GB 0505 RHC AR100-180 - Principal's Office of Royal Holloway College

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0505 RHC AR100-180

Title

Principal's Office of Royal Holloway College

Date(s)

  • 1887-1966 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

37 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Foundation Deed of Royal Holloway College laid down that the Principal should be an unmarried woman or childless widow, a stipulation which was adhered to until the Royal Holloway College Act of 1962. The Principal had responsibility for the entire internal management and discipline of the College (subject to the approval of the Council). Her department's administrative responsibilities therefore included student welfare and discipline, examinations, Chapel services and general administration of the Household staff. Miss E M Guinness acted as Vice-Principal from 1899-1908, entailing the transfer of her Library duties to the Principal's Department, though she was eventually replaced by an administrative assistant. The assistant's duties, already reduced by the appointment of a full-time librarian in 1935, were divided after 1937 between the Principal's Secretary and a Tutor. The latter became responsible for discipline and student welfare, while the Principal's Secretary, who was also given the title of Registrar, became responsible for student records and examinations. In 1944, with the creation of a separate Registry, the post became known as the Principal's Private Secretary. The post of Tutor, initially an experimental one, proved a success and by 1946 there were two Tutors and a Dean. The post of Vice-Principal was reinstituted in 1946, to be filled by a member of academic staff.

The Principal maintained close contact with the administrative staff, seeing the College Secretary, the Housekeeper, the Nurse and the Caretaker every morning, the Butler and the Gardener twice a week, and the Cook, Engineer and Nightwatchman when necessary. This system remained in place until the growth of the College in the 1960s.

Archival history

GB 0505 RHC AR100-180 1887-1966 Subfonds of Royal Holloway College 37 boxes Royal Holloway College , Principal's Office

The Foundation Deed of Royal Holloway College laid down that the Principal should be an unmarried woman or childless widow, a stipulation which was adhered to until the Royal Holloway College Act of 1962. The Principal had responsibility for the entire internal management and discipline of the College (subject to the approval of the Council). Her department's administrative responsibilities therefore included student welfare and discipline, examinations, Chapel services and general administration of the Household staff. Miss E M Guinness acted as Vice-Principal from 1899-1908, entailing the transfer of her Library duties to the Principal's Department, though she was eventually replaced by an administrative assistant. The assistant's duties, already reduced by the appointment of a full-time librarian in 1935, were divided after 1937 between the Principal's Secretary and a Tutor. The latter became responsible for discipline and student welfare, while the Principal's Secretary, who was also given the title of Registrar, became responsible for student records and examinations. In 1944, with the creation of a separate Registry, the post became known as the Principal's Private Secretary. The post of Tutor, initially an experimental one, proved a success and by 1946 there were two Tutors and a Dean. The post of Vice-Principal was reinstituted in 1946, to be filled by a member of academic staff.

The Principal maintained close contact with the administrative staff, seeing the College Secretary, the Housekeeper, the Nurse and the Caretaker every morning, the Butler and the Gardener twice a week, and the Cook, Engineer and Nightwatchman when necessary. This system remained in place until the growth of the College in the 1960s.

Papers of the Principal's Office of Royal Holloway College, 1887-1966, comprising papers relating to College functions, 1934-1939, 1946-1947, 1952, including the Garden Party, Commemoration Day, and Royal visits. Papers concerning the Royal Holloway College Association, 1907-1908 and 1934-1944, including letters and circulars requesting that women be admitted to the Board of Governors, 1907-1908, arrangements for RHCA meetings, 1935-1944, and subscription to the Jubilee Fellowship Fund, 1934-1935. Staff Records, 1888-1956, mainly comprising letters and reports on conditions of service and residence, and timetables. Papers of the Senior Student, 1909-1962, mainly correspondence with the Principal relating to the Student's Union and student affairs at Royal Holloway College, including social and domestic regulations. Material concerning the College Chapel, including Registers of attendance at Church of England and Free Church services, 1887-1966; service sheets, 1900-1965, and service papers, 1905-1963; Forms of Service and sermons, 1887, 1897, 1935 and 1965; accounts, 1887-1961, detailing receipts and expenditure from Chapel Offertories; correspondence and memoranda, 1887-1945 and 1965, including reports on the College Waif, 1932-1945. Correspondence and memoranda, 1895-1944, including material relating to the University of London Constitution, 1895-1927, notably the Haldane Commission on University Education in London, and the University of London Act (1926); memoranda, letters and papers relating to the University of London, 1909-1957, including the conferment of University titles on members of the Royal Holloway College Staff, 1909-1914, war-time regulations and supplies, 1939-1947, and recruitment for the Women's Royal Air Force, 1951-1952, 1957; memoranda relating to Royal Holloway College, 1899-1944, on subjects including the administration of the College, academic scholarships and prizes, constitution of the Academic Board, College sporting societies, student fees, faculty work and the staffing of departments; correspondence, 1912-1948, mainly relating to air raid precautions during World War Two, and the occupation of the east side of Founder's Building by the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Royal Holloway College regulations and notices, 1906-1960, notably instructions to students, duties of various administrative staff, duties of various academic staff, notes for members of the Senior Common Room, fire precautions, regulations for the playing of sports, and hospitality.

Papers are arranged in bound volumes or files 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 College Archivist.
English

'A guide to Royal Holloway College Archives' by Derryan Paul, Jun 1973.

The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold the papers of the Committee on Chapel Services, 1887-1898 (RHC GB202); the papers of the Senior Student, 1906-1944, which contain correspondence with various Principals (RHC AS160-164); photographs of Principals and their staff (RHC PH282), and College functions (RHC PH200-201); portraits of various Principals (RHC PH283); papers of the Principal's Portrait Committee, 1925-1926 (RHC AS915).

The history of Royal Holloway College, 1886-1986 (Constable, London, 1987), by Caroline Bingham.

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 Wars (events) Academic teaching personnel Churches Clubs Economics of education Educational administrative structure Educational administrators Educational associations Educational finance Educational grants Educational management Educational organizations Educational personnel Egham England Europe Higher education institutions International conflicts Leisure Leisure time activities Religious activities Religious buildings Religious ceremony Religious practice Royal Holloway College Royal Holloway College Association Royal Holloway College , Board of Governors Royal Holloway College , Chapel Royal Holloway College , Council Royal Holloway College , Principal's Office Scholarships Student organizations Students Surrey Teachers UK Universities University of London x London University War Western Europe Women students Women teachers World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) WRAF , Women's Royal Air Force x Women's Royal Air Force Buildings Architecture London Personnel People by occupation People Educational institutions

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Principal's Office of Royal Holloway College, 1887-1966, comprising papers relating to College functions, 1934-1939, 1946-1947, 1952, including the Garden Party, Commemoration Day, and Royal visits. Papers concerning the Royal Holloway College Association, 1907-1908 and 1934-1944, including letters and circulars requesting that women be admitted to the Board of Governors, 1907-1908, arrangements for RHCA meetings, 1935-1944, and subscription to the Jubilee Fellowship Fund, 1934-1935. Staff Records, 1888-1956, mainly comprising letters and reports on conditions of service and residence, and timetables. Papers of the Senior Student, 1909-1962, mainly correspondence with the Principal relating to the Student's Union and student affairs at Royal Holloway College, including social and domestic regulations. Material concerning the College Chapel, including Registers of attendance at Church of England and Free Church services, 1887-1966; service sheets, 1900-1965, and service papers, 1905-1963; Forms of Service and sermons, 1887, 1897, 1935 and 1965; accounts, 1887-1961, detailing receipts and expenditure from Chapel Offertories; correspondence and memoranda, 1887-1945 and 1965, including reports on the College Waif, 1932-1945. Correspondence and memoranda, 1895-1944, including material relating to the University of London Constitution, 1895-1927, notably the Haldane Commission on University Education in London, and the University of London Act (1926); memoranda, letters and papers relating to the University of London, 1909-1957, including the conferment of University titles on members of the Royal Holloway College Staff, 1909-1914, war-time regulations and supplies, 1939-1947, and recruitment for the Women's Royal Air Force, 1951-1952, 1957; memoranda relating to Royal Holloway College, 1899-1944, on subjects including the administration of the College, academic scholarships and prizes, constitution of the Academic Board, College sporting societies, student fees, faculty work and the staffing of departments; correspondence, 1912-1948, mainly relating to air raid precautions during World War Two, and the occupation of the east side of Founder's Building by the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Royal Holloway College regulations and notices, 1906-1960, notably instructions to students, duties of various administrative staff, duties of various academic staff, notes for members of the Senior Common Room, fire precautions, regulations for the playing of sports, and hospitality.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Papers are arranged in bound volumes or files 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 College 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 the papers of the Committee on Chapel Services, 1887-1898 (RHC GB202); the papers of the Senior Student, 1906-1944, which contain correspondence with various Principals (RHC AS160-164); photographs of Principals and their staff (RHC PH282), and College functions (RHC PH200-201); portraits of various Principals (RHC PH283); papers of the Principal's Portrait Committee, 1925-1926 (RHC AS915).

Finding aids

'A guide to Royal Holloway College Archives' by Derryan Paul, Jun 1973.

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

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