GB 0505 BC AL900-990 - Library of Bedford College

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0505 BC AL900-990

Title

Library of Bedford College

Date(s)

  • 1886-1974 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

31 boxes and 6 volumes or 0.37 cubic metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Council set up the Library Committee in 1886, though Rachel Notcutt had been Librarian since 1872. The original Committee included six former students, a representative of the present students, the Secretary of Council, and the Librarian. A member of the Council and a further two present students were added in 1890, but staff were not represented until 1895, when two were allowed to sit on the Committee. At the same time, the former students were removed from the Library Committee and replaced by the Chairman and seven members of the Council. The Principal became an ex officio member, and a fourth present student was added. The 1909 Charter removed student representation altogether. The composition altered once more in 1937, and the Committee comprised all Heads of Departments, a member of Assistant staff from each Faculty, four Council representatives and the ex officio Committee members. The Librarian has throughout acted as Secretary to the Committee. After the resignation of Rachel Notcutt in 1896, volunteers held the post until 1902, when a full time Librarian was appointed. The Library staff slowly increased, and in 1926 the Librarian was assigned the status of Head of an academic department. The scope of the Committee was to draw up rules for the use of the Library, and to arrange the books.

Archival history

The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.
GB 0505 BC AL900-990 1886-1974 Subfonds of Bedford College 31 boxes and 6 volumes or 0.37 cubic metres Bedford College , Library

The Council set up the Library Committee in 1886, though Rachel Notcutt had been Librarian since 1872. The original Committee included six former students, a representative of the present students, the Secretary of Council, and the Librarian. A member of the Council and a further two present students were added in 1890, but staff were not represented until 1895, when two were allowed to sit on the Committee. At the same time, the former students were removed from the Library Committee and replaced by the Chairman and seven members of the Council. The Principal became an ex officio member, and a fourth present student was added. The 1909 Charter removed student representation altogether. The composition altered once more in 1937, and the Committee comprised all Heads of Departments, a member of Assistant staff from each Faculty, four Council representatives and the ex officio Committee members. The Librarian has throughout acted as Secretary to the Committee. After the resignation of Rachel Notcutt in 1896, volunteers held the post until 1902, when a full time Librarian was appointed. The Library staff slowly increased, and in 1926 the Librarian was assigned the status of Head of an academic department. The scope of the Committee was to draw up rules for the use of the Library, and to arrange the books.

The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.

Material relating to Bedford College Library, 1849-85, notably Minutes of the Library Committee, 1886-1983; Library working files, 1918-1985, on subjects including war arrangements, grant, University libraries, estimates and expenditure, staff and salaries and departmental matters; correspondence between the Librarian and the Secretary of the Council, 1889-1950; Library correspondence relating to alterations and repairs, 1932-1954; Library lists and registers, 1849-1985, including a Visitors' Book, 1953-1985, and Withdrawals Registers, 1917-1922 and 1954-1974; papers relating to insect problems in the Library, 1951; Doris Bains's statistics book and Library Staff Book; miscellaneous literary works, [1940-1959]; University Grants Committee (UGC) liaison reports, 1964; papers relating to the reclassification of the Library stock, 1969-1970; Library Accessions Register, 1897-1971; Pamphlet Accessions Register, 1921-1971; Donations Register, 1963-1970; plans by Maxwell Ayrton relating to the Tate Library extension, 1932-1950; plans by Easton and Robertson relating to the Tate and Herringham Library extension, 1961-1963.

Arranged according to subject.

Administrative and Committee papers are closed for 30 years from the last date on file. Papers relating to individuals are usually closed for 100 years from the subject's birth. Users are advised to consult the College Archivist for specific details.

Copies of open material may be supplied, subject to the condition of the original. Requests to publish original material should be directed to the Archivist.
English

'A catalogue of the Archives of Bedford College (University of London), 1849-1985' by Claire Gobbi Daunton and Elizabeth Bennett, 1987.

The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold other papers relating to the Library including minutes of the Committee for Alterations to the Library, 1931-1932 (GB161/2/1); Registrar's Committee papers of the Library Committee, 1971-1982, (BC AR270/3/1-2); a report on future Library accommodation in the Acland Building, 1971 (AR555/1); typescript piece by a Library Trainee entitled 'A short history of Bedford College Library', [1972] (RF121/3/1); an article on 'Library shelving' from Harvey Magazine, Dec 1964 (RF121/3/2); and various articles on the history of the Library [1953] (RF121/3/3); printing block for the Bedford College Library bookplate (RF170/7); and photographs of Jessie Paterson, Librarian from 1907-1941 (BC PH1).

A history of Bedford College for Women, 1849-1937 (Oxford University Press, London, 1939), by Dame Margaret Jansen Tuke; Educating women: a pictorial history of Bedford College, University of London, 1849-1985 (Alma Publishers, Surrey, 1991), by Dr Linna Bentley.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the AIM25 project. 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. Apr 2000 Academic libraries Accessions lists Acquisitions Ayrton , Ormrod Maxwell , d 1960 , architect x Ayrton , Maxwell Bains , Doris , fl 1967 , librarian Bedford College , Librarian Bedford College , Library Bedford College , Library Committee Bedford College , Secretary of the Council Bedford College x Bedford College for Women Building maintenance Building operations Cataloguing Construction engineering Finance Financial administration Information/library administration Information/library economics Information/library facilities Information/library finance Information/library management Information/library personnel Information/library planning Information processing International conflicts Inventories Libraries Library buildings Library circulation Personnel management Reconstruction (buildings) Secondary documents UGC , University Grants Committee x University Grants Committee Wages War World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Wars (events) Organization and administration Health services administration Public administration Government

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Material relating to Bedford College Library, 1849-85, notably Minutes of the Library Committee, 1886-1983; Library working files, 1918-1985, on subjects including war arrangements, grant, University libraries, estimates and expenditure, staff and salaries and departmental matters; correspondence between the Librarian and the Secretary of the Council, 1889-1950; Library correspondence relating to alterations and repairs, 1932-1954; Library lists and registers, 1849-1985, including a Visitors' Book, 1953-1985, and Withdrawals Registers, 1917-1922 and 1954-1974; papers relating to insect problems in the Library, 1951; Doris Bains's statistics book and Library Staff Book; miscellaneous literary works, [1940-1959]; University Grants Committee (UGC) liaison reports, 1964; papers relating to the reclassification of the Library stock, 1969-1970; Library Accessions Register, 1897-1971; Pamphlet Accessions Register, 1921-1971; Donations Register, 1963-1970; plans by Maxwell Ayrton relating to the Tate Library extension, 1932-1950; plans by Easton and Robertson relating to the Tate and Herringham Library extension, 1961-1963.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged according to subject.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Administrative and Committee papers are closed for 30 years from the last date on file. Papers relating to individuals are usually closed for 100 years from the subject's birth. Users are advised to consult the College Archivist for specific details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies of open material may be supplied, subject to the condition of the original. Requests to publish original material should be directed to the Archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold other papers relating to the Library including minutes of the Committee for Alterations to the Library, 1931-1932 (GB161/2/1); Registrar's Committee papers of the Library Committee, 1971-1982, (BC AR270/3/1-2); a report on future Library accommodation in the Acland Building, 1971 (AR555/1); typescript piece by a Library Trainee entitled 'A short history of Bedford College Library', [1972] (RF121/3/1); an article on 'Library shelving' from Harvey Magazine, Dec 1964 (RF121/3/2); and various articles on the history of the Library [1953] (RF121/3/3); printing block for the Bedford College Library bookplate (RF170/7); and photographs of Jessie Paterson, Librarian from 1907-1941 (BC PH1).

Finding aids

'A catalogue of the Archives of Bedford College (University of London), 1849-1985' by Claire Gobbi Daunton and Elizabeth Bennett, 1987.

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

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal Holloway, University of London

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