Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1957-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume; 1 box file; 1 file
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Colleges of Advanced Technology (CATs) were established in1956 following the publication of a Government White Paper on Technical Education which listed 24 technical colleges in receipt of 75% grant for parts of their advanced work. Government confirmed that the proportion of advanced work at these colleges should be increased so that they could develop as quickly as possible into Colleges of Advanced Technology. Eventually ten of the 24 were confirmed as CATs including Battersea, Chelsea and Northampton Polytechnics in London and, in 1962, Brunel College of Technology. From the start the newly designated CATs felt the need to establish a basis for joint action and although the Principals were all members of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutions, they decided that they needed to meet as a discrete group. The first meeting took place in June 1957 and a formal announcement of the establishment of the Committee came in June 1959. The Committee met 54 times until it dissolved in 1965 prior to the Colleges becoming Universities when the Principals joined the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. Throughout its existence the Committee was chaired by Dr P F R (later Sir Peter) Venables (1904-1979), Principal of Birmingham College of Technology, the first CAT, and the Hon. Secretary was Dr (later Sir) James Tait (1912-98), Principal of Northampton Polytechnic, later City University.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2107 CATs 1957-1965 Sub-fonds of City University 1 volume; 1 box file; 1 file Colleges of Advanced Technology , Committee of Principals
The Colleges of Advanced Technology (CATs) were established in1956 following the publication of a Government White Paper on Technical Education which listed 24 technical colleges in receipt of 75% grant for parts of their advanced work. Government confirmed that the proportion of advanced work at these colleges should be increased so that they could develop as quickly as possible into Colleges of Advanced Technology. Eventually ten of the 24 were confirmed as CATs including Battersea, Chelsea and Northampton Polytechnics in London and, in 1962, Brunel College of Technology. From the start the newly designated CATs felt the need to establish a basis for joint action and although the Principals were all members of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutions, they decided that they needed to meet as a discrete group. The first meeting took place in June 1957 and a formal announcement of the establishment of the Committee came in June 1959. The Committee met 54 times until it dissolved in 1965 prior to the Colleges becoming Universities when the Principals joined the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. Throughout its existence the Committee was chaired by Dr P F R (later Sir Peter) Venables (1904-1979), Principal of Birmingham College of Technology, the first CAT, and the Hon. Secretary was Dr (later Sir) James Tait (1912-98), Principal of Northampton Polytechnic, later City University.
Presumably transferred by Sir James Tait when he retired from the University.
Papers of the Committee of Principals of the Colleges of Advanced Technology (CATs), comprising signed minutes, 1957-1965, with some copies, 1960s; CAT Monitor, Newsletter sent to CAT Principals, 1960s; Charters of new universities, 1966.
No further accruals are expected.
Arranged as indicated in Scope and Content above.
On written application to the University Librarian.
At the discretion of the University Librarian.
English.
Public Record Office holds National Incomes Commission evidence and correspondence of Committee of Principals of CATs, 1963-1964 (Refs: NICO 1/5, 2/47, 2/51).
Compiled by Janet Foster as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Sources: Peter Venables Higher Education Developments: The Technology Universities, 1956-1976 (London, 1978) covers the development of CATs and gives details of the Committee of Principals on pp23-25. 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. October 2000 Colleges of Advanced Technology , Committee of Principals Educational management Higher education institutions Technological institutes Universities Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Presumably transferred by Sir James Tait when he retired from the University.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Committee of Principals of the Colleges of Advanced Technology (CATs), comprising signed minutes, 1957-1965, with some copies, 1960s; CAT Monitor, Newsletter sent to CAT Principals, 1960s; Charters of new universities, 1966.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged as indicated in Scope and Content above.
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
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Public Record Office holds National Incomes Commission evidence and correspondence of Committee of Principals of CATs, 1963-1964 (Refs: NICO 1/5, 2/47, 2/51).
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
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