Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1884-1990 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
17 volumes, 104 files
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
George Grove became a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the proposed Royal College of Music (RCM) in July 1881, and became its first Director in 1882, rather through his abilities in organizing the many fund raising and administrative meetings required prior to the College's opening than by an official appointment. Through Grove, the Director's role gained wide-ranging powers of policy and administration subject to the College's Council. Grove retired in 1894. He was succeeded by Sir Hubert Parry (1895-1918), Sir Hugh Allen (1919-1937), Sir George Dyson (1938-1952), Sir Ernest Bullock (1953-1959), Sir Keith Falkner (1960-1974), Sir David Willcocks (1974-1984), Michael Gough Mathews (1985-1983) and Dr Janet Ritterman (1993-).
The Board of Professors was established from the outset of the College in 1883, in continuance of a similar system previously operating in the National Training School for Music, to assist in general educational matters and policy within the College. The first Board consisted of 10 professors, supported by a larger panel of 30 other teachers. In 1975 the Council decided that three additional members of staff appointed by the Board of Professors were to be eligible to be members of the Council.
Repository
Archival history
GB 1249 Director 1884-1990 Sub fonds of the archives of the RCM 17 volumes, 104 files Royal College of Music
George Grove became a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the proposed Royal College of Music (RCM) in July 1881, and became its first Director in 1882, rather through his abilities in organizing the many fund raising and administrative meetings required prior to the College's opening than by an official appointment. Through Grove, the Director's role gained wide-ranging powers of policy and administration subject to the College's Council. Grove retired in 1894. He was succeeded by Sir Hubert Parry (1895-1918), Sir Hugh Allen (1919-1937), Sir George Dyson (1938-1952), Sir Ernest Bullock (1953-1959), Sir Keith Falkner (1960-1974), Sir David Willcocks (1974-1984), Michael Gough Mathews (1985-1983) and Dr Janet Ritterman (1993-).
The Board of Professors was established from the outset of the College in 1883, in continuance of a similar system previously operating in the National Training School for Music, to assist in general educational matters and policy within the College. The first Board consisted of 10 professors, supported by a larger panel of 30 other teachers. In 1975 the Council decided that three additional members of staff appointed by the Board of Professors were to be eligible to be members of the Council.
Internal accumulation by the RCM during the course of business.
Records of the Director of the Royal College of Music RCM), 1884-1990, including minutes of the Board of Professors, 1894-1993; reports of annual examinations, 1884-1908; Certificate of Proficiency examinations minute book (recording exam regulations and marks awarded), 1886-1899; correspondence to Sir George Grove, Director of the RCM, from the Office of the Prince of Wales, 1884-1888, with material relating to the building of the RCM funded by Samson Fox and opened in 1894; correspondence from Sir Ernest Palmer in regard to aim of the Palmer Fund for Opera Study, 1924; RCM Emergency Concerts Society: correspondence, notices and programmes, 1939; curricula of the Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music (GRSM), 1961-1979.
Due for appraisal in late 2001; later material is likely to be weeded.
Arranged in series, mostly corresponding to information given in scope and content.
The release of any material will be at the College's sole discretion to bona fide researchers who supply a letter which states their credentials and their relationship (e.g. biographer, genealogist, family member) to the individual concerned and which defines clearly the purpose of their research. Access to non-confidential material will normally be available at the College's discretion and under the supervision of library staff. Direct access to confidential records containing personal or private information will not normally be automatically granted until the death of the correspondents can be reliably established, or 25 years after their creation, whichever is later. Permission of the use of records for aggregate research (e.g. statistical data) will normally be granted provided that such research does not identify individuals. Access to other college records, including minutes and correspondence will normally be granted at the College's discretion.
Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.
English
Researchers should apply to the Archivist for further information on these records.
The RCM holds other material relating to the Patron's and Palmer Fund for Opera Study in the records of the Council (Ref: Council), Bursar (Ref: Bursar) and a notebook of the Palmer family on the Patron's Fund concerts (Ref: MS 1140).
Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: The Royal College of Music: a centenary record by H C Coles and John Cruft (Prince Consort Foundation, London, 1982). 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. Mar 2001 Academic buildings Cultural education Economics of education Educational administrative structure Educational buildings Educational evaluation Educational finance Educational foundations Educational governing boards Educational organizations Educational supervision Edward VII , 1841-1910 , King of Great Britain and Ireland England Europe Examination marks Grove , Sir , George , 1820-1900 , Knight , civil engineer writer on music Kensington London Music Musical performances Music education Palmer , Samuel Ernest , 1858-1948 , 1st Baron Palmer of Reading x Palmer of Reading , Baron Royal College of Music Student evaluation UK Western Europe Performing arts Kensington and Chelsea
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Internal accumulation by the RCM during the course of business.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Director of the Royal College of Music RCM), 1884-1990, including minutes of the Board of Professors, 1894-1993; reports of annual examinations, 1884-1908; Certificate of Proficiency examinations minute book (recording exam regulations and marks awarded), 1886-1899; correspondence to Sir George Grove, Director of the RCM, from the Office of the Prince of Wales, 1884-1888, with material relating to the building of the RCM funded by Samson Fox and opened in 1894; correspondence from Sir Ernest Palmer in regard to aim of the Palmer Fund for Opera Study, 1924; RCM Emergency Concerts Society: correspondence, notices and programmes, 1939; curricula of the Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music (GRSM), 1961-1979.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Due for appraisal in late 2001; later material is likely to be weeded.
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in series, mostly corresponding to information given in scope and content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The release of any material will be at the College's sole discretion to bona fide researchers who supply a letter which states their credentials and their relationship (e.g. biographer, genealogist, family member) to the individual concerned and which defines clearly the purpose of their research. Access to non-confidential material will normally be available at the College's discretion and under the supervision of library staff. Direct access to confidential records containing personal or private information will not normally be automatically granted until the death of the correspondents can be reliably established, or 25 years after their creation, whichever is later. Permission of the use of records for aggregate research (e.g. statistical data) will normally be granted provided that such research does not identify individuals. Access to other college records, including minutes and correspondence will normally be granted at the College's discretion.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The RCM holds other material relating to the Patron's and Palmer Fund for Opera Study in the records of the Council (Ref: Council), Bursar (Ref: Bursar) and a notebook of the Palmer family on the Patron's Fund concerts (Ref: MS 1140).
Finding aids
Researchers should apply to the Archivist for further information on these records.
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 buildings » Academic buildings
- Cultural education
- Economics of education
- Educational organizations » Educational administrative structure
- Educational buildings
- Educational evaluation
- Economics of education » Educational finance
- Educational organizations » Educational administrative structure » Educational foundations
- Educational supervision » Educational governing boards
- Educational organizations
- Educational supervision
- Educational evaluation » Student evaluation » Examination marks
- Music
- Music » Musical performances
- Cultural education » Music education
- Educational evaluation » Student evaluation
- Performing arts
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