Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
10 box files, 2 folders, 5 files and 2 photographs.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The British National Committee (BNC) was established to provide for British representation at the International Congresses of Historical Sciences. The first Congress was held in Paris, 1900, followed by Rome, 1903, Berlin 1908. In 1913, the BNC organised the Congress in London, the only International Congress held in Britain.
In 1923, following a conference on historical sciences in Brussels, 1923, the International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS) was formed. It was officially chartered in 1926 in Geneva.
The members of the BNC are nominated from accredited constituent bodies which include professional societies and associations representing a range of general and specialist historical interests in Britain (not including Northern Ireland). The Committee is also supported by the majority of British universities (or their History departments) through annual subscriptions, though the universities are not directly represented on the Committee.
The BNC constitution has been amended at various time to take account of the changing structure of the profession. In 1972 the BNC became a committee of the British Academy (The national academy for humanities and social sciences), and in 1980, a number of recently formed societies were added to its constituent membership.
International Committee of Historical Sciences holds an International Congress, meeting every five years in a different city of the world. The BNC, representing historians in Britain, is entitled to send one voting and one non-voting representative to the General Assembly of the Congress which meets immediately before and after each Congress, and on one occasion between Congresses.
Organisation of bilateral conferences with historians in other countries is another task of the BNC. Since the 1950s, these have taken place regularly at two to three year intervals, taking place alternately in Britain and in a partner country.
After 1993, the BNC ceased to be a committee of the British Academy From the 1960s to the 1990s, the BNC secretariat was located at the Institute of Historical Research, London. In 1993, the administration of the BNC was transferred to the Royal Historical Society by the retiring director of the Institute of Historical Research.
Repository
Archival history
GB 1551 BNC 1913-1993 Collection (fonds) 10 box files, 2 folders, 5 files and 2 photographs. British National Committee of the International Historical Congress , [1913-1923]
British National Committee of the International Committee of Historical Sciences , 1923-present
The British National Committee (BNC) was established to provide for British representation at the International Congresses of Historical Sciences. The first Congress was held in Paris, 1900, followed by Rome, 1903, Berlin 1908. In 1913, the BNC organised the Congress in London, the only International Congress held in Britain.
In 1923, following a conference on historical sciences in Brussels, 1923, the International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS) was formed. It was officially chartered in 1926 in Geneva.
The members of the BNC are nominated from accredited constituent bodies which include professional societies and associations representing a range of general and specialist historical interests in Britain (not including Northern Ireland). The Committee is also supported by the majority of British universities (or their History departments) through annual subscriptions, though the universities are not directly represented on the Committee.
The BNC constitution has been amended at various time to take account of the changing structure of the profession. In 1972 the BNC became a committee of the British Academy (The national academy for humanities and social sciences), and in 1980, a number of recently formed societies were added to its constituent membership.
International Committee of Historical Sciences holds an International Congress, meeting every five years in a different city of the world. The BNC, representing historians in Britain, is entitled to send one voting and one non-voting representative to the General Assembly of the Congress which meets immediately before and after each Congress, and on one occasion between Congresses.
Organisation of bilateral conferences with historians in other countries is another task of the BNC. Since the 1950s, these have taken place regularly at two to three year intervals, taking place alternately in Britain and in a partner country.
After 1993, the BNC ceased to be a committee of the British Academy From the 1960s to the 1990s, the BNC secretariat was located at the Institute of Historical Research, London. In 1993, the administration of the BNC was transferred to the Royal Historical Society by the retiring director of the Institute of Historical Research.
Transferred in 1993 to the Royal Historical Society, by the retiring director of the Institute of Historical Research, Prof FML Thompson.
Papers of the British National Committee comprising:
agenda and signed Committee minutes 1933-1992 (4 files); records of subscriptions and bank statements, 1972-1993 (1 box file); Correspondence 1972-1993 including papers concerning new management arrangements, 1993 (1 box file, 1 folder); Report for 1927-1928;
Papers relating to Anglo-French, Anglo-Italian, Anglo-Spanish, Anglo-Hungarian, Anglo-Czech, Anglo-Polish, Anglo-Soviet and other meetings, 1970-1993 (6 box files, 1 folder); papers of the International Historical Congress including programmes, proofs, bulletins, and ephemera for the International Historical Congress, London 1913, Brussels, 1923 and Warsaw 1933 (1 box) ; papers relating to International Congresses, 1980, 1985, 1990 (2 box files);
photographs of the first meeting of the International Congress of Historical Sciences, Lincolns Inn Hall, London, 1913; and delegates of the Fifth Congress International des Sciences Historiques, Brussels, 1923.
Post 1993 documentation of this committee is incorporated in the adminstration of the RHS.
The collection is uncatalogued
By appointment only. Contact the Executive Secretary, Royal Historical Society, University College London, Gower St, London, WC1E 6BT. Tel 020 7387 7532 rhsinfo@rhs.ac.uk
Subject to usual copyright restrictions and condition of the original.
English and French
The material is uncatalogued.
- The Royal Historical Society holds copies of the published Bulletin (in French) of the International Congress, 1926-2002 (24 vols).
Sources: Historical Manuscripts Commission's On-Line National Register of Archives; 'BNC of the IHC Information Sheet' Aug 1992; Historical Manuscripts Commission summary report of archives of the Royal Historical Society, R Olney and M Pendleton, Dec 2000; 'What is the International Committee of Historical Sciences (IHCS)' at (www.oslo2000/uio.no/english/ichs.htm)
Compiled by Alison Field as part of the London Signpost Survey Project. 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. September 2003 British National Committee of the International Committee of Historical Sciences , 1923-present British National Committee of the International Historical Congress , [1913-1923] Historical methods Historical research Historiography History
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred in 1993 to the Royal Historical Society, by the retiring director of the Institute of Historical Research, Prof FML Thompson.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the British National Committee comprising:
agenda and signed Committee minutes 1933-1992 (4 files); records of subscriptions and bank statements, 1972-1993 (1 box file); Correspondence 1972-1993 including papers concerning new management arrangements, 1993 (1 box file, 1 folder); Report for 1927-1928;
Papers relating to Anglo-French, Anglo-Italian, Anglo-Spanish, Anglo-Hungarian, Anglo-Czech, Anglo-Polish, Anglo-Soviet and other meetings, 1970-1993 (6 box files, 1 folder); papers of the International Historical Congress including programmes, proofs, bulletins, and ephemera for the International Historical Congress, London 1913, Brussels, 1923 and Warsaw 1933 (1 box) ; papers relating to International Congresses, 1980, 1985, 1990 (2 box files);
photographs of the first meeting of the International Congress of Historical Sciences, Lincolns Inn Hall, London, 1913; and delegates of the Fifth Congress International des Sciences Historiques, Brussels, 1923.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Post 1993 documentation of this committee is incorporated in the adminstration of the RHS.
System of arrangement
The collection is uncatalogued
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment only. Contact the Executive Secretary, Royal Historical Society, University College London, Gower St, London, WC1E 6BT. Tel 020 7387 7532 rhsinfo@rhs.ac.uk
Conditions governing reproduction
Subject to usual copyright restrictions and condition of the original.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English and French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Royal Historical Society holds copies of the published Bulletin (in French) of the International Congress, 1926-2002 (24 vols).
Finding aids
The material is uncatalogued.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject 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