Royal Holloway College

The number of student societies and clubs increased rapidly as student numbers rose during the 1890s. These groups, each with their own President and Committee, had high staff participation, mainly due to the residential nature of the teaching posts. Examples of the earliest societies are CHARD, the Royal Holloway College Dramatic Association (founded 1887); musical groups, including the Choir, the Band, and the Choral Society; departmental societies such as the Art History Society, at which various staff gave lectures; political and debating clubs; religious societies; and charitable organisations. Sports societies organised matches and other activities in the afternoons.

The societies and clubs were organised firstly by the College Meeting (1890-1925), which controlled the Theoric Fund from which allocations were made for Chard, the various sports clubs, and other purposes such as the College Albums Committee. The role of the College Meeting was superseded on the creation of the Royal Holloway College Union Society in 1923, which took over its responsibilities in 1925. Each Society seems to have kept its own minutes and financial records.