GB 0100 KCLCA KA/COM - King's College London Computing Centre

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0100 KCLCA KA/COM

Title

King's College London Computing Centre

Date(s)

  • 1967-2005 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

13 boxes, 1.3 cubic metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1967 a committee was appointed to be responsible for establishing a computer service for King's College London, this became the King's College Computer Unit. Dr D C Knight was appointed as Computing Manager and plans were made to convert a former Chemical Engineering Laboratory to house a small computer for the joint use of King's College London and the London School of Economics, linked to a main computer at the University of London Senate House. In October 1969 the Computer Centre at King's was officially inaugurated. From May 1968, the King's College Computer Unit published a newsletter suggesting that King's College London would be provided with a computer of its own; this was intended for use within academic departments, for administrative staff, research, data processing and information retrieval.

In 1980 the centre became King's College Computer Centre and no longer required use of the main University of London Computer Centre. In 1985 King's College London merged with Queen Elizabeth College and Chelsea College, having facilities on the Strand Campus, Kensington Campus and Chelsea Campus. The Strand site also contained the Humanities Computing Laboratory, (now removed to the Centre for Computing in the Humanities).

The Centre provided advice and support for Computer Assisted Learning applications and support and assistance for members of the College wanting to use facilities of external computer centres, including the University of London Computer Centre. By 1988 the King's College Computer Centre had expanded and was managed by the Director of Computer Services and had eight separate divisions; Humanities and Information Management, Science and Engineering, Communications, KCSMD, Management Information Systems, Microsystems and Computing Services Development, Systems and Operations. From 1985 the Director reported to Information Services and Systems.

Following several restructurings the Centre has been variously known as ISS Computing Centre [1990], Information Systems (2002) and IT Systems (2006), sitting within Information Services and Systems department.

Archival history

GB 0100 KCLCA KA/COM 1967-2005 Collection (fonds) 13 boxes, 1.3 cubic metres King's College London

In 1967 a committee was appointed to be responsible for establishing a computer service for King's College London, this became the King's College Computer Unit. Dr D C Knight was appointed as Computing Manager and plans were made to convert a former Chemical Engineering Laboratory to house a small computer for the joint use of King's College London and the London School of Economics, linked to a main computer at the University of London Senate House. In October 1969 the Computer Centre at King's was officially inaugurated. From May 1968, the King's College Computer Unit published a newsletter suggesting that King's College London would be provided with a computer of its own; this was intended for use within academic departments, for administrative staff, research, data processing and information retrieval.

In 1980 the centre became King's College Computer Centre and no longer required use of the main University of London Computer Centre. In 1985 King's College London merged with Queen Elizabeth College and Chelsea College, having facilities on the Strand Campus, Kensington Campus and Chelsea Campus. The Strand site also contained the Humanities Computing Laboratory, (now removed to the Centre for Computing in the Humanities).

The Centre provided advice and support for Computer Assisted Learning applications and support and assistance for members of the College wanting to use facilities of external computer centres, including the University of London Computer Centre. By 1988 the King's College Computer Centre had expanded and was managed by the Director of Computer Services and had eight separate divisions; Humanities and Information Management, Science and Engineering, Communications, KCSMD, Management Information Systems, Microsystems and Computing Services Development, Systems and Operations. From 1985 the Director reported to Information Services and Systems.

Following several restructurings the Centre has been variously known as ISS Computing Centre [1990], Information Systems (2002) and IT Systems (2006), sitting within Information Services and Systems department.

Transferred to King's College London College Archives in 2006.

Papers of King's College London Computing Centre, 1967-2005 comprise administrative records of the Computing Centre, committee papers and related internal and external publications.

The collection most notably reflects the purchase of new workstations in various campuses, 1994-1997; new computer rooms, furniture and computers at the Kensington campus, 1993-1998; the introduction of IMAP emailing, 1993-1995; upgrades to the King's College London emailing service, 1995-1999 and index cards, 1967-1985, detailing the purchase and lease of equipment.

Committee papers including the agendas and minutes for Assistant Director's Committee, 1988-1991; User Services Committee, 1989-1997 and New User Services Committee, 1998; Computing Services Advisory Committee, 1994-2000; Computing Policy Committee, 1993-1996 and the proceedings of JANET User Support Workshop, 1991-2000.

Internal publications include a TRAINIT leaflet, 2004-2005, PAWS handbooks, 2000-2005 and newsletters of the KCL Computing Centre, Issues 1-51, (1967-1985).

Arranged in accession order.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archives and Information Services.
English

No additional finding aids exist.

Accession numbers C005 and 514.
Compiled by Samantha Velumyl. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. January 2008 Computers Educational administration Higher education institutions Information technology King's College London , Computing Centre Universities Educational institutions

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Transferred to King's College London College Archives in 2006.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of King's College London Computing Centre, 1967-2005 comprise administrative records of the Computing Centre, committee papers and related internal and external publications.

The collection most notably reflects the purchase of new workstations in various campuses, 1994-1997; new computer rooms, furniture and computers at the Kensington campus, 1993-1998; the introduction of IMAP emailing, 1993-1995; upgrades to the King's College London emailing service, 1995-1999 and index cards, 1967-1985, detailing the purchase and lease of equipment.

Committee papers including the agendas and minutes for Assistant Director's Committee, 1988-1991; User Services Committee, 1989-1997 and New User Services Committee, 1998; Computing Services Advisory Committee, 1994-2000; Computing Policy Committee, 1993-1996 and the proceedings of JANET User Support Workshop, 1991-2000.

Internal publications include a TRAINIT leaflet, 2004-2005, PAWS handbooks, 2000-2005 and newsletters of the KCL Computing Centre, Issues 1-51, (1967-1985).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in accession order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archives and Information Services.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

No additional finding aids exist.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Accession numbers C005 and 514.

Notes area

Note

Accession numbers C005 and 514.

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

King's College London College Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area