The collection contains personal information, apply to the Director of Archives and Information Management, King's College London, for details on reproductions.
English, Greek, some Italian.
No additional finding aids.
Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Jan 2008 Archaeological sites Archaeology Athens British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles British Museum Browning , Robert , 1914-1997 , Professor of Greek Bruce , Thomas , 1766-1841 , 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine Classical period Cubitt , Eleni , film producer , Secretary of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles Cubitt , James , 1914-1983 , architect England Europe Greece Hill , David , Director of International Affairs for the Australian Committee for the Restoration of the Parthenon Marbles Historical periods House of Commons House of Lords Leisure Leisure time activities London Museums Olympic games Poulos Jones , Anthi , Chairman and General Counsel for the Committee on the Parthenon Sport Sports competitions St Clair , William , author UK UNESCO , United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Western Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Received Sep 2007
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, (BCRPM), 1820-2004 including press releases, copies of newspaper cuttings and correspondence chiefly between Eleni Cubitt and Anthi Poulos Jones, Chairman and General Counsel for the Committee on the Parthenon. Reports, newsletters and correspondence to government officials seeking support, the latter mainly from David Hill, Director of International Affairs for the Australian Committee for the Restoration of the Parthenon Marbles. Photocopy of Report from the Select Committee on 'The Earl of Elgin's collection of Sculptured Marbles', Mar 1816. Correspondence and reports from Hansard relating to early day motions concerning the Marbles and brief lists of debates on the Marbles in Commons and Lords, 1816-1999. Correspondence and data relating to surveys of MPs on their support for the return of the Marbles, 1984 and 2001. Press releases, correspondence, reports and proceedings relating to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 'Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade.' Correspondence, press releases and press cuttings relating to 'Parthenon 2004', campaigning for the British Government to agree for the temporary return and display of the Marbles to Greece in time for the 2004 Olympics. Correspondence, exhibition texts, list of photographs, etc, relating to the touring exhibition 'Stones of No Value, Monuments of the Gods', 1998-1999. Papers and reports relating to meetings of the UNESCO 'Intergovernmental Committee for promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation', 1980-2003. Papers, correspondence and newspaper articles relating to publication of book by William St Clair, Lord Elgin and the Marbles, particularly on the controversy surrounding the restoration of the Marbles by the British Museum which removed their original surface finish, 1998-2001. Publications and press cuttings on the Parthenon marbles, 1998-2003. Photographs, chiefly of BCRPM exhibitions. British Museum study on cleaning the Marbles, 1932. Papers relating to exhibitions and other BCRPM publicity and financial papers including accounts, 1993-2001.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Awaiting arrangement.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The collection contains personal information, apply to the Director of Archives and Information Management, King's College London, for details on access.
Conditions governing reproduction
The collection contains personal information, apply to the Director of Archives and Information Management, King's College London, for details on reproductions.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, Greek, some Italian.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
No additional finding aids.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English