The collection consists of several scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, letters, programmes, lists of prize winners and sports team members, and other material. One was compiled by the headmistress Miss Lefroy and contains handwritten entries. There are also photograph albums showing the school, teachers and pupils. There are also numerous examples of artwork by the pupils mostly in the form of programmes for music, drama and sports events held at the school.

Records, 1899-[2002], of Kingston University and its predecessors, largely dating from the 1960s and after:

Kingston Art and Technical Schools visitors' book, 1899-1909.

Minutes and papers, 1970-[2002] (some series incomplete), of the Governors, Academic Board, and various committees relating to administration, academic matters, the library, student welfare, security, finance, employment, and staff, also including the Formation Committee, 1992.

Other administrative papers include papers relating to the proposal for a polytechnic, 1960s, and the transition to Polytechnic status, including draft schemes, 1967, and scheme of government, 1976; CNAA Quinquennial Reports, 1974, 1979, and Institutional Review, 1984; various proposals, corporate plans and annual reports.

Departmental records include Industrial Liaison Centre publications, including reports, 1960s, Industrial Liaison Topics newsletter, continued by Kingston Regional Management Centre (KRMC), 1966-1977, KRMC proposal document, mid-1970s, minutes and papers, 1977-1980, brochure, 1978, newsletter Kingston Topics, 1981-1983, and Director's Report, 1984/5; Library records, 1960s-1990s, including guides; Computer Services/IT Handbooks and newsletters, 1980s; syllabuses for various courses, 1960s-1970s; report of Board of Education inspection of School of Art, 1936, and College of Art papers relating to fashion design contest, 1965, and exhibition, 1984.

Various reports include Jubilee and Inspectors reports, 1930s-1960s; Liberal Studies report of development, 1956-1967; joint report with Kingston Arts Council, 'An Arts Centre for Kingston', 1973; research reports, 1965-1984.

Various publications include the Golden Jubilee (1899-1949) history [1949] (photocopy); published history of Kingston Polytechnic, 1980; various newsletters, 1970s-1990s; handbook on administrative practices and procedures, 1982; various general prospectuses and prospectuses for individual Schools and courses; and various departmental publications.

Staff records include various job descriptions and advertisements, 1960s-1970s; Staff Association papers; and staff periodicals and articles.

Papers relating to events include conference programmes, reports and proceedings, 1960s-1970s; exhibition catalogues, 1970s-1990s; programmes and other records relating to prizes and awards ceremonies, open days and presentation/graduation ceremonies, 1960s-1980s; Incorporation Celebrations papers, 1989.

Student Union papers, 1960s-1970s, including constitution, minutes, handbooks, and magazines including Facet.

Photographs and plans of buildings and sites, 1960s-1990s, including new premises.

Miscellaneous photographs, loose and in albums, and slides, 1940s-1980s.

Press cuttings, 1931-[1990s].

South-Western Polytechnic, Chelsea Polytechnic, Chelsea College of Science and Technology, Chelsea College Governing Body, Council and Academic Board Minute Books, 1888-1985. This series of minute books comprises one of the most important sources of evidence of the strategic and academic development within the Polytechnic and College from the earliest subscription campaign for the new Institute to the closure of Chelsea when it merged with King's in 1985. It comprises the main class of College governance minutes with a duplicate set covering the years 1906-1966, and in particular the manuscript minutes of the Executive or Governing Body of the South Western Polytechnic (with index), 1881-1906; printed and bound minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1906-1918; printed and bound copies of the minutes of the Governing Body and Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1919-1922; printed and bound copies of the minutes of the Governing Body, 1923-1966; folders of typescript minutes of the Governing Body, 1966-1972 (Ref: CA/G/M); folders containing typescript Chelsea Council minutes, 1972-1985 (Ref: CA/C/M). Governing Body/Council minutes typically contain information on appointments and salaries, strategic and academic planning, academic services, scholarships and student numbers, the relationship with other Higher Education institutions and merger details. Incomplete manuscript and typescript Board of Studies and complete typescript Academic Board and Senate minutes, 1917-1931, 1962-1985 (Ref: CA/S/M), covering topics including departmental organisation, examinations, grants and student discipline; meeting papers relating to the Senate minutes, 1972-1985 (Ref: CA/S/MP). Minutes of Special Committees of the Governing Body/Council such as Non-Academic Staff Committee, 1966-1981, Sites and Buildings, 1966-1985; Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1967-1985; Residence and Refectories Committee/Amenities Committee, 1967-1985; Development Committee, 1971-1976; Staff Association, 1956-1976; Sports Ground Committee, 1972-1985; Joint Athletic Ground Committee, 1922-1939; Joint Policy Committee, 1973-1978 (Ref: CA/CS/M, CA/M); Special Committee meeting papers for the Academic Planning Committee and a working party on the College Library, 1965-1983 (Ref: CA/CS/MP).

The collection is contains material relating to Spencer Park school including copies of the school magazine, papers outlining the history of the school and the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum site, prospectuses, photographs, newspaper cuttings, programmes and various other items. There are no administrative records for the school in the collection. Additionally there is a series of deeds, leases, and other papers relating to the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum site, the building of the school, and the sale of the site in the 1980s for redevelopment.

Records of the Royal Polytechnic Institution (RPI), 1837-1881 and undated, comprising:

Leases of premises, 1838-1876, including no 5 Cavendish Square; prospectus, 1837; correspondence and papers concerning the foundation of the Institution, its provisional committee, shares, status and affairs, 1837-1839 and undated, including its charter, 1839, and papers on arbitration on a dispute between W M Nurse and the Institution; correspondence and papers relating to activities and affairs of the Institution, 1838-1842 and undated, including documents on the alleged infringement by the Institution of a patent for a diving dress, 1838, and an agreement with W H F Talbot permitting the use of his patented photographic process, 1841; photocopy of a letter from Robert Longbottom, RPI Secretary, to Samuel Morse, 1846; copy of charter, 1852; letter concerning a school visit to the RPI, 1858;

Catalogues of the Polytechnic Institution (copies), 1838-1840, and Royal Polytechnic Institution, 1844-1845; programmes for 1861, 1876, 1878 and 1881; bound volumes of RPI programmes, 1873-1878; reports, 1879-1880; particulars and conditions of sale of the RPI premises, 1881;

Books by authors associated with the RPI, including various publications by John Henry Pepper: The Boy's Playbook of Science, 2nd edition, 1860.; Popular Lectures for Young People and Half Hours with the Alchemists, 1st edition, 1855; The Playbook of Metals, 1st edition, 1869 and Cyclopaedic Science Simplified, 1st edition, 1869; The Book of The Lantern by T C Hepworth, 2nd edition, 1889; Memory by William Stokes, 2nd edition, 1888 and Rapid Writing by William Stokes, 4th edition, 1873; issues of various contemporary journals containing information on or advertisements for the Institution [1839]-1845, some with illustrations, among them scientific equipment, including four parts of the London Polytechnic Magazine, 1844, six parts of its continuation, The Polytechnic Review and Magazine, 1844, and five parts, 1845; advertising poster, 1840;

Book of press cuttings relating to the Institution from 1842, many lacking details of their source; five tokens bearing the name of the Institution, 1840; photogenic transfer made at the Institution, 1840; a ceramic plate fired at the RPI, 1866;

Illustrations and photographs of illustrations from 1840, some undated, including the great hall and other shots of the interior and exterior, 1843, and demonstrations, including the diving bell.

Papers relating to the Athletics Union, comprising correspondence concerning the purchase and equipping of College sports grounds, 1919-1934, and an accounts book, 1937-1944; correspondence of the Sports Club, 1912 and 1942; minutes of the Architectural Society, 1894-1919; programmes and posters relating to the Bedford Light Opera Group, [1960-1970]; copies of Bots Up, the magazine of the Botany Department, 1972-1974; copy of Bio-Log, the magazine of the Biological Society (and successor to Bots Up), 1977; copies of Ho, the magazine of the Psychology Department, 1972-1974; minutes and member lists of the Geological Society, 1910-1944.

Adult Education VHS videos: "Teaching English as a second language in the Post School Sector", 1985 and "Teaching adult literacy Unit A: A mixed ability class", 1980s.

Typescript papers, 1943-1945, comprising Dr B Ifor Evans's copies of working papers of the Commission of Enquiry into the Facilities for Oriental, Slavonic, East European and African Studies, including minutes of meetings, correspondence and other administrative papers, questionnaires completed by institutions including universities and learned societies in the UK and overseas, evidence submitted by various individuals, and draft report of findings sent to Ernest Bevin (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs).