Collection GB 0074 ACC/2486 - TOYNBEE HALL

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 ACC/2486

Title

TOYNBEE HALL

Date(s)

  • 1911-1972 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

7.28 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1873 Reverend Samuel Barnett and his wife Henrietta requested to be placed in a deprived parish so that they could participate in poor relief. The foundation of Toynbee Hall in 1884 was their solution to the poverty they witnessed. The Hall was a student's residence combined with a community centre. The Hall was open to young academics who were able to rent out rooms, on the condition that they contribute to the community work. The Hall was named after Arnold Toynbee, a social philosopher and economist and friend of the Barnetts, who had died the previous year aged 31, of meningitis caused by overwork.

Although the idea that those studying poverty and unemployment should live among the poorer classes was not new, Toynbee Hall was innovatory because the students lived together like a college. This 'University Settlement' was the first of its kind in the world and the model for many others both in Great Britain and abroad. Clement Atlee and William Beveridge were among several influential residents.

The Hall carried out varied work, offering legal advice, campaigning for the rights of immigrants, hosting lectures and providing adult education.

Toynbee Hall is still active, situated on Commercial Street, E1 and providing support for the local community.

See http://www.toynbeehall.org.uk/default.asp for more information (accessed August 2010).

Archival history

GB 0074 ACC/2486 1911-1972 Collection 7.28 linear metres Toynbee Hall

In 1873 Reverend Samuel Barnett and his wife Henrietta requested to be placed in a deprived parish so that they could participate in poor relief. The foundation of Toynbee Hall in 1884 was their solution to the poverty they witnessed. The Hall was a student's residence combined with a community centre. The Hall was open to young academics who were able to rent out rooms, on the condition that they contribute to the community work. The Hall was named after Arnold Toynbee, a social philosopher and economist and friend of the Barnetts, who had died the previous year aged 31, of meningitis caused by overwork.

Although the idea that those studying poverty and unemployment should live among the poorer classes was not new, Toynbee Hall was innovatory because the students lived together like a college. This 'University Settlement' was the first of its kind in the world and the model for many others both in Great Britain and abroad. Clement Atlee and William Beveridge were among several influential residents.

The Hall carried out varied work, offering legal advice, campaigning for the rights of immigrants, hosting lectures and providing adult education.

Toynbee Hall is still active, situated on Commercial Street, E1 and providing support for the local community.

See http://www.toynbeehall.org.uk/default.asp for more information (accessed August 2010).

Records deposited in August 1987.

Records of Toynbee Hall university settlement, including minutes of the Council; minutes of Committees of the Council; other records of the Council; financial accounts; Warden's files; papers relating to the Barnett Memorial Fellowship Trust, the Toynbee Hall Endowment Fund and the Attlee Memorial Foundation Appeal; papers of the Legal Advice Centre; newspaper cuttings books and plans.

The records have been sorted into an order which reflects divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also A/TOY for more records relating to Toynbee Hall.

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.

June to August 2010. Social welfare Poor relief Educational systems Adult education Youth organizations Organizations Associations Charitable organisations Charities Charities administration Educational institutions Adult education institutions Information sources Documents Charity records Charity accounts Social workers Social work Community centres Community development Barnett , Samuel Augustus , 1844-1913 , Canon of Westminster Social Reformer Toynbee Hall Whitechapel Tower Hamlets London England UK Western Europe Europe Nonprofit organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in August 1987.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Toynbee Hall university settlement, including minutes of the Council; minutes of Committees of the Council; other records of the Council; financial accounts; Warden's files; papers relating to the Barnett Memorial Fellowship Trust, the Toynbee Hall Endowment Fund and the Attlee Memorial Foundation Appeal; papers of the Legal Advice Centre; newspaper cuttings books and plans.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The records have been sorted into an order which reflects divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also A/TOY for more records relating to Toynbee Hall.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

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

London Metropolitan Archives

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)

    Sources

    Accession area