Fonds GB 3184 RF - Robert Fenton Archive

Identity area

Reference code

GB 3184 RF

Title

Robert Fenton Archive

Date(s)

  • 1904-1960 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

2 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born 15 Aug 1891; educated Aldenham Institute, evening classes in letterpress printing, 1907-1916; apprentice and journeyman, Wyman and Sons, London, 1905-1915; compositor, layout-man and reader, Crowther and Co, 1915-1918; Overseer of compositor and deputy to Chief of Letterpress Dept, National Institute for the Blind, 1918-1920; Instructor, St Bride's Foundation Printing School, 1920-1922; Instructor, London School of Printing, Aug 1922-Jul 1956; continued to work as a part-time instructor at LSP until July 1961; member of various trade unions, including the London Society of Compositors, the London Typographical Society and the National Graphical Association; died 1989.

Archival history

GB 3184 Fenton 1904-1960 Collection (fonds) 2 linear metres Fenton , Robert George , 1891-1989 , Head of Composing Department, London School of Printing

Born 15 Aug 1891; educated Aldenham Institute, evening classes in letterpress printing, 1907-1916; apprentice and journeyman, Wyman and Sons, London, 1905-1915; compositor, layout-man and reader, Crowther and Co, 1915-1918; Overseer of compositor and deputy to Chief of Letterpress Dept, National Institute for the Blind, 1918-1920; Instructor, St Bride's Foundation Printing School, 1920-1922; Instructor, London School of Printing, Aug 1922-Jul 1956; continued to work as a part-time instructor at LSP until July 1961; member of various trade unions, including the London Society of Compositors, the London Typographical Society and the National Graphical Association; died 1989.

Donated by Fenton's family in 2001.

Papers of Robert George Fenton, 1904-1960, mainly relating to printing composition and typesetting, including City and Guilds of London Institute examination results, 1909-1912; homework while at Aldenham Institute, 1912-1916; scrapbook of London School of Printing (LSP) examination results, 1922-1932; notebooks on LSP class subjects 1927-1952, homework 1947, examinations, 1947-1952; papers relating to War Office correspondence course for compositors, 1940s; selection of LSP student printing specimens, 1928; LSP Year Book, 1938-1939; A survey of LSP inception and work, 1939; plans of LSP Composing Room, 1952, 1958; LSP prospectuses, 1955-1961; photographs of Fenton with staff and students in LSP Composing Room, c1956; photograph of retirement of E E Allen, LSP Vice Principal, 1955; printing type specimen sheets and books, including H W Caslon, 1912, 1920 and 1932, Stephenson, Black and Co Ltd, 1927, and Soldans Ltd, 1936; other papers relating to composing and typesetting including, 1930s-1950s, including LSP typeface books, impositions books for printing layouts, papers on monotype and linotype machinery, stereotyping and electrotyping, photo-composition and colour charts. The collection also includes printing manuals and text books, 1910s-1920s; compositors' sticks, quion keys and metal type samples.

Papers are arranged into two broad sections: 1) London School of Printing; 2) typefaces and typesetting. Papers are then arranged into files roughly corresponding to information given in scope and content.

Access to the collection is by appointment only.

At the discretion of the Media Librarian and subject to the provisions of the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.

English.

A handlist of the collection was given on accession, and is available at the London College of Printing.

London College of Printing holds papers relating to the London School of Printing.

Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP 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.
Jun 2001 Fenton , Robert George , 1891-1989 , Head of Composing Department, London School of Printing Technical education Photocomposition Illustration printing Typesetting Learning methods Distance education Correspondence education Publishing industry Publishing Printing Printing methods Offset printing Higher education institutions Vocational training subjects Vocational schools Communication personnel training Book production training Facilities Industrial facilities Printing workshops Training Vocational training London School of Printing and Graphic Arts London School of Printing and Kindred Trades War Office London England UK Western Europe Europe Educational institutions

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Fenton's family in 2001.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Robert George Fenton, 1904-1960, mainly relating to printing composition and typesetting, including City and Guilds of London Institute examination results, 1909-1912; homework while at Aldenham Institute, 1912-1916; scrapbook of London School of Printing (LSP) examination results, 1922-1932; notebooks on LSP class subjects 1927-1952, homework 1947, examinations, 1947-1952; papers relating to War Office correspondence course for compositors, 1940s; selection of LSP student printing specimens, 1928; LSP Year Book, 1938-1939; A survey of LSP inception and work, 1939; plans of LSP Composing Room, 1952, 1958; LSP prospectuses, 1955-1961; photographs of Fenton with staff and students in LSP Composing Room, c1956; photograph of retirement of E E Allen, LSP Vice Principal, 1955; printing type specimen sheets and books, including H W Caslon, 1912, 1920 and 1932, Stephenson, Black and Co Ltd, 1927, and Soldans Ltd, 1936; other papers relating to composing and typesetting including, 1930s-1950s, including LSP typeface books, impositions books for printing layouts, papers on monotype and linotype machinery, stereotyping and electrotyping, photo-composition and colour charts. The collection also includes printing manuals and text books, 1910s-1920s; compositors' sticks, quion keys and metal type samples.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Papers are arranged into two broad sections: 1) London School of Printing; 2) typefaces and typesetting. Papers are then arranged into files roughly corresponding to information given in scope and content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to the collection is by appointment only.

Conditions governing reproduction

At the discretion of the Media Librarian and subject to the provisions of the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

London College of Printing holds papers relating to the London School of Printing.

Finding aids

View the UAL online archive catalogue here: https://archives.arts.ac.uk/Calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=RF

A handlist of the collection was given on accession, and is available at the London College of Printing.

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

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

GB 3184 University of the Arts London: University Archives and Special Collections

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)

  • Latin

Sources

Accession area