Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1882-1910 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
South London Polytechnic Institutes was established following the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883. In the Act the Government's Charity Commissioners were to distribute money to schemes which would improve the physical, social and moral condition of Londoners. Edric Bayley, a solicitor and member of the London School Board, wanted to use the money to establish a people's college in Elephant and Castle, which could help alleviate the extreme poverty he saw in that area as well as help strengthen British industry.
In 1887 Bayley established the South London Polytechnic Institutes Council, whose members included the Lord Mayor of London and the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) as its President. In January 1888 the Council appealed to the Charity Commissioners for the money they needed. The Commissioners were impressed and pledged that they would match any funds raised by the public up to the sum of £150,000 in order to establish three technical colleges, or polytechnics, in South London.
A Committee of the Council had the task of raising the money needed from the public and also of deciding where the three polytechnics should be located. The Committee decided that one should be established at Elephant and Castle (now LSBU), another at New Cross (which is now Goldsmiths College) and lastly at Battersea (which eventually moved and became part of the University of Surrey). The public appeal for the money needed was launched at a widely publicised dinner held at Mansion House in June 1888. Within four years £78,000 had been raised through the public's generosity for the Elephant and Castle and Battersea Polytechnics, which was matched by the Charity Commissioners.
Repository
Archival history
GB2110 SLPI 1882-1910 Fonds level 3 boxes South London Polytechnic Institutes
South London Polytechnic Institutes was established following the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883. In the Act the Government's Charity Commissioners were to distribute money to schemes which would improve the physical, social and moral condition of Londoners. Edric Bayley, a solicitor and member of the London School Board, wanted to use the money to establish a people's college in Elephant and Castle, which could help alleviate the extreme poverty he saw in that area as well as help strengthen British industry.
In 1887 Bayley established the South London Polytechnic Institutes Council, whose members included the Lord Mayor of London and the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) as its President. In January 1888 the Council appealed to the Charity Commissioners for the money they needed. The Commissioners were impressed and pledged that they would match any funds raised by the public up to the sum of £150,000 in order to establish three technical colleges, or polytechnics, in South London.
A Committee of the Council had the task of raising the money needed from the public and also of deciding where the three polytechnics should be located. The Committee decided that one should be established at Elephant and Castle (now LSBU), another at New Cross (which is now Goldsmiths College) and lastly at Battersea (which eventually moved and became part of the University of Surrey). The public appeal for the money needed was launched at a widely publicised dinner held at Mansion House in June 1888. Within four years £78,000 had been raised through the public's generosity for the Elephant and Castle and Battersea Polytechnics, which was matched by the Charity Commissioners.
Acquired on the establishment of the Borough Polytechnic Institute.
Contains the records of South London Polytechnic Institutes, 16 March 1882-28 October 1910, comprising:
SLPI/1 Committee minutes, 1887-1888;
SLPI/2 Correspondence, Appeals and Reports, 1887-1894;
SLPI/3 Finance: includes balance sheets and information regarding subscribers, 1888-1891;
SLPI/4 Letters to newspapers: regarding the work of South London Polytechnic Institutes and appeals for funds, 1882-1910.
SPLI/5 South London Polytechnic Institutes (Borough Road Site) Act 1890.
None expected.
The collection is catalogued.
The collection is available to the public. If you have any enquiries please contact the University Archives Officer.
Reproduction is at the discretion of University Archives Centre staff.
English
http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/archivescatalogue
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. May 2010 Higher education Higher education institutions South London Polytechnic Institutes Educational levels Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired on the establishment of the Borough Polytechnic Institute.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Contains the records of South London Polytechnic Institutes, 16 March 1882-28 October 1910, comprising:
SLPI/1 Committee minutes, 1887-1888;
SLPI/2 Correspondence, Appeals and Reports, 1887-1894;
SLPI/3 Finance: includes balance sheets and information regarding subscribers, 1888-1891;
SLPI/4 Letters to newspapers: regarding the work of South London Polytechnic Institutes and appeals for funds, 1882-1910.
SPLI/5 South London Polytechnic Institutes (Borough Road Site) Act 1890.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
None expected.
System of arrangement
The collection is catalogued.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The collection is available to the public. If you have any enquiries please contact the University Archives Officer.
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction is at the discretion of University Archives Centre staff.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
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