Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1886-1985 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
22 boxes or 0.22 cubic metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Bedford College Magazine was started in 1886, and became in 1894 the organ of the newly formed Bedford College Students' Association. Another early student magazine, The Magazine of Bedford Knowledge, was intended to be a light-hearted alternative. When in 1923 the Association became responsible solely for former students, the title was kept for a magazine for alumni. Present students were catered for with the Bedford College Union Magazine, which began in the same year (1923).
After a break (1941-1946) during World War Two, when the College was evacuated to Cambridge, the Bedford College Union Magazine was revived mainly as a literary magazine and given the title of The Unicorn, which it kept until 1965. Alongside this magazine ran a newssheet relating to events in the College, known successively as the Bedford News (1946-1961), the Inner Circular (1962-1982), and finally The Absorber (1981-1985), the last of which provided the students with details of the merger with Royal Holloway College.
Repository
Archival history
The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.
GB 0505 BC AS200-205 1886-1985 Subfonds of Bedford College 22 boxes or 0.22 cubic metres Bedford College
The Bedford College Magazine was started in 1886, and became in 1894 the organ of the newly formed Bedford College Students' Association. Another early student magazine, The Magazine of Bedford Knowledge, was intended to be a light-hearted alternative. When in 1923 the Association became responsible solely for former students, the title was kept for a magazine for alumni. Present students were catered for with the Bedford College Union Magazine, which began in the same year (1923).
After a break (1941-1946) during World War Two, when the College was evacuated to Cambridge, the Bedford College Union Magazine was revived mainly as a literary magazine and given the title of The Unicorn, which it kept until 1965. Alongside this magazine ran a newssheet relating to events in the College, known successively as the Bedford News (1946-1961), the Inner Circular (1962-1982), and finally The Absorber (1981-1985), the last of which provided the students with details of the merger with Royal Holloway College.
The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.
Bound volumes of the Bedford College Magazine, 1886-1921; copies of the Magazine of Bedford Knowledge, 1896; copies of The Owlet, 1906; copies of The Balance, magazine of the Society for the Study of Womens' Franchise, 1913; copies of Minerva Smiles, 1918; copies of the Bedford College Union Magazine, 1921-1941; 'Bedford writings', compiled from literary pieces from the Bedford College Union Magazine, 1943 and 1945; copies of The Unicorn, 1946-1965, the Bedford News, 1946-1961, the Inner Circular, 1962-1982, and The Absorber, 1981-1985; brochures and programmes for College events, 1903-1985.
Arranged by publication.
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 a centenary copy of The Unicorn, 1949 (BC RF121/1/5c).
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 Communications media Bedford College , Students' Association Bedford College , Union Society Bedford College x Bedford College for Women Educational systems Electoral systems Higher education institutions Internal politics Periodicals Publications Society for the Study of Women's Franchise Universities Womens education Womens suffrage Information sciences Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Bound volumes of the Bedford College Magazine, 1886-1921; copies of the Magazine of Bedford Knowledge, 1896; copies of The Owlet, 1906; copies of The Balance, magazine of the Society for the Study of Womens' Franchise, 1913; copies of Minerva Smiles, 1918; copies of the Bedford College Union Magazine, 1921-1941; 'Bedford writings', compiled from literary pieces from the Bedford College Union Magazine, 1943 and 1945; copies of The Unicorn, 1946-1965, the Bedford News, 1946-1961, the Inner Circular, 1962-1982, and The Absorber, 1981-1985; brochures and programmes for College events, 1903-1985.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged by publication.
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 a centenary copy of The Unicorn, 1949 (BC RF121/1/5c).
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
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Educational systems
- Internal politics » Electoral systems
- Higher education institutions
- Internal politics
- Periodicals
- Higher education institutions » Universities
- Educational systems » Womens education
- Internal politics » Electoral systems » Womens suffrage
- Information sciences
- Educational institutions
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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