Showing 16266 results

Records of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, including minute books, agreements, rules, acceptances of membership, papers relating to annual dinners, press cuttings, and annual exhibiton catalogues. Please note that access to the collection is by written permission from the depositors only.

Records of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers comprising:

Council minutes 1880-1954, 1855-1986; rules and regulations 1888-1927; reports from Council to the Annual General Meeting 1883-1925; reports of Annual General Meeting proceedings 1888-1978; financial records 1881-1954; newspaper cuttings book 1889-1910, 1933-1946; exhibitions registers 1889-1962, 1968-1983; sales books 1890-1942, 1955-1968; sales file 1969-1983; register of names and address 1900-1920; roll of candidates 1920-1933; council signatures 1890-1910, 1920-1960; correspondence between Seymour Haden and the Print Sellers Association 1877-1884; papers for society elections 1963-1978; general correspondence 1880-1989; lists of Diploma Etchings 1882-1891; scrapbooks, 1898, 1894; lists of contributors to exhibitions 1881-1887; prospectus 1881 (also in French and German); photographs of Haden [1902]; photos of exhibition galleries 1909; printed monographs of Haden 1880-1902; papers and correspondence relating to the dispute over the RE charter 1905-1906; files relating to Haden's will 1908;

Catalogues of exhibitions 1881-1990, including annual exhibitions, open exhibitions and various visiting exhibitions;

Joseph Webb Memorial Fund minute book 1922-1981; correspondence 1964-1972; competition papers 1972-1979; and ledger 1965-1976;

Print Collector's Club records including minutes 1921-1991; sale book for Print Collectors Club publications 1939-1955; financial records 1928-1942, 1972-1983; correspondence 1921-1938, 1962-1974; Annual General Meeting reports and drafts 1922-1939; pamphlets for demonstrations of etching, mezzotint, wood-cutting and wood-engraving, acquatint, lithography, line engraving and dry point, 1922-1957; publicity materials 1933-1988; and rule book 1921;

Personal papers collections of Sir Frank Short, c1905-1924 (see separate description); Nathaniel Sparks 1916-1923 (see separate description); Thomas Lupton 1827-1854; and John Landseer [1804].

miscellaneous drawing of Frederick Goulding by James Tissot;

and collection of tools used by Seymour Haden presented to the society by his family.

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.

Copies of outgoing letters from the President, Officers and Assistant Secretaries. Each page may contain up to four copied documents. Volumes are numbered 1-73 with an additional volume for the period January 1901-November 1904.

A list of objects presented to the Royal Society Museum, 1744-1779.

Catalogue of the Royal Society Museum, possibly seventeenth or early eighteenth century.

Addresses from various learned societies to the Royal Society on the occasion of the celebrations marking the centenary of Joseph Lister

Correspondence relating to the Royal Society Library catalogues 1836-1838 by Stephen Potter Rigaut. Proof copy of 'Defense of the resolution for rejecting (omitting) Mr Panizzi's bibliographical notes from the catalogue of the Royal Society' and covering letter.

The Royal Society Library and Museum; 'Libri desiderate' library request book with minutes of the Library Committee from undated to 1932.

Royal Society Library and Museum Account Book; the catalogue in account with the Royal Society.

Acquisitions book for the Royal Society Library, appears to be nineteenth century.

Inspectors' Visitation of the Royal Society Library, 1768-1769 and 1777.

Letters sent to the Royal Society, its President or Officers. Subject matter is both domestic and scientific. Domestic concerns include such matters as instructions from authors on the publication of papers. The letters on scientific topics appear to be those which were considered of small significance, e.g. giving notice of minor inventions, or appealing to the Society for recognition.

Miscellaneous letters and papers concerning the landed property of the Royal Society covering the nineteenth century.

Identifications and field notes by Edred John Henry Corner and Wee Lek Chew from the Royal Society's expeditions to Kinabalu, North Borneo, 1961 and 1964; with a preliminary report on the Cambridge expedition to Mount Kinabalu, 1965.

Photographs, engravings and other images of the Fellows of the Royal Society. Also includes manuscripts and objects of the Royal Society. They appear in various formats, whether in engravings, drawings, watercolours, paintings, sculpture, artefacts and photographs. There are also photographs of their manuscripts, works and publications.

Declarations in lieu of charter oath by Royal Society Fellows.

Council Attendance Book of Royal Society.

The accounts, menus, correspondence and minutes of the Royal Society Club, from 1743 to the present, and its associated organization the Philosophical Club (founded in 1847). Early records of the Club are limited to administrative matters, notably membership, attendance of Fellows and guests, menus and accounts. Summary descriptions of speeches and discussions at weekly meetings are not available until 1847, and then only in the rival Philosophical Club volumes. The eventual merger of the two bodies in 1900 resulted in this practice being retained to date.

Papers relating to the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Royal Society consisting of two separately bound addresses from the University of Paris and the University of Parma, a box of addresses from Europe other than the United Kingdom, Japan, USA, and the British Empire; a box of addresses from the United Kingdom; and a box of other miscellaneous papers.

Papers of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund. Included are minutes of the Governing Body, 1919 to 1977 and the Finance Committee between 1930 and 1977, ledgers 1920 to 1972, reports of the Governing Body and Reports of the Seamen's Advisory Committee 1912 to 1979, including cash books 1920 to 1965, register of seamen's pension 1944 to 1987.

Records of the Royal Scottish Corporation, comprising copy charters, byelaws and grant of arms (Ms 35760); minutes and related papers 1831-1834, 1877-1990 (Ms 35761-4); annual reports and accounts and other financial records 1935-2002 (Ms 35765-72); correspondence 1936-1993 (Ms 35773-80); seal register 1935-1992 (Ms 35781); papers re subscribers and legacies 1894-1969 (Ms 35782-5); papers re festival dinners 1820, 1906-1998 (Ms 35786-90); papers re St Andrews Soldiers' Home 1914-72 and St Andrews Scottish Soldiers' Club Fund 1980 (Ms 35791); correspondence re the London Scottish Regiment War Memorial Fund 1957-62 (Ms 35792); minutes, financial papers and register of pension payments of the Kinloch Bequest 1877-1992 (Ms 35793-801); minutes, financial records and correspondence of the Freer Trust 1915-62 (Ms 35802-8); correspondence relating to the hall, property and insurances 1864-1988 (Ms 35809-10); and press cuttings and miscellaneous items 1829-1995 (Ms 35811-2).

Please note that access to some financial records less than 30 years old is restricted. Access to records less than 50 years old which contain personal information is also restricted. 24 hours notice is required for access to all the records.

Records relating to the Royal School of Mines and Royal College of Science, 1851-1966, comprising articles on the Museum of Practical Geology; report of the Royal School of Mines Committee, 1902; a history of the Royal School of Mines, 1966; prospectuses, 1851-1907; annual reports, 1882-1906; minutes of the Council of Professors, 1851-1911; lecture accounts, 1851-1881; Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines student fees, 1881-1883; Royal College of Science student fees register, 1900-1901; staff lists, 1903-1908; entries to lectures, 1851-1879; student entries, 1879-1881; register of passes, 1881-1893; Royal College of Science and Royal School of Mines ledgers, 1893-1896; Royal College of Science ledgers of students, 1897-1908; lecture bills, 1851-1900; inaugural addresses, 1896-1905; Royal School of Mines examination returns, 1851-1881; registers of examinations, 1883-1901; examination results, 1882-1908; apparatus accounts, 1895-1909.

Records of the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, 1921-1995, including reports of preliminary Committees, 1921; minutes of the Governing Body, 1931-1952; minutes of the Committee of Management, 1947-1974; minutes of the Council, 1974-1985; minutes of the Board of Governors, 1938, 1962-1967; minutes of the School Council, 1934-1947; minutes of the Academic Board, 1947-1983; minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1976-1987; annual reports, 1935-1995; prospectuses, 1936-1968;
papers relating to staff appointments, including lists of staff, 1935-[1980], obituaries, transcripts of interviews with staff, monthly salaries, 1935-1940; London County Council war service salaries and wages, 1939-1943;
visitor's book, 1947-1962; press cuttings, 1954-1976; photograph albums and loose photographs, [1935-1965]; negatives, [1959-1985]; 16mm films of various operations;
Medical School reports on work at Hammersmith Hospital, [1936-1940]
copies of The Special newspaper, 1986-1995 (for Hammersmith Hospital and the Medical School); copies of Alumnus News Letter, 1986-1988.

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.

Archives of the Royal Opera House (ROH), comprising:
some business records of the ROH and associated companies including Board minutes and papers of various opera companies using the ROH, 1919-1939; box office returns and payment slips for artists and theatre staff, 1919-1939; individual artist files, containing biographical information, prints and photographs 18thc to present]; production files 1946-present; minutes of the Board of the Royal Opera House Ltd, sub-committees, and management groups, 1946-present; files of the General Administrator/Chief Executive Office, and Assistants to the General Administrator, 1946-present; files of the Chairman of the Board 1946-1997; files of the Company Secretary's office, 1948-1996; files of the Personnel Office -2002 (closed); Contract files 1946-1980s (closed);
Opera Company files 1970s - 1999; Ballet Company files 1947-1996; Birmingham Royal Ballet files 1970s-1991; some early performing company files are found with the General Administrator's files; Finance Department records, 1946-present;

19th century correspondence, including letters of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), opera manager; Giovanni Matteo Mario (1810-1883) Italian tenor; Giulia Grisi (1811-1869), and Michael Costa (1810-1884) conductor;

Press, Publication, Community Relations, Marketing and Box Office departmental files, 1980-2000; House Management files, 1948-1999; Orchestra Office files, 1948-present; Friends of Covent Garden files, 1964-1999;

Ballet for All - education initiative files, 1964-1970s; London Opera Centre records, 1963-1970s; Production Office files, 1946-1980; Fly Department files, 1947-1977; Technical Department files, 1952-present;

audiovisual collection comprising:
audio recordings of oral history interviews relating to the Royal Opera House Development Project, 1997-2000; Verdi Centenary, 2001-2002; recordings of interviews and events at the Royal Opera House, 1964-2003;

photographic collection comprising:
photographs by Donald Southern, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of performances, events and personnel at the ROH, 1959-1991; photographs by John Graham, including negatives of ballet and opera performances at the ROH, 1940s-1950s; photographs by Felix Fonteyn, including negatives of ballet productions from 1950s; photographs by Richard Holttum, including black and white negatives and colour transparencies of the ROH interior and exterior prior to development 1988-1991; photographs by Rob Moore including contact prints and colour transparencies of the ROH development, 1997-2001; Schal time-lapse photography of the development of the ROH, 1996-1999; Historic Monuments Commission photographic survey of the ROH interior and exterior prior to site development 1990-1996; two albums of photographs compiled by Edwin Sachs of the redevelopment of the ROH stage, 1899-1900, and the workshops; glass plate negatives used to create ballet post cards, 1950s-1960s;

collection of music and choreographic scores comprising:
printed songs, 18th -early 19th century; operas scores (vocal and orchestral) and stage managers scores, 1840s-1939; annotated opera stage managers scores 1946- present; annotated ballet stage managers scores, 1946-present; Staff Director's annotated scores for opera productions, 1946-present; Ninette de Valois' printed and manuscript music for ballet, 1920s -1930s; printed and manuscript ballet music, 1840s-1950s;
choreographic scores for ballets performed by The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet;

design and costume and collections comprising:
Yolanda Sonnabend design collection including notebooks, reference files, and related material, 1973-1995;
Ian Spurling collection of designs, photographs and press cuttings, 1975-1994; Toby Ward collection of drawings of the ROH prior to and during development 1996-1999;
Glynne Boyd Hart collection of watercolours of the ROH development, 1998-1999;
Ruth Hurle collection of drawings of back state, craft workrooms, opera and ballet rehearsals, 1930s-1940s;

costumes and accessories, such as headdresses, jewellery, shoes and wigs, worn by artist appearing at he ROH, 1920s-2003;
Comelli costume design collection including artwork by Attilio Comelli and others for costumes of operas performed at the ROH 1880s-1920s;
Costume design artwork, 1946-present; design artwork for sets and props, 1946-present; models of sets for productions, 1946-present; Model Room files relating to ground plans, and technical drawing or set and prop construction 1946 to present; stage and ground plans, 1939; Production Wardrobe files relating to costume and accessories design 1946-present;

miscellaneous large prints and drawings of performers and performances 19th and 20th century;

collection of advertising posters, 19th century-present;

programme collection including programmes for Gala and Special performances, and decorative programmes 1750s-present;

press cuttings of announcements, reviews, interviews, 18th century, 1847-1939; Harold Rosenthal collection of press puttings, relating mainly to the ROH performances, 1847-1950s; press cuttings of reviews and articles about performers and performances, 1946-present;
miscellaneous albums and scrap books relating to Anna Pavlova, and Nellie Melba, amongst others 1920s;

library collection comprising books, periodicals and specialist publication relating to ballet, dance, opera, music and theatre; libretti, 1840-present; playtexts 1776-[1850]; reports commissioned by the ROH and general arts reports 1946-present; ROH publications and souvenir year books 1956-2002;

special collections comprising:
Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund collection of material relating to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Royal Ballet (RB), including papers, photographs, press cuttings, programmes concerning the RB and its predecessors - Vic Wells and Sadler's Wells Ballet companies 1931- 1950s;

Spellman Song Sheet Covers containing illustrations of operas, and ballets late 19th-early 20th century;

albums of Lady de Grey albums containing photographs of singers, composers, conductors, mostly autographed, dedicated to (Constance) Gladys De Grey, (1859-1917) Marchioness of Ripon, and opera patron, 1870-1920;

collection of Dame Margot Fonteyn De Arias (1918-1991) ballet dancer, including costumes, accessories, photographs, correspondence and books, 1920s-1980s;

collection of Dame Ninette de Valois (1898-2001) founder of The Royal Ballet, including awards, honours and correspondence, 1947-1993;

collection of Leslie Edwards (1916-2001), principal dancer The Royal Ballet, including photographs 1920s-1980s;

collection of Eva Turner (1892-1990) English soprano, relating to her singing career, including costumes, accessories, photographs, press cuttings, music and books 1920s-1940s;

diaries of Frederick Gye (1809-1878), Royal Italian Opera General manager, 1847-1878, his daughter Clara Gye, and son Ernest Gye, ROH Manager, 1847-1877;

collection of Olive Grime, dancer with the Beecham Opera Company, including press cuttings, contracts, correspondence, photographs, books and costumes, 1920s-1930s;

collection of Reginald Goodall (1901-1990) English conductor, including correspondence and personal papers, 1900-1958.

Records of hospitals in the Royal Northern Hospital Group, 1835-1991, comprising Hornsey Central Hospital, Mildmay Memorial Hospital, Maternity Nursing Association, North London Medical and Chirurgical Society, Royal Chest Hospital, Royal Northern Hospital and Santa Claus Children's Home.

The papers include committee minutes, reports, financial papers, newspaper cuttings, leaflets and publications, histories, staff registers, regulations, plans and photographs. Patient records survive only for the Royal Northern Hospital.

Pendant and vane lists are included in this category; amongst these is a sheet of distinguishing signals issued by Lord Howe, 1794; a number of sheets of signals which were issued in addition to the printed signals, which include two recognition signals issued by the Admiralty for naval vessels and East Indiamen, 1778 and 1780.

The volumes in this class consist of fifty-one watch, station and quarter bills, late-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and order books relating to the administration of ships of the Royal Navy. The earliest is an order book of Prince William Henry (1745-1837) in the PEGASUS and ANDROMEDA, 1786 to 1788. The majority of the watch, station and quarter bills date from 1830 to 1860. Some are working pocket books while others are decorative fair copies. An example of the latter is the watch and fire bill of the ISIS, CORNWALLIS and PRESIDENT, 1836; included are ships; plans, instructions for gun exercises, boat signals and copies of orders. The most recent volume is the night order book of the SHROPSHIRE, 1931 to 1934.

This class contains volumes which relate to prize money, including an account book, 1811 to 1816, of Edward Locker, admiral's secretary (1777-1849); and five ledgers of prize accounts, possibly by the naval agents, Messrs Ommaney, 1798 to 1826.

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.

This class contains copy order books of orders received and issued. For order books relating to ship administration see entry no.134. The volumes date from the late-eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. They include orders issued by Captain (later Admiral Sir) John Sutton (1758-1825), senior officer in the TAGUS, 1797 to 1801, and memoranda and orders issued by the senior officer at Bermuda, 1808 to 1815.

This class consists of ten contemporary lists of naval personnel. There is usually little detail beyond the lists of names themselves. An exception to this rule is the earliest volume, a list of captains between 1688 and 1696, which gives a number of biographical details; similarly, there are notes in a volume in a clerical hand of promotions for lieutenants for 1801, kept for Lord St Vincent. The most comprehensive is a four-volume copy of the 'Naval General Service Medal Roll, 1793-1840', containing the names of those awarded and the actions in which the medal and bars were won.

This class consists of six notebooks containing information on various subjects, made by naval officers or ratings. An example is a large book, alphabetically indexed, kept by Lord Charles Beresford (1848-1930) on subjects of administrative and political interest, 1900 to 1901; some of the entries are in his own hand.

Records of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785. They consist of: Minutes: meetings, 1846 to 1888; annual general meetings, 1765 to 1845: Navy Club of 1785, general meetings, 1810 to 1888: United Club, the committee, 1889 to 1924; agenda, 1894 to 1939. Accounts: United, 1895 to 1940. Cash books: 1765 Club, 1830 to 1877; 1785 Club, 1840 to 1873. Donations to Memorialists: 1765 Club, 1824 to 1934. Other records include: Club, 1827 to 1841; United Club, 1889 to 1934. Attendance Books: 1765 Club, 1822 to 1830, 1845 to 1849; 1785 Club, 1785 to 1803; United Club, 1895 to 1903, 1938 to 1954. Subscription Books: 1765 Club, 1797 to 1888; 1785 Club, 1825 to 1841; United Club, 1889 to 1954. Address books: 1785 Club, c 1881; United Club, c 1914 to 1919 and ca.1939 to 1950. There are also nine boxes of loose letters, accounts, reports, correspondence, memorials and copies of the rules relating to the whole range of the Clubs' activities, 1824 to 1927; and a book of pencil drawings, c 1840, by Admiral Robert Patton (1791-1883).

The fifty-nine volumes in this class are mainly official and relate to the central administration of the Navy, 1558 to 1850. They consist principally of instructions, accounts, reports, legal opinions and treatises. There are nine volumes of instructions, 1660 to 1718. Two volumes describe the duties of the Lord High Admiral, 1673; eight contain copies of the instructions to the Navy Board, 1662; six, those to the Victualling Board, 1701 and 1715 to 1718; and two, those to the Sick and Hurt Board, 1684 to 1699 and 1703. A manuscript index of official Admiralty papers compiled ca.1694 contains references to instructions and to other Admiralty correspondence. Among the financial accounts are an early Treasury account book, 1572 to 1573; a report on naval estimates, 1654; and estimate of the charge of the Navy, 1684; and estimates of the naval debt, 1712 to 1720, which details the Treasurers who held money and the amounts invested in South Sea stock. A volume of notes on the office of Treasurer of the Navy, 1650 to 1698, includes an account of permitted perquisites. Accounts relating to the Ordnance Board consist of a 'computation of the ordinary annual charge within the office of his Majesty's Ordnance', 1679; six volumes giving stores issued, received and surveyed, 1576, 1595, 1599, 1635 to 1637, 1644 to 1649 and 1650 to 1651. In addition there is a volume of papers relating to fortifications in the Thames area, 1667 to 1703; and the minutes of the Ordnance Board, 1679 to 1680. Other accounts, dealing with stores, are contained in 'The Boke of Victuellinge', 1558, which details victualling stores issued to ships at sea and in harbour, listed under their ports in a chronological order. There is a contract for victualling the navy 1677 to 1678, and statistics relating to victualling, c 1684. The reports, or volumes related to reports, have a parliamentary origin. They include one of the papers referred to in the investigation into merchant shipping losses by the Lord High Admiral to the House of Lords in 1707; the proceedings of the committee of the House of Commons, 1744, which examined naval officers on the 'miscarriage' of the Mediterranean fleet at Toulon; ten volumes contain the reports produced between 1785 and 1788 by the Commissioners 'appointed to inquire into Fees, Gratuities, Perquisites and Emoluments which are, or have been lately, received in the several public offices'. In addition, there is the appendix to the fifteenth report of the Commissioners for Revising and Digesting the Civil Affairs of the Navy on the proposal for a new eastern dockyard, 1807, which was never printed. The legal opinions consist of judges' 'arguments', 1637 to 1639, relating to the 'ship money' case. Also of a legal nature is an account of the charges against Edward Cecil, Lord Wimbledon (1572-1638), on the Cadiz expedition, 1625. The treatises include a copy, c 1630, of Captain Sir Henry Mainwaring's (1587-1653) 'Discourse' on his piratical activities and a copy, c 1615, of Soveraignty of the Seas of England' by Sir John Borough, Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London (d 1643)

See sub-fonds level descriptions for individual scope and contents.

Royal Navy records relating to local administration. The class consists of twenty-nine volumes, most of which are official. A significant proportion consists of formal letterbooks kept by the dockyard Commissioners or officers recording letters sent to and received from the Navy Board, and warrant books detailing the orders given by the Board. There are ten such volumes for Sheerness, 1757 to 1822. Two letterbooks are unusual; one of them contains letters from a yard commissioner who visited the Victualling yards at Portsmouth, Chatham and Sheerness between 1702 and 1703, whilst the other contains letters specifically relating to sailmaking, 1807 to 1814. There are also account books kept by the Clerks of the Cheque at Gibraltar, 1757 to 1760, and Portsmouth, 1795 to 1800; a 'Timber Expense book' kept by Charles Scammell, a quarterman at Deptford dockyard, 1780 to 1801; a journal kept by the Master Attendant at Portsmouth, 1696 to 1698, is unusual owing to its more personal nature and early date; a private account book of Richard Prowse, Master Attendant at Woolwich Dockyard between 1785 and 1804, contains information on private payments from contractors. From the seventeenth century comes a survey of the fortifications along the Thames, Medway and southern and Cornish coasts in 1623 and an account of the expenses incurred in building the 'citadel' at Plymouth Hoe, c 1670. There are two bound volumes of plans of the dockyards in England and the colonies; the earlier was made in 1774 and includes forty maps and plans including soundings; the other, made in 1831, contains thirty-seven plans. The most recent item is a cashbook containing copies of receipts issued at Haulbowline Dockyard, 1920 and 1921.

Papers of Royal Naval Loan Library. They consist of notices and agenda of committee meetings, correspondence and financial statements, 1946 to 1947.

This class consists of thirty-four volumes of contemporary lists of naval ships, 1633, 1655, 1664 and 1670 to 1900. Many were compiled officially and usually have the same format, listing ships by rate, details of dimensions, numbers of guns, where built and the name of the designer. A few have additional notes on establishments of stores and men and other regulations. The nineteenth century is particularly well represented by ten official volumes of annotated and corrected lists from the 1830s until the 1870s. They give very full dimensions and details of ships over a long period. An example of one of these is that belonging to the Earl of Minto (1872-1859), First Lord of the Admiralty, with details of ships during the 1830s, corrected to August 1841.

Records of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. The records cover the life-time of the College from its establishment in 1873 to its closure in 1998. The records are varied, but many relate to the staff at the College. They include pay rolls, volumes detailing staff leave and discharge and service registers. There are also accounting records - bills, receipts, expenditure, imprest books etc. One of the more interesting groups of records are the volumes of "reports", covering the period 1877-1922, which include miscellaneous records relating to Sub-Lieutenants passed, awards, sick leave, discharge, stationary demands, applications to join the College, letters to the Admiralty etc. The collection also includes registers of correspondence and letters-out for the period 1873-1947. Relating to the students, there are a few registers of students on courses 1873-97 and also volumes of Acting Sub-Lieutenants' examination results and passing certificates 1873-1911. These records duplicate those held by the National Archives and further records relating to students can be found there. The more modern twentieth century records mainly relate to courses ran by the College. They include lists of students on courses, Board of Studies minutes, course syllabuses etc, but are not complete. The collection also includes a large photographic archive.

Records of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital include records relating to administration (1902 - 1986); patients (1924 - 1990); staff (1962 - 1979); finance (1900 - 1979); education (1885 - 1967); legal records (1907? - 1979); associated organisations (1927 - 1984); and printed material and historic notes (1906 - 1982).

The collection also contains records of predecessor organisations: Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (1838 - 1905); National Orthopaedic Hospital (1865 - 1905); and City Orthopaedic Hospital (1857 - 1907).

Manuscript volume containing transcripts of papers relating to the Royal Mint, [1732-1770], including a copy confirmation of the Charter of the Royal Mint, dated 24 Apr 1662, including the original grant of 1 May 1308 and successive confirmations and grants; a copy of the indenture dated 23 Aug 1732 appointing John Conduitt as Warden of the Mint, with corrections in red ink to form the basis of an indenture for the Hon Charles Sloane Cadogan, 23 Nov 1770; copy of a warrant dated 24 Jul 1729 for John Conduitt to coin British copper, with a note of a similar warrant dated 17 Aug 1738 for Richard Arundell, Master of the Irish Mint; copy of a warrant dated 20 Nov 1740 for Richard Arundell, Master of the Irish Mint, to coin copper for Ireland.

Manuscript volume containing transcripts of papers and tables mainly relating to the work of the Royal Mint in the second quarter of the eighteenth century, [1740-1748], notably a copy of the Mint Charter of 24 Apr 1662, with a translation into English, and of the indenture of 23 Aug 1732 appointing John Conduitt as Master of the Mint, with a schedule of salaries; copies of the papers of Sir Isaac Newton and John Conduitt relating to the Trial of the Pyx, [1717 and 1734]; copy papers, some official, relating to the Assay and Trial of the Pyx in 1734 and 1740; copy papers on various, including Portuguese money, the process of making money from imported ingotts, and copper coinage; tables of monies coined under Richard Arundell, Master of the Mint, between 1737 and 1743; tables of gold and silver minted annually from 1660-1740; orders of 1729, 1732 and 1738 allowing the Master of the Mint to import Irish copper; tables showing the weight and fineness of gold and silver coins minted from the time of King Edward I, with names of successive Masters of the Mint. A note by the compiler in the index is signed 'A.P', which probably stands for Anthony Pollet, Clerk to the Caster.

Apprenticeship indenture for John Campbell, resident in the Asylum, apprenticed to George Campbell, shoemaker, 1817.

Records of the Royal Memorial Church of Saint George, Cannes, France, comprising memorandum and articles of association of the Duke of Albany Memorial Church Society, 1886 (Ms 23615); register of baptisms, 1887-1960 (Ms 23616); service registers, 1887-1964 (Ms 23617); and church inventory, 1907-31 (Ms 23618).

Papers of the Royal Maternity Charity, 1761-1949, including minute books, 1761-1949; 'Rough minute books', 1772-1826 and case-book of Robert Barnes at the Royal Maternity Charity, Oct 1857-Oct 1858.

Contains records of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls (formally the Royal Cumberland School for the Daughters of Indigent Free Masons and the Royal Freemasons School for Female Children). This includes minutes, agendas, signature books, membership records, reports, business statements, interview books, correspondence and administration files of the Institution’s Courts and Committees; Festival records, including minutes, agendas, a signature book, cash books, ledgers, administration files and printed memorabilia; records concerning petitioners and beneficiaries, including petitions and certificates, précis of petitions, petition registers, admission registers, a register of Junior School staff and pupils, summer holiday administration files and general beneficiary administration files; financial records, including ledgers, cash books, purchase journals, annual reports and accounts, sealing registers, investment accounts and dividend received books, lists of grants awarded from the Institution’s funds, collector books, donation and subscription registers, lists of governors and subscribers and general financial administration and correspondence files; staff records, including personal, pay and pension administration files; property records, including architectural plans and maps, building, receipts and payments books, visitor books, schedules of deeds and other documents deposited with banks, deeds and leases, tenant and property management files for the Institution’s property in Great Queen Street, London, Parker Street, London and Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire and administration files concerning the closure and redevelopment of the Royal Masonic Junior School for Girls, Weybridge, Surrey and publicity records, including VHS tapes, photographs and general promotional material.

Contains records of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys (formally the Royal Masonic Institution for Clothing and Educating the Sons of Deceased and Indigent Free Masons and Royal Masonic Institution for the sons of Decayed and Deceased Freemasons). This includes minutes, agendas, signature books, reports, nomination and election files, correspondence and administration files of the Institution’s Courts, Boards and Committees; Festival records, including minutes, agendas, announcement files, accounts and administration files; records concerning petitioners and beneficiaries, including petitions and certificates, admission registers, statistics lists of grants awarded, case files and Royal Masonic School for Boys, Bushey, school records, pupil commendations, funded prize administration files, confirmation and service registers and annotated prize and sports day programmes; financial records, including the Masonic Boys Welfare Fund and Scholarship Fund accounts and administration files, taxation correspondence files, investment administration files, donation and subscription registers and files, ledgers, cash books and reports and accounts; staff records, including officers engagement books, Royal Masonic School for Boys staff registers, personal staff files, salary books and pension records; property records, including architectural plans, building specifications, a valuation and inventory and visitor books for the Royal Masonic School property and premises in Bushey, Hertfordshire; files concerning the appointment of surveyors and considerations for the appointment of an architect to the Institution; schedules of deeds and securities held by the Institution, its banks and solicitors; property management files for the Institution’s property in Wood Green, London, Great Queen Street, London and Bushey, Hertfordshire and files concerning the closure and sale of the Royal Masonic Schools for Boys, Bushey, Hertfordshire and publicity records, including films, administration files and photographs.

Contains records of the Freemasons' War Hospital, Freemasons' Hospital and Nursing Home and the Royal Masonic Hospital, including minutes, agendas, signature books, reports, nomination and election files, correspondence and administration files of the Institution’s Courts, Boards and Committees; Festival records, including minutes, agendas, announcement files, accounts and administration files; records concerning student nurses; property records and some clinical records.