GB 0100 KCLCA KS - King's College School

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0100 KCLCA KS

Title

King's College School

Date(s)

  • 1868-1911 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

2 boxes, 3 volumes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

King's College School was created as the Junior Department to King's College London, instituted by Royal Charter in 1829. Both College and School opened in 1831. Although students were not limited to members of the Church of England, its influence was strong. Boys were expected to transfer from the School to the College at the age of 16. The School's premises were in the basement of the King's College site east of Somerset House, between the Strand and the Thames. Rapid growth in pupil numbers and limited capital caused difficulties of accommodation. In the early years of their existence, the School was numerically greater than the College and the financial support which arose from its success was instrumental in the College's survival, although by mid-century competition from an increasing number of rival schools caused numbers to decline. Many rivals had more spacious premises and open space on suburban sites with which the Strand premises could not compete. In 1897 the School moved to Wimbledon and pupil numbers began to grow. New buildings were opened in 1899. The King's College London Transfer Act (1908) incorporated a new body of governors for the School and, although the transfer was delayed by the heavy debts of the School, the new governing body inherited control from the council of King's College in 1911. See also Frank Miles and Graeme Cranch, Kings College School: the First 150 Years (King's College School, 1979); F J C Hearnshaw, The Centenary History of King's College London 1828-1928 (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 1929).

Archival history

A majority of records relating specifically to the School prior to its move to Wimbledon were transferred to the School from King's College London Archives in the 1970s. Other records were destroyed in a fire in 1918.
GB 0100 KCLCA KS 1868-1911 Collection (fonds) 2 boxes, 3 volumes King's College School , 1831-1897 , Strand
King's College School , from 1897 , Wimbledon
King's College School was created as the Junior Department to King's College London, instituted by Royal Charter in 1829. Both College and School opened in 1831. Although students were not limited to members of the Church of England, its influence was strong. Boys were expected to transfer from the School to the College at the age of 16. The School's premises were in the basement of the King's College site east of Somerset House, between the Strand and the Thames. Rapid growth in pupil numbers and limited capital caused difficulties of accommodation. In the early years of their existence, the School was numerically greater than the College and the financial support which arose from its success was instrumental in the College's survival, although by mid-century competition from an increasing number of rival schools caused numbers to decline. Many rivals had more spacious premises and open space on suburban sites with which the Strand premises could not compete. In 1897 the School moved to Wimbledon and pupil numbers began to grow. New buildings were opened in 1899. The King's College London Transfer Act (1908) incorporated a new body of governors for the School and, although the transfer was delayed by the heavy debts of the School, the new governing body inherited control from the council of King's College in 1911. See also Frank Miles and Graeme Cranch, Kings College School: the First 150 Years (King's College School, 1979); F J C Hearnshaw, The Centenary History of King's College London 1828-1928 (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 1929).

A majority of records relating specifically to the School prior to its move to Wimbledon were transferred to the School from King's College London Archives in the 1970s. Other records were destroyed in a fire in 1918.

Records, 1868-1911, of King's College School, including annual lists of pupils and amounts paid for books, 1868-1896, and indexes of books in use [late 19th century] (Ref: KS/LI); papers on the removal of the School to Wimbledon, 1897; cash accounts for Trustees meetings, 1897-1900; correspondence on raising funds for the School, 1902-1903; correspondence on the financial consequences of severance of the School from King's College London, 1905-1906; applications for the headmastership, 1906; correspondence on a proposal for a pupils' boarding house in Wimbledon, 1909-1910; correspondence and papers on School affairs including transfer of the School from King's College London, financial affairs, the new governing body, and applications for the headmastership, 1909-1911 (Ref: KS/F).

Arranged in two series.

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

List available in reading room at King's College London Archives.

King's College London Archives holds early College records from its inception in 1828, where references to King's College School may be found in Council minutes (Ref: KA/C/M), minutes of special committees of Council (Ref: KA/CS/M), in-correspondence (Ref: KA/IC), out-letter books (Ref: KA/OLB), and reports on the School in King's College Calendars; the King's College Secretary's general administration files containing papers, 1908-1911, on subjects including the separation of King's College School from King's College London (Ref: KAS/AD); The Sneezer, 1885, a King's College School magazine (Ref: K/SER113); King's College School magazine, 1890, 1896-1903, 1916-1923 (Ref: K/SER20/1-42). Published lists of alumni of King's College School are available in the reading room at King's College London Archives. King's College School, Southside, London SW19, holds more recent records.

Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: list at King's College London Archives; Frank Miles and Graeme Cranch, Kings College School: the First 150 Years (King's College School, 1979); F J C Hearnshaw, The Centenary History of King's College London 1828-1928 (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 1929); AIM25 description for King's College London Archives, KAS/AD2. 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. Mar 2001 Accounting Economics of education Educational administrators Educational buildings Educational finance Educational management Educational personnel England Europe Finance Financial administration Indexes Information/library economics Information/library finance Information/library planning King's College School , 1831-1897 , Strand x King's College School , from 1897 , Wimbledon Libraries London Personnel management Recruitment School buildings Schoolchildren School libraries Schools Secondary documents Students Surrey UK Western Europe Westminster Wimbledon Educational institutions City of Westminster Merton Organization and administration Personnel People by occupation Health services administration People Public administration Government

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records, 1868-1911, of King's College School, including annual lists of pupils and amounts paid for books, 1868-1896, and indexes of books in use [late 19th century] (Ref: KS/LI); papers on the removal of the School to Wimbledon, 1897; cash accounts for Trustees meetings, 1897-1900; correspondence on raising funds for the School, 1902-1903; correspondence on the financial consequences of severance of the School from King's College London, 1905-1906; applications for the headmastership, 1906; correspondence on a proposal for a pupils' boarding house in Wimbledon, 1909-1910; correspondence and papers on School affairs including transfer of the School from King's College London, financial affairs, the new governing body, and applications for the headmastership, 1909-1911 (Ref: KS/F).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in two series.

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 early College records from its inception in 1828, where references to King's College School may be found in Council minutes (Ref: KA/C/M), minutes of special committees of Council (Ref: KA/CS/M), in-correspondence (Ref: KA/IC), out-letter books (Ref: KA/OLB), and reports on the School in King's College Calendars; the King's College Secretary's general administration files containing papers, 1908-1911, on subjects including the separation of King's College School from King's College London (Ref: KAS/AD); The Sneezer, 1885, a King's College School magazine (Ref: K/SER113); King's College School magazine, 1890, 1896-1903, 1916-1923 (Ref: K/SER20/1-42). Published lists of alumni of King's College School are available in the reading room at King's College London Archives. King's College School, Southside, London SW19, holds more recent records.

Finding aids

List available in reading room at King's College London Archives.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

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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