Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1828-1919, 1926 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1919 bundles
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Between 1831 and 1988 the College Secretary rose from Secretary to the Principal and Council to senior administrative officer of the College. Throughout the period the College Secretary had responsibility for servicing the Council, its main standing and special subcommittees, and the Academic Board. In the 1960s, the post of Academic Registrar was reorganised to reflect the coordinated responsibility for student admission and examinations with the Department. Between 1828-1919 King's College enjoyed the services of just four College Secretaries, two of whom served for remarkably long periods, H W Smith, 1829-1848 and J W Cunningham, 1848-1894. Until Cunningham's retirement in 1894 the College's in and out correspondence and bills and accounts were arranged in just two sequences. At year end the in-letters and bills were bundled alphabetically and chronologically respectively and until late into the nineteenth century fitted into a single wooden deed box. With the appointment of S T Shovelton in 1895 came the introduction of modern filing (see KAS/GC, AC and AD) but bundles continued to be used on occasion until 1915. The series is remarkably complete until the late 1890s when there is some evidence of modest losses.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0100 KCLCA KA/IC 1828-1919, 1926 Series of King's College London Archives 1919 bundles King' s College London , College Secretary's Department
Between 1831 and 1988 the College Secretary rose from Secretary to the Principal and Council to senior administrative officer of the College. Throughout the period the College Secretary had responsibility for servicing the Council, its main standing and special subcommittees, and the Academic Board. In the 1960s, the post of Academic Registrar was reorganised to reflect the coordinated responsibility for student admission and examinations with the Department. Between 1828-1919 King's College enjoyed the services of just four College Secretaries, two of whom served for remarkably long periods, H W Smith, 1829-1848 and J W Cunningham, 1848-1894. Until Cunningham's retirement in 1894 the College's in and out correspondence and bills and accounts were arranged in just two sequences. At year end the in-letters and bills were bundled alphabetically and chronologically respectively and until late into the nineteenth century fitted into a single wooden deed box. With the appointment of S T Shovelton in 1895 came the introduction of modern filing (see KAS/GC, AC and AD) but bundles continued to be used on occasion until 1915. The series is remarkably complete until the late 1890s when there is some evidence of modest losses.
College Secretary's Department.
The in-correspondence series for 1828-1919, 1926, includes both the significant and less significant correspondence of the College from its foundation to its incorporation in the University of London. Chiefly addressed to the Principal or College Secretary, coverage includes everything from the College's major business to letters from parents obliged to withdraw their children from College temporarily or permanently due to illness or changed domestic circumstances. Also included are the testimonials of successful (and sometimes unsuccessful) applicants for posts and correspondence of academic staff in relation to syllabi and teaching arrangements. Letters in the series are referred to in the out-letter books and the Council Minutes.
In-correspondence is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically. By 1992 a majority of the deed boxes were collapsing, and a decision was taken to re-order the bundles in an integrated alphabetical sequence.
Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be provided for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive Services, King's College London.
English
Detailed catalogues are available in hard copy in the reading room of the College Archives.
King's College London Archives holds College Secretary's out-letter books (KA/OLB), College Secretary's files relating to policy, 1828-1992 (KAS/GC) and academic departments and academic initiatives, 1896-1900 (KAS/AC); Library files relating to administration, 1925-1994 (KAL/AD), some letters are referenced in the Council minute books, 1828-1996 (KA/C/M).
Sources: King's College London catalogues. Compiler: Julie Tancell. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997; ISAD(G), Second edition, 2000. May 2000 Curriculum Economics of education Educational administration Educational buildings Educational finance Educational levels Educational management Educational personnel Educational planning Educational policy Educational statistics Enrolment Higher education Higher education institutions King's College London , College Secretary's Department Students Universities University students Personnel People by occupation People Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
College Secretary's Department.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The in-correspondence series for 1828-1919, 1926, includes both the significant and less significant correspondence of the College from its foundation to its incorporation in the University of London. Chiefly addressed to the Principal or College Secretary, coverage includes everything from the College's major business to letters from parents obliged to withdraw their children from College temporarily or permanently due to illness or changed domestic circumstances. Also included are the testimonials of successful (and sometimes unsuccessful) applicants for posts and correspondence of academic staff in relation to syllabi and teaching arrangements. Letters in the series are referred to in the out-letter books and the Council Minutes.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In-correspondence is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically. By 1992 a majority of the deed boxes were collapsing, and a decision was taken to re-order the bundles in an integrated alphabetical sequence.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be provided for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive Services, King's College London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
King's College London Archives holds College Secretary's out-letter books (KA/OLB), College Secretary's files relating to policy, 1828-1992 (KAS/GC) and academic departments and academic initiatives, 1896-1900 (KAS/AC); Library files relating to administration, 1925-1994 (KAL/AD), some letters are referenced in the Council minute books, 1828-1996 (KA/C/M).
Finding aids
Detailed catalogues are available in hard copy in the reading room of the College Archives.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997; ISAD(G), Second edition, 2000.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English