Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1924-2000 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Romney Street Group is a small London-based luncheon club, with no political or religious alignment, which has met regularly since 1917 for the discussion of public affairs. It has maintained a membership of working and retired professionals with a range of backgrounds in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Its discussions are open to members and their guests, and are conducted according to so-called 'Chatham House rules' - that is, on the understanding that all contributions to the discussion remain confidential to the participants, except with express permission to the contrary. Women were first admitted as guests in 1926, and as members in 1959 or 1960. The Group was founded by Joseph Peter Thorp, then dramatic critic of Punch magazine. Its first Chairman was Thomas Jones, Deputy Secretary to Lloyd George's Cabinet. Its immediate purpose was to provide a forum in which to discuss, and a means by which to influence, the conduct of post-war public affairs. It met in a house in Romney Street, Westminster, for the first year of its existence only. Meetings have since taken place in many venues, mostly in London.. At first, topics for discussion were taken up on an 'ad hoc' basis, depending upon the interests of members and guests present, and the immediate events of the day. Since the 1950s, however, a formal programme of speakers and topics for discussion has been drawn up and circulated in advance by the Group Secretary. Administration has been informal for most of the Group's history.
Archival history
Given by the Romney Street Group in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
GB 0097 ROMNEY STREET GROUP 1924-2000 Collection (fonds) 6 boxes Romney Street Group
The Romney Street Group is a small London-based luncheon club, with no political or religious alignment, which has met regularly since 1917 for the discussion of public affairs. It has maintained a membership of working and retired professionals with a range of backgrounds in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Its discussions are open to members and their guests, and are conducted according to so-called 'Chatham House rules' - that is, on the understanding that all contributions to the discussion remain confidential to the participants, except with express permission to the contrary. Women were first admitted as guests in 1926, and as members in 1959 or 1960. The Group was founded by Joseph Peter Thorp, then dramatic critic of Punch magazine. Its first Chairman was Thomas Jones, Deputy Secretary to Lloyd George's Cabinet. Its immediate purpose was to provide a forum in which to discuss, and a means by which to influence, the conduct of post-war public affairs. It met in a house in Romney Street, Westminster, for the first year of its existence only. Meetings have since taken place in many venues, mostly in London.. At first, topics for discussion were taken up on an 'ad hoc' basis, depending upon the interests of members and guests present, and the immediate events of the day. Since the 1950s, however, a formal programme of speakers and topics for discussion has been drawn up and circulated in advance by the Group Secretary. Administration has been informal for most of the Group's history.
Given by the Romney Street Group in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Records of the Romney Street Group, 1924-2000, including attendance registers of members and guests, 1924-1995, which also contain press cuttings and other ephemera; general correspondence of the Group Secretary, 1935-1999, mainly relating to the arrangement of topics, speakers and venues for Group meetings, membership and finances, and including circulars, press cuttings and obituaries; membership lists, [1940]-1991; Group meeting programmes, 1951-2000, giving details of topics, speakers and venues, as well as general news items; material concerning members' suggestions for topics and speakers, 1973-[1994], comprising completed annual survey forms and the secretary's analysis of these; notes of the proceedings of Group meetings, 1972-1977, on subjects including politics, social and economic policy, industry, devolution, and technical education; papers and offprints, 1974-1991, including transcripts of presentations to Group discussions; material concerning the organisation of special group events, such as anniversary dinners, 1973-1993; notes and correspondence relating to venues for Group discussions, 1973; Secretary's appointment book, 1988-1990, containing details of topics and speakers; account books, 1968-1989; Treasurer's correspondence, 1968-1993, including AGM reports, accounts, invoices and circulars; AGM minutes and papers, 1994-2000; materials relating to the history of the group, 1984-2000, comprising correspondence, notes, circulars and press cuttings.
Expected.
Open.
Copyright is retained by the donor.
English
Unbound handlist and on-line catalogue available. Later accessions are unlisted.
The British Library of Political and Economic Science holds material concerning the Romney Street Group in the papers of Arnold plant (Ref: Plant). The Library also holds the papers of various Group members.
Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison 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. Apr 2001 Discussion groups Groups Romney Street Group
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Romney Street Group, 1924-2000, including attendance registers of members and guests, 1924-1995, which also contain press cuttings and other ephemera; general correspondence of the Group Secretary, 1935-1999, mainly relating to the arrangement of topics, speakers and venues for Group meetings, membership and finances, and including circulars, press cuttings and obituaries; membership lists, [1940]-1991; Group meeting programmes, 1951-2000, giving details of topics, speakers and venues, as well as general news items; material concerning members' suggestions for topics and speakers, 1973-[1994], comprising completed annual survey forms and the secretary's analysis of these; notes of the proceedings of Group meetings, 1972-1977, on subjects including politics, social and economic policy, industry, devolution, and technical education; papers and offprints, 1974-1991, including transcripts of presentations to Group discussions; material concerning the organisation of special group events, such as anniversary dinners, 1973-1993; notes and correspondence relating to venues for Group discussions, 1973; Secretary's appointment book, 1988-1990, containing details of topics and speakers; account books, 1968-1989; Treasurer's correspondence, 1968-1993, including AGM reports, accounts, invoices and circulars; AGM minutes and papers, 1994-2000; materials relating to the history of the group, 1984-2000, comprising correspondence, notes, circulars and press cuttings.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright is retained by the donor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The British Library of Political and Economic Science holds material concerning the Romney Street Group in the papers of Arnold plant (Ref: Plant). The Library also holds the papers of various Group members.
Finding aids
Unbound handlist and on-line catalogue available. Later accessions are unlisted.
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
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