Archive, 1754 to date, of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA; formerly the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, or Society of Arts), created by the Society in the course of its activities, and comprising records of its administration (Ref: AD), and records of its activities and events (Ref: PR), also including some printed material dating back to 1634.

Administrative records of the Society include:

Records of Miscellaneous Committees to discuss the programme and administration of the Society, including the Committee of Correspondence and Papers and the Committee of Miscellaneous Matters, 1754-1848 (Ref: AD.MA/104).
Records of the Society from 1754, later the Council (established 1845) (Ref: AD.MA/100).

Records concerning Chairmen of Council (from 1846) and Council membership (Ref: AD.MA/102).

Records of Secretaries (administrative head of the Society), after 1994 known as the Director (Ref: AD.MA/101).

Records of Presidents (Ref: AD.MA/103).

Records of Membership/Fellowship, relating to subscribers to the Society, originally termed 'members', referred to as 'Fellows' from 1908 (Ref: AD.MA/900). (The archive does not include extensive biographical information on RSA Fellows, although dates of membership of Fellows are usually recorded.)
Records concerning the Society's House in John Adam Street from its design and construction by the Adam Brothers, including correspondence, papers, notes, leases and other legal documents, relating to administration, management, alteration and repair of the building (Ref: AD.MA/300).

Records of various House Committees set up at different times to look at the building, its use, function, administration and management (Ref: AD.MA/305).

Accounting and financial records produced by various committees including the Accounts Committee and Finance and General Purposes Committee (Ref: AD.MA/400).

Annual Reports recording the Society's activities over the year, initially within the Journal (from 1852), but later as a separate publication (Ref: AD.MA/701).

Records relating to general lectures (developed from the 1850s when the Society ceased the award of premiums for inventions), with correspondence mainly concerning administrative arrangements for speakers and publication of their texts (in the RSA Journal) and suggestions for topics for discussion (Ref: AD.MA/800).

Records relating to the RSA Silver Medal awarded annually for the most interesting lecture over the preceding year (Ref: AD.MA/803).

Records relating to production of the Journal and other publicity, promotion and communication (Ref: AD.MA/203).

Donations and collections, comprising objects and artefacts donated to or bought by the Society (Ref: AD.MA/204).

Records of the Society's activities (such as award schemes, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and lectures), including joint initiatives with a range of other organisations, include:

Guard Books (30 volumes), 1754-1770, containing correspondence and papers about all Society activities and committees, on a range of subjects (Ref: PR.GE/110).

Manuscript versions of the Society's Transactions, comprising draft versions of the printed Transactions, including drawings, plans and diagrams in support of claims for premiums and awards. Also general correspondence to the Society on various 19th century campaigns, conferences and committees, covering subjects including lectures (arrangements for dates, speakers, chairmen, participants; suggestions for subjects, submission of lecture texts, corrections to texts, requests for tickets/programmes, acceptances, apologies for non-attendance etc), examinations (requests for syllabus, copies of certificates, programmes, rules; complaints, arrangements, agreements with colleges, details of examiners etc), membership (requests for information, applications, replies to circulars, notes accompanying subscriptions, resignations, complaints), Council/committee chairmen (intention to attend meetings, acceptances, general arrangements for meetings, requests for information, dates, times etc), Journal (receipt/non-receipt of copies, reciprocal arrangements with other libraries, requests for extra copies, corrections to proofs, advertising, arrangements for making blocks, photogravures etc), House (letters from freeholders, solicitors, contractors; booking of rooms), staff (applications for employment, testimonials, sick notes etc - a very small number of items), general (invitations, letters from bankers, auditors, business circulars, requests for funding, suggestions for campaigns, policies, events etc), and including artistic copyright, uniform musical pitch, domestic economy, art workmanship, musical training, food committees, patent law reform, prevention of fires in theatres and education exhibitions (Ref: PR.GE/118-19, 121).

Records relating to Premium and Programme committees (Ref: PR.GE/112); Albert Medal (founded 1863) (Ref: PR.GE/101); Memorial Tablet (blue plaque) scheme (founded 1866) (PR.GE/122); War Memorials Advisory Council (established 1944, disbanded 1948), concerning memorials of the Second World War (Ref: PR.GE/117); Exhibition of Exhibitions (1951), concurrent with the Festival of Britain, to commemorate earlier ground-breaking Society exhibitions on contemporary art (1760), industrial design (1847-1850), photography (1852), industry (1761), and the first international exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.GE/102); R B Bennett Commonwealth Prize (endowed 1944) for outstanding contribution to the promotion of the arts, agriculture, industries and commerce of the Overseas Empire (Ref: PR.GE/116); Commonwealth Committee (Ref: PR.GE/113); proposals and planning for the Festival of Britain (1951) (Ref: PR.GE/103); events for the RSA Bicentenary (1954) (Ref: PR.GE/107); Benjamin Franklin Medal (instituted 1956) (Ref: PR.GE/100); Trusts, bequests, fundraising and development (Ref: PR.GE/111).

Records relating to manufacture and commerce, including the Paris Exhibitions (1844-1900) (Ref: PR.MC/109); Great Exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.MC/107); International Exhibition (1862) (Ref: PR.MC/108); Chicago Exhibition (World's Columbian Exposition, 1893), British Section (Ref: PR.MC/112); Industry Year/Industry Matters (1986) (Ref: PR.MC/100); Tomorrow's Company (begun 1994), concerning the role of business in a changing world (Ref: PR.MC/115); Redefining Work (launched 1995) (Ref: PR.MC/116); Forum for Ethics in the Workplace (1997) (Ref: PR.MC/117); Manufacturing, Wealth Creation and the Economy (1998) (Ref: PR.MC/118).

Records of subject-based standing committees set up by the Society from 1754 to judge awards and premiums in particular areas, including minutes and correspondence about awards and attendance at and structure of committees: Agriculture (Ref: PR.MC/103), Chemistry (Ref: PR.MC/105), Colonies and Trade (Ref: PR.MC/104), Manufactures (Ref: PR.MC/102), Mechanics (Ref: PR.MC/101), and Polite Arts - including prints, drawings and other artwork submitted for award (Ref: PR.AR/103).

Records relating to fine and applied arts, including exhibition of works of Ancient and Medieval Art (1847-1850) (Ref: PR.AR/105); exhibition of the works of William Etty and William Mulready (1848-1849), including general correspondence, printed matter, catalogues, press cuttings, tickets and notices about mounting of exhibitions, and attendance (Ref: PR.AR/112); British Art in Industry Exhibition (1935) to publicise good design in articles of everyday use (Ref: PR.AR/101); Humorous Art Exhibition (1949-1950) (Ref: PR.AR/100); Art for Architecture scheme (from 1990), aiming to enhance the urban environment by encouraging cross disciplinary approaches to building and landscape projects, and associated with the Jerwood Art for Architecture Award (introduced 1994) (Ref: PR.AR/110); Shakespeare in Schools (begun 1992), a pilot project to introduce Shakespeare to children (Ref: PR.AR/108).

Records relating to promotion of design, including the Design Bursaries Board, Design Committee, the Design Board, Design Advisory Group and Design Section (Ref: PR.DE/106-7); Industrial Art Bursaries Competition (started 1924), succeeded by the Design Bursaries Competition, Competition of Industrial Designs and Student Design Awards (Ref: PR.DE/100); Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) scheme (created 1936) to encourage a high standard of industrial design (Ref: PR.DE/101); Bicentenary Medal (instituted 1954) for exceptional influence in promoting art and design in British industry (Ref: PR.DE/102); Presidential Awards for Design Management (instituted 1964) to recognise outstanding design policy (Ref: PR.DE/105).
Records relating to education, including the RSA Examinations Board (PR.ED/100); the Education for Capability programme (initiated 1979) to counteract academic bias in British education and promote practical, organising and co-operative skills (Ref: PR.ED/107); the future of Technological Higher Education in Britain (1982), a study group to consider the problems facing Britain in the development of technological higher education (Ref: PR.ED/118); Home-School links (from 1988) (Ref: PR.ED/108); Parents in a Learning Society, a development project to involve parents in education and assess home-school work (Ref: PR.ED/104); the National Advisory Council for Careers and Educational Guidance (established 1994), to promote and advise on provision of guidance for learning and work (Ref: PR.ED/103); Education Futures (2000) (Ref: PR.ED/116).

Records relating to the environment, including the Campaign for the Preservation of Ancient Cottages (begun 1926) to protect cottage architecture, establishing a fund which purchased or restored cottages near Worthing, at Bibury, Gloucestershire, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Chiddingstone, Kent, and elsewhere (Ref: PR.EN/100); three 'Countryside in 1970' Conferences (1963-1970) (Ref: PR.EN/104); Environment Committee (formed 1971) to identify and anticipate major environmental problems and provide a forum for discussion (Ref: PR.EN/107), which began the Pollution Abatement Technology Award Scheme (PATAS) (1983-1986) (Ref: PR.EN/103), succeeded by the Better Environment for Industry/European Better Environment Awards for Industry (BEAFI/EBEAFI) (1987-1991) (Ref: PR.EN/101); the Environment Committee's sub-committee the RSA-Cubitt Trust Panel (to 1991), devoted to the built environment and working with the Cubitt Trust to convene conferences, seminars and an annual Cubitt Lecture (Ref: PR.EN/106); After the Earth Summit - What Next? (1992) (Ref: PR.EN/128); RSA Environmental Management Awards (begun 1993) (Ref: PR.EN/102).

The Early Library (Ref: SC/EL/1-5), comprising c500 printed works collected by the Society before 1830, including journals and periodicals, and c300 pamphlets and tracts covering broad-ranging topics relating to premiums and awards of the various sectional committees (Agriculture, Polite Arts, Chemistry, Manufactures, Mechanics, and Colonies and Trade), and including extracts from proceedings of other societies and learned institutions.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to Shops and Markets, 1886-1965, including papers on the catering trade; sale of fireworks; mock auctions; analysis of statistics of shops and stalls in the county of London; effect of the First and Second World Wars on shops; Consumer Rationing Order, 1941; sale of contraceptives from automatic machines; the Shops Act, 1912 and 1913; Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921; Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928; Shops Act, 1950; Government Investigation into hours and conditions of Employment in shops and Select Committee on Shop Assistants; Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act, 1936; Fabrics (Misdescription) Act, 1913; Departmental Committee on Hours of Employment of Young Persons in unregulated occupations; Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1938; Covent Garden Market; Billingsgate Fish Market; Deptford Cattle Market; Whitechapel Hay Market; street trading; register of shops for Sunday Trading and examples of posters for public display giving notice of orders, regulations, and so on.

Reports, including Select Committee on Shop Hours Regulation Bill Report, 1886; Select Committee on Shop Hours Bill Report and Special Report, 1892; Departmental Committee on the Shops (Early Closing) Acts 1920 and 1921 Report and Evidence, 1927; Departmental Committee on the Wholesale Food Markets of London Reports, 1920-1921.

Papers of Frederick Gordon Spear, 1908-1980. These papers fall naturally into several distinct groups; items pertaining to his radiological research conducted in Cambridge at the Strangeways Laboratory, materials about the Strangeways Laboratory as an institution, presumably accumulated during his many years as deputy director, papers relating to his connections with other bodies associated with radiology, such as the Hospital Physicists Association and the British Institute of Radiology, of which he was president in 1961, publications and unpublished papers by him, and also some publications by others on subjects related to the work he was doing.

A very small amount of material, not classifiable under these headings, has been put together in a 'Personal' section.

While Spear originally studied tropical medicine, and spent some time at the Baptist Mission Hospital at Yakusu in the Belgian Congo in the early 1920s this aspect of his career is not represented in these papers.

Received along with Spear's papers were a number of notebooks formerly belonging to his first wife Ada Louisa Sowerby, which she kept during her nurse and midwifery training in London in the later 1920s.

Papers of Donald Hunter, 1910-1977. There are two large, parallel series of case files and reference files (section C) relating to a wide range of conditions, most but not all connected with occupational hazards and many being dermatological or osteopathic, as well as factory visit notes, correspondence, both personal and professional, publications, writings, and audio-visual material.

Papers of Dame Janet Vaughan, mainly 1939-1949, including material on her work with the Emergency Blood Transfusion Service, social and industrial medicine and post-War medical services, child guidance, Health Survey and Development Committee in India, and treating sufferers from starvation liberated from Belsen.

These scrapbooks consist of press cuttings from the national and local press relating to 'women's organisations' ‘'he dangerous trades', 'child labour', 'home industries' and 'sweating'.

Collection includes: The position of women after the war: report of the Standing Joint Committee, 1916; A comparison between the rates under certain trade boards for women, 1921; Women in the trade union movement, 1955; The Woman Worker - Journal 1907-1921; agenda of biennial conference; annual reports.

Records comprise Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Technical staff files, 1953-1985 (CA/FPC), Academic staff files, 1960-1985 (CA/FPA), Personal record cards, 1977-1985 (CA/RC). On the admission of the College as a school of the University of London in 1966, staff were retained in post and staff files transferred with them. The Clerical, Secretarial, Manual and Technical staff files include porters, catering and kitchen staff, laboratory and research technicians, cleaners, service engineers, clerks, hall managers, secretaries, library staff, carpenters, administrative assistants, computer programmers and operators, research students and assistants.

Letter from John Wood to Richard Oastler via the Post Office, Leeds, Yorkshire [redirected from Foxley Hall, Huddersfield], Nov 1830. 'I send you this as proof of the general disposition to meet the question. The signatures annexed include almost every Bradford Spinner ...'.

Autograph, with signature. Written on the dorse of a poster advertising a meeting of Bradford worsted spinners on 22 Nov 1830, with the aim of improving working conditions; the poster is folded in half, with the direction and postmarks on one leaf and the content of the letter on the other.

Letter from Thomas Clarkson of Playford Hall [near Ipswich, Suffolk] to Henry Hope, 'at the Bank', Wells, Somerset, 9 Jan 1826. Printed circular letter, asking for support for the petition to Parliament to urge them to carry out a plan for the improvement of the condition of the slave population. An addition in MS asks Hope to promote petitions in Wells, Shepton Mallet, Bruton and neighbouring towns. A note in another hand has been added to the dorse of the second leaf. A newspaper cutting Extracts from the new Jamaica Slave Code accompanies the letter.

Letter from Thomas Clarkson of Bury [St Edmunds, Suffolk] to Rev M Maurice, [1807-1816]. Urging him to restore the committee at Southampton to promote a petition to Parliament in favour of a plan for the improvement of the condition of the slave population.

Two items c 1892, by John Burnett of the Board of Trade concerning the reduction of wages and strikes in the mining, shipbuilding, metal and textile trades.

Papers of the Board of Education Inspectors' Association (later the Association of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools), 1871-1992, including annual reports, minutes and papers of the Executive Committee and Divisional Committees, reports and memoranda, 1920-1992; lists of Divisions, Districts and staff, issued by the Education Department, 1871-1946; collected personal papers of individual HMIs; material gathered for a post-war history of the Inspectorate.

Records, 1968-1992, of the Polytechnic of Central London:
Minutes and committee papers comprise Court of Governors minutes, 1970-1992, and Annual Reports and Statements of Accounts, 1978-1988; Standing Committee of Academic Council minutes, 1972-1983; Academic Council minutes, 1972, 1977-1992; Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes, 1970-1989, Finance and Property Committee minutes, 1989-1992, and Audit Committee minutes, 1989-1992; Higher Degree Committee papers, 1973-1974, 1985-1987, Research Degree Committee papers, 1974-1983, Research Committee papers, 1976-1992, and other research papers; Staff Development Committee papers, 1976-1981; nursery management committee minutes and papers, 1978-1990; Committees of PCL Health and Safety, 1980-1988; Resources Committee papers, 1985-1992; Student Affairs Committee papers, 1984-1992; Committees of Directors of London Polytechnics, 1972-1986; and other committee papers.

Other administrative papers comprise Memorandum and Articles of Association, 1970; certificate of incorporation, 1970; Instrument recording designation as a Polytechnic, 1970; correspondence and papers concerning the Instrument and Articles, 1968-1988; Structure Commission Report on Poly/Holborn amalgamation, 1970; file on designation ceremony and Holborn foundation stone, 1960-1970; papers and reports of J Eric Richardson, including 'The development of the Polytechnic 1957-1970' [1970]; programme of designation and opening of new buildings, 1971; report of the Working Party on Examinations and Assessment, 1971; accommodation strategy report, 1971; papers on organisation of the academic administration, 1972; proposals for the London Regional Management Centre, 1973; annual maintenance grant applications to ILEA (block grant), 1974-1989; papers relating to the CNAA, including its Institutional Review, 1978-1992; specimen certificates for award on successful completion of courses [1970s]; consultants' report on efficiency review, 1986; papers relating to the merger with Harrow College of Higher Education, 1987-1989; papers on the change to University status, 1989-1991; Charity Commissioners' scheme for the Quintin Hogg Memorial Fund, 1991; correspondence with the Privy Council concerning adoption of the title University, coat of arms and letters patent, 1991-1992; PCL Accommodation Strategy report by Touche Ross and Co, 1991.

Financial records include balance sheet and accounts, 1969-1970, report and statement of accounts, 1971-1981, 1983-1985, 1988, and Enterprise in Higher Education Annual Report, 1990.

Departmental records include file of the Library Development Officer, 1972-1973; Library handbooks, 1971-1972, and guide to services [1978]; Library Development Plan, 1980-1985; Department of Surveying proposals for submission of BSc in Quantity Surveying to the CNAA, 1974; American Studies Resource Centre teaching materials, including videos and maps [1980]; photograph album and course booklets for the School of Management; School of Photography handbooks and teaching materials; Poly Law Review, 1975-1982.

Other records include Teaching Staff Association papers, 1970-1977.
Material, including ephemera, relating to events includes telegram of thanks for the Polytechnic's message on the silver wedding of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, 1973; programmes of annual dinner at the Café Royal, 1974, 1976; programme of supper and concert for the silver jubilee, 1977; publicity material relating to the 150th anniversary, 1988.

Publications, 1970-1992, include PCL prospectuses (general and departmental), leaflets, brochures and posters for courses and events, guides for applicants, student handbooks, and other information for students; programmes of presentation ceremonies, 1972-1974; Examination pass lists, 1974-1992; PhD student pass lists, 1968-1987; Polytechnic Institute Members' Magazine [1971]-1974; typescript Polytechnic Sports and Social Club monthly newsletter, 1974-1975, succeeded by the Newsletter of Polytechnic Members, 1976-1988; typescript Institute of Polytechnic Sports and Social Clubs newsletter, 1991-1992; publications for staff, comprising miscellaneous PCL staff information bulletins and magazines, 1970-1977, and Central Issue, the staff newspaper, 1977-1985, succeeded by Clarion, 1987-1992; McGarel, 1968/69-1992/93 (incomplete series), described as Polytechnic Students' Newspaper and later as Polytechnic Students' Union Newspaper; printed articles on Polytechnic buildings in Marylebone Road and New Cavendish Street, 1970-1971; Posters advertising the Poly Entertainment Committee concerts held in Portland Hall, 1965-1969; floor plans for Little Titchfield Street, 1971.

Photographs and slides, 1970-1992, including buildings, students, activities and events, among them the designation ceremony, 1971.

Working papers of the Survey of 'Labour and Life of the People' and 'Life and Labour of the People in London' by Charles Booth 1886 - 1903 comprising the original survey notebooks and papers: interviews, questionnaires, statistics, reports and colour coded maps describing poverty.
The papers and the original survey notebooks reflect the three areas of investigation undertaken in the survey: poverty, industry and religious influences.
The poverty series interviewed School Board visitors about levels of poverty in households and streets. The survey also investigated trades of East London connected with poverty: tailoring; furniture and women's work.
The industry series comprises interviews of employers, trade union leaders and workers for each trade and industry and questionnaires concerning rates of wages, numbers employed, details of trade unions and domestic details (food, dress and circumstances etc) which were completed by employees and trade union officials. The following trades and industries are covered by the survey: building trade; wood workers; metal workers; precious metals, watches and instruments; sundry manufacturers printing and paper trades; textile trades; clothing trades; food and drink trades; dealers and clerks; transport and gardeners; labourers; public service and professional classes; domestic service. Case histories of the inmates of Bromley and Stepney workhouses during 1889 and people who received outdoor relief from the union were also transcribed.
The religious survey includes reports of visits to churches and over 1450 interviews with ministers of all denominations including Church of England, Methodist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Roman Catholic. Salvation Army officers and missionaries were also interviewed. The reports of the interviews contain printed material relating to the churches. Questionnaires were also completed as part of the survey. The investigation went beyond documenting religious influences and incorporates a description of the social and moral influences on Londoners' lives.
The Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899 are probably the most well known documents which survive from the survey. The Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899 are twelve sheets colour coded by social class and poverty from black [semi-vicious] to yellow [middle and upper class, well-to-do]. The maps cover an area of London from Hammersmith in the west, to Greenwich in the east, and from Hampstead in the north to Clapham in the south. The working and printed copies of the maps are contained within the archive.
The social investigators accompanied police around their beats in London in order to update the existing street-level information for the Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899. The reports of the walks are known as the 'police notebooks' and contain descriptions of London streets. All the notebooks have been digitised.
Other papers include an inventory undertaken in 1925 by Thomas Macaulay Booth, son of Charles Booth; additional manuscripts concerning the survey: circulars, statistics etc and booklets collected during the survey.

One bound volume containing the papers relating to the Capital and Labour Committee, a sub-committee of the Reconstruction Committee:
Item 1: Draft terms of reference to sub-committee folio 1.
Item 2: Enterance to trades (note) folio 2 - 3.
Item 3: Beveridge, Profit sharing between employer and trade union (memorandum, 8 May 1916) folio 4 - 10.
Item 4: Beveridge, Profit sharing between employer and trade union (corrected draft of above) folio 11 - 18.
Item 5: Beveridge, Relations of capital and labour after the war (memorandum 13 Jun 1916) folio 19 - 27.
Item 6: Beveridge, Relations of capital and labour after the war (corrected draft of above) folio 28 - 38.
Item 7: Report to the Board of Trade on the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act of Canada 1907, by Sir George Askwith (1861-1942) folio 33.

Margaret MacDonald's correspondence, papers and lectures, on subjects including factory and shop legislation, the employment of women, housing, the Licensing Bills of 1901-1902, Sunday School teaching, vagrant children, women's organizations and women's suffrage, and the Franco-British Exhibition at Hammersmith in 1908. James Ramsay MacDonald's papers, correspondence and press cuttings on subjects including the financing and aftermath of World War I, Labour Party policy and his leadership of the party, working conditions, and women's education.

Papers of Charles Montague Fletcher including material relating to his father and the various organisations that Fletcher was involved in, including ASH, section J, from 1983-1995; Institute of Medical Ethics, section F, 1992-1993; and the working party for patient information leaflets covering the period 1980 - 1990, section F. Section C comprises articles and correspondence for the period 1984-1993, relating to Fletcher's involvement in the clinical trials of penicillin. Section D concerns Fletcher's work in television and communication skills of the medical profession, 1967-1983. Other issues touched upon include general material on smoking, pneumoconiosis and asthma; euthanasia, including some material on the Voluntary Euthanasia Society; and much material relating to medical communication.

Papers of Sir Harold Whittingham including A. Personal Papers and Early Career, 1904-1956, including papers on cancer research, Glasgow, 1904-1915; B. RAF Sandfly Fever Commission, Malta, 1921-1952; C. RAF Medical Services, c.1920-1945; D. Biochemistry Lectures, London School of Tropical Medicine, 1926-1930; E. British Red Cross Society, 1946-1959; F. Flying Personnel Research Committee, 1940-1976; G. British Airways Overseas Corporation, 1945-1970; H. International Air Transport Association Medical Committee, 1949-1960; J. World Health Organisation, 1948-1968; K. Commonwealth Development Corporation, 1958-1976; L. History of RAF Medical Services, 1958-1983 and M. Publications, 1911-1975.

Papers connected with James Randal Hutchinson and William Henry Bradley's work in the Ministry of Health, 1890-1959 with some retrospective material, and small groups of papers of Sir Weldon Dalrymple-Champneys (on Brucellosis) and Dr J Allison Glover.

The archive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy provides a comprehensive record of its activities and development, dating back to its foundation - with two press cuttings books of the 1894 'massage scandals' (P.1), and Council minutes from 1894 onwards (B.1). The core of the collection is formed by complete runs of minute books for the various committees. There are no committee working papers or correspondence files other than those bound with the minutes. Papers relating to education and examination including minutes for all the major committees and sub-committees (C.1), and material relating to the actual administration of examinations: syllabuses, examination papers, result books and reports (C.2). Records relating to membership including membership registers 1895-1975, published lists of members 1920-1986 and minutes and registers of the fund and prize committees 1949-1957 (D). Records of some branches and special interest groups within the CSP can be found in section J.

Material relating to protecting and improving the status of its members within the medical profession can be found in section F, especially in connection with the debates on the place of physiotherapy within the NHS - training, conditions of service and its existence as a profession distinct from others such as occupational therapy. These topics are also discussed in publications (N). Other publications illustrate specific physiotherapy and lifting techniques and advertise physiotherapy as a career. Section P contains 'historical' material relating to the early years of the Society: the 'massage scandal' press cuttings, and correspondence re the Harley Institute massage school 1912-1914. Section P also contains material relating to the writing of the Society's commissioned histories, and personal papers and reminiscences, including a group of papers and photographs relating to Olive Guthrie-Smith and the Swedish Institute, (later St Mary's Hospital School of Physiotherapy), 1904-1939. There is a substantial photograph collection (Q.1), dating from 1900-1980, illustrating many aspects of the Society's work as well as specific treatments and hospital departments. There are also nine films (Q.5), 1942-1976, illustrating techniques, training and events; sound recordings (Q.3); and a series of tapes of oral history interviews recorded in 1992 (Q.4).

Notes of Grays Health Centre patients seen privately, 1971-1978, and on behalf of Ford Sick Benefit Society, 1975-1988; also some correspondence and ephemera, 1920s-1940s.

Records of the Daily Herald Order of Industrial Heroism, 1923-1964, comprising: Scrap book, covering awards 1-181 (1923-1947), giving details of the recipient, and presentation, Daily Herald and other press cuttings, and photographs of recipients where available; box file, covering awards 182-440 (1947-1964), giving details of recipient and presentation, Daily Herald press notice giving details of award, and press cuttings where availanle [no press cutttings present after 1958]' card indexes to awards by name of recipient and by union; series of 16 box files on awards 17-440, including correspondendce, press cuttings and photographs.

Transcripts of interviews by Roger Southall with South African trade union and political leaders, 1984, comprising: T Adler, National Automobile and Allied Workers Union; Neville Alexander, National Forum Committee; Saleem Badat, Grassroots; Jane Barrett, Transport and General Workers Union; Graeme Bloch, United Democratic Front; Andrew Boraine, United Democratic Front; Phiroshaw Camay, Council of Unions of South Africa; Moss Chikwane, United Democratic Front; Sathasican Cooper; Charles Daris, US Consulate, Johannesburg; Des T East, Motor Industry Combined Workers Union; Alec Irwin, Federation of South African Trade Unions; Brian Fredericks, National Automobile and Allied Workers Union;Dirk Hartford; Paddy Kearnly; M P Lekota, United Democratic Front; Lybon Mabasa, Azania Peoples Organisation; M Maluk, National Union of Mineworkers; Jeff McCarthy, Geography Department, Durban University; Ismael Mohammed; Curnick Ndlovu, United Democratic Front; Jemma Payne, National Union of Textile Workers; Ebrahim "Cassim" Saloojee, United Democratic Front; L Tsholi, United Democratic Front; Theo Van Der Bergh, Personnel Manager, Toyota; A J Van Der Watt, South African Boilermakers' Iron and Steel Workers, Shipbuilders and Welders Society; Zac Yaccoob, Natal Indian Congress.

Forged letter pertaining to be from William Makepeace Thackery to an unknown recipient, [1850]. 'When I said that I could do no more for you for the present I meant it literally: I never once said it as a simple excuse... When I find that your views on hard work are different I may perhaps have something to say to you. Believe me a lazy life is a curse to any man.

Written and signed in an unknown hand, as if by Thackeray.

Letter from Richard Oastler of Fixby Hall, Huddersfield, [West Riding of Yorkshire] to John Foster, Esq of 1 Vincent Square, Westminster, 23 Jun 1833. Chiefly relating to the Ten Hours Bill. Lord Althorp had advocated 2 sets of 8 hours as the maximum for children under 14 to work. 'The news came just in time for your Hudd meeting - one hour before we began - & thus before 15,000 to 20,000 people I had the opportunity of blowing the whole scheme to rags' [referring to a speech Oastler made at a meeting on 18 Jun 1833. Urging the London section not to yield a single point: 'If they yield they disgrace themselves and give us another year's excitement and in my opinion hurry on a bloody revolution'.

Autograph, with signature. With Oastler's black seal, bearing the motto: 'The Altar, the Throne and the Cottage'.

Manuscript volume containing a table giving particulars of the pay and stoppages for all ranks in the different ratings of the Royal Navy, [1800]. Includes a list of leap years from 1752 to 1762.

Records of an investigation into the wages and conditions of work of unskilled labour, especially in London. Interviews with representatives of the London Carmen's Union, the General Labourers' Amalgamated Union and the United Builder's Labourers Union.

Printed confidential minutes of the Joint Board of the Parliamentary Committee of the TUC, General Federation of Trade Unions and the Labour Party.

Staff records of Harmans Uxbridge Brewery Limited, including wages records; staff employment files; accident papers; service agreements; papers relating to pension and life assurance schemes; papers relating to the appointment of the company secretary; and telephone directory.

Records of R.F. Fuggle Limited consisting of employment agreements, an underlease and correspondence, 1924-1928.

Papers of Sir Ernest Kennaway, 1899-1957. Most of the items in this collection appear to relate to the later years of Sir Ernest's career. The collection chiefly comprises notebooks on medical issues such as substance-related illnesses and occupational diseases (chiefly cancers) plus a little material on religious issues.

Reports, diaries, memoirs, photographs and memorabilia given to the Royal Army Medical Corps Museum and Library by former officers and men of the Corps. Some date back to Marlborough's campaigns of the late 17th century; there is also material relating to the continuing European and Imperial conflicts of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Crimean War (1854-1856), the Boer War and the Balkan conflicts of the early 20th century, the two World Wars, the Korean War and other smaller conflicts thereafter.

Papers of the British Medical Association compring files [1915-1960], from the following subject series: Medico-Political, Science, Groups, Ethics, Public Health, Hospitals, Organisation. Also incomplete set of copy minutes of Council, Committees and of the Annual Representatives' Meetings and Special Representatives' Meetings, [1907-1982].

Records of the London County Council Fire Brigade Department relating to staffing, 1866-1945.

Subject and policy files on staffing matters, including petitions concerning pay; duties of pilots in the River Service; salary of Chief Officer; rates of pay; arbitration before the Industrial Court on question of free medical treatment for firemen; retirements and resignations; appointments; Sub-Officers Staff Committee; Station Officers Staff Committee; trade union membership; pension arrangements; allowances for dependants of men killed on duty; medical treatment of firemen; medals and decorations; Departmental Committee on the Hours, Pay and Conditions of Service of Firemen (Middlebrook Committee); discipline policy and procedure; personnel statistics.

Subject and policy files relating to training including examinations for promotion; educational classes for firemen; drill instructions and diagrams; technical examinations; lectures by Fire Brigade staff; training and promotion schemes.

Also informative booklets used for recruiting purposes; 'The Fire Service Drill Book' (first edition, 1949); minutes of meetings of Fire Brigade Departmental Committee of the LCC Staff Association; register of disciplinary cases; register of candidates for enrolment in the Brigade; record sheets of regular London Fire Brigade personnel serving at date of nationalisation in 1941, register listing alphabetically all London Fire Brigade regular personnel absorbed into the National Fire Service in 1941 with their dates of subsequent discharge, and printed notice for information of prospective recruits.

Records of the Middlesex County Council Fire Brigade Department Auxiliary Fire Service, 1948-1965, including policy and administration files relating to: civil defence, planning, repair depots, personnel management, staff regulations, conditions of service, minutes of meetings of officers, tactical studies, tactical instructors, competitions, recreational facilities, and liaison with other authorities.

Files relating to recruitment and training including: recruitment policy, recruitment publicity including films, courses at civil defence training schools, rescue training, training films, exercises, promotions, women's section, allowances and expenses, medical examinations and long service medals.

Files relating to appliances and equipment including housing of vehicles and appliances, motor cycles, Bedford self propelled pumps, equipment for water relaying, stores and provisions, extension ladders, and training pamphlets.

Papers of the Hospital Infection Society chiefly comprising the papers collected by its officers, 1979-1995. They include membership records, council and AGM minutes, and papers from conferences and meetings.

Minutes and reports of Bedford Hospital Staff Occupational Health Department, 1960s-1970s, with reports to DHSS, tape-slide presentation, minutes and papers relating to setting up of Staff Occupational Health Department for Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority, 1975-1977.

Transcripts of oral history interviews conducted by Dr Stefan Cembrowicz with elderly general practitioners in the Bristol area, Dr Freddie Morgan, formerly Morgenbesser, Oct 2000, and Dr Ivor Ernest Doney, 2004.

Originals and photocopies of 58 papers and associated material, forming 'The Expanding Field of Mental Health in England and Wales, 50 years of progress, 1918-1968' on mental health development, 1960-1968. Some papers include editorial notes.

Records relating to the London Log Conciliation Board, 1891-1937, comprising papers and correspondence of William Cooling Lawrence, President of the Association of London Master Tailors and Chair of the Joint Log Committee, namely copies of the London Log, some annotated with amendments, 1891-1935; agenda and papers relating to the Conciliation Board meeting, 1922; papers relating to the Conciliation Board, 1923; papers relating to the annual general meeting of the Amalgamated London Master Tailors, 1924; minutes, correspondence and papers of the Conciliation Board, 1925, relating to demands by the Amalgamated London Master Tailors and National Federation of Merchant Tailors (London) for an increase in rates; Conciliation Board reports and papers, 1925; working papers and correspondence relating to the log, 1894-1895; press cuttings and correspondence, 1892, 1908-1912, concerning the London Log committee;

correspondence, [1910-1937], concerning a dispute between the London Society of Tailors and Tailoresses and Thomas & Son, [1910]; dispute over machine work at Kerslake & Dixon, 1911; definition and classification of fabric with the Association of London Master Tailors, 1910; hours of employment of women, 1914-1915; relating to the log, agreements and revisions, 1909-1931;

minutes and correspondence of the Emergency Committee relating to the supply of work to unemployed tailors and tailoresses due to the war, 1914-1915; papers concerning a strike by London Tailors and workshop accommodation, 1912; papers, correspondence and draft report relating to Sub-Committee of the Retail Bespoke Tailoring Trade Board on conditions in certain workshops, [1922-1924]; papers relating to tailoring apprenticeships, 1927-1937;

papers relating to the establishment of Area Committees of the Retail Bespoke Tailoring Trade Board, [1922]; correspondence relating to the Association of London Master Tailors, [1921-1922], including attempted extension of membership.

Minutes, 1911-1985, of Queen Elizabeth College and predecessor bodies, created by the Executive Committee, 1911-1929, and Council, 1929-1985 (Ref: QA/C/M); sub-committees of the Executive Committee and Council, 1911-1922, on appointments, buildings, scholarships, and the future of the Household and Social Science Department after 1922 (Ref: QA/CS/M); Finance Committee, 1917-1985 (Ref: QA/F/M), and Finance Sub-Committee, 1912-1913, 1916-1917 (Ref: QA/FS/M); Board of Principal Teachers, 1915-1918, and Academic Board, 1918-1985 (Ref: QA/AB/M); Timetable Committee, 1971-1985 (Ref: QA/TC/M); College Board of Examiners, 1968-1985 (Ref: QA/CB/M); Luncheon Club Committee, 1931-1975 (Ref: QA/LC/M); Academic Meetings, 1918-1984 (Ref: QA/AM/M); Trust Fund Committee, 1916-1939 (Ref: QA/TF/M); Organizing Committee, 1916-1917 (Ref: QA/OC/M); House Committee, 1917-1985 (Ref: QA/HC/M); agendas, minutes and papers of other committees, 1935-1985, the subjects including syllabi, development, salaries, examinations, grants, buildings, safety, and sports facilities (Ref: QA/MP); minutes of the Queen Elizabeth College Association of University Teachers local association, 1922-1985 (Ref: Q/AUT).

Collection of papers relating to Bedford College, University of London, 1849-1992, namely charters, deeds and statutes of Bedford College, 1849-1985, including foundation documents; records of the Council, 1849-1985, including minute books, register books, outwards letter books and correspondence, and legal documents mainly relating to property held by the College; papers of the Ladies Committee, 1849-1893, including minutes and documents relating to the Lady Visitors; papers of the Governors, 1849-1985, including minutes of the AGMs and Special General meetings, and of the Fellows sub-Committee; papers of the Reid Trustees, 1860-1992, mainly comprising legal, administrative and financial papers relating to the Trust, and including material relating to the Reid Scholarships, 1871-1992; papers of the Managers of the Residence, 1860-1928, including minutes, financial material, legal documents, correspondence, and building plans, notably material relating to the move of Bedford College to Baker Street and later Regent's Park; papers of the Committees of the Council, 1868-1985, mainly comprising minutes, correspondence and papers; papers of the Academic Board, 1909-1965, mainly comprising minutes, committee papers and standing orders; papers of the Academic Committees, 1928-1985; papers of the Faculties, 1907-1985, comprising minutes and committee papers; papers of the Academic Departments, 1849-1985, including departmental files, reports, registers, financial material, building plans and material relating to staff publications; papers relating to Bedford College Library, 1886-1974, including committee minutes, Library working files, correspondence, lists and registers, and building plans; papers of the Principal's Office, 1843-1985, including correspondence with academic departments, material concerning policy and merger issues; Bedford College personnel material, 1900-1985, including staff files, 1900-1985, papers relating to staff appointments and conditions, minutes and papers of the Department Staffing Committees; papers of the Registry, 1849-1985, mainly comprising student records such as register books, course lists, scholarship details, examination records, college publications including prospectus leaflets, timetables and College Calendars, and Registrar's papers relating to financial and academic management of the College; papers of the Secretary's Office, 1849-1985, including material concerning ceremonial occasions, public lectures, gifts and bequests to the College, memorial funds and trusts administered by the College, the administration and award of prizes and scholarships, correspondence with academic departments, London colleges and national bodies, papers relating to financial and funding bodies, and correspondence with academic and residence staff; financial documents of Bedford College, 1849-1983, including the main financial registers, 1849-1965, early accounts, 1856-1866, annual accounts, 1894-1977, material relating to students' accounts and scholarships, 1861-[1965], material relating to staff salaries and revisions, 1894-1976, household accounts, 1910-1969, and account books for special funds, 1894-1968; papers relating to the buildings and residences of Bedford College, 1873-1985, notably material relating to fundraising for building schemes, plans and correspondence concerning building and development at the Regent's Park site, 1910-1980, Bursar's papers, 1924-1985, relating to the maintenance of College buildings, correspondence and papers relating to the purchase, lease and maintenance of College Halls of Residence; papers relating to student associations, 1894-1984, including the Bedford College Union Society, the Bedford College Student's Association, the Bedford College Old Student's Association, and the Bedford College Association; Bedford College magazines, 1886-1985; papers of the clubs and societies of the College, 1894-1974, mainly comprising correspondence, accounts, minutes and printed material; records of the staff associations of Bedford College, 1917-[1989], such as minutes, accounts and reports of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), the Bedford College Assistant Staff Association, the Bedford College Staff Association, and the Staff Athletics Club; various unofficial records relating to the College, [1780]-1987, namely reminiscences, press cuttings, drawings and sketches; photographs, [1849-1985], of Bedford College, its staff and students.

Correspondence, reports and completed forms concerning agricultural workers, canal workers, clerks, domestic workers, carmen, shop workers, dress makers and upholsteresses including: Report on the hours of work of Canal Workers 26 Sep 1892. Notes on Carmen and Shop workers, undated. Summaries of reports on clerks, canal workers, dress makers and upholstresses, undated.

Staff records of Whitbread and Company Limited, including salary books and ledgers giving information on weekly and monthly salaries over a range of time periods along with details of annuities, pensions and superannuation funds. There are also lists of employees from as early as 1841 (some of which are organised according to occupation), attendance books and information on ex-servicemen employed after the First World War along with sick pay and accident report books, and papers from the 1960s and 1970s detailing company employment policy.

Staff records of H and G Simonds Limited, brewers, including Staff Salaries committee minutes; Staff Salaries and Appointments committee minutes; private salaries; list of staff with bank and branch; First aid centre daily attendance registers; retail managers register; Pensions fund ledger; staff pension scheme register, being diary of contribution rises, receipts, etc., with extracts from Board minutes.

Personnel records of Queen Mary College, comprising personnel files for administrative and technical staff, dated by year of departure, 1952-1990 (with few files before 1965), and for teaching staff, [1985]-1990.

Copy of article by Morris Greenberg, 1982, concerning evidence given by Dr Hubert Montague Murray, MD, FRCP (1855-1907), to the Departmental Committee on Compensation for Industrial Diseases, which contained the first described case of asbestosis; framed asbestosis swabs, 1899, with extracts from correspondence, 1954 and 1966.

Papers of John Cary Gilson, 1940s-1989, including correspondence, notes, papers, reports, lectures and articles, relating to the work of the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit, 1952-1976; RAF Physiology Laboratory during the Second World War; asbestosis and pulmonary cancers.

Papers relating to the Wellcome Witness Seminars, 1993-1997, including original audio tapes of the seminars (in most cases, master plus copy); photographs of witnesses and other participants; correspondence, both administrative and between the Twentieth Century Group and witnesses; and programmes and lists of participants.