Archive, 1754 to date, of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA; formerly the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, or Society of Arts), created by the Society in the course of its activities, and comprising records of its administration (Ref: AD), and records of its activities and events (Ref: PR), also including some printed material dating back to 1634.

Administrative records of the Society include:

Records of Miscellaneous Committees to discuss the programme and administration of the Society, including the Committee of Correspondence and Papers and the Committee of Miscellaneous Matters, 1754-1848 (Ref: AD.MA/104).
Records of the Society from 1754, later the Council (established 1845) (Ref: AD.MA/100).

Records concerning Chairmen of Council (from 1846) and Council membership (Ref: AD.MA/102).

Records of Secretaries (administrative head of the Society), after 1994 known as the Director (Ref: AD.MA/101).

Records of Presidents (Ref: AD.MA/103).

Records of Membership/Fellowship, relating to subscribers to the Society, originally termed 'members', referred to as 'Fellows' from 1908 (Ref: AD.MA/900). (The archive does not include extensive biographical information on RSA Fellows, although dates of membership of Fellows are usually recorded.)
Records concerning the Society's House in John Adam Street from its design and construction by the Adam Brothers, including correspondence, papers, notes, leases and other legal documents, relating to administration, management, alteration and repair of the building (Ref: AD.MA/300).

Records of various House Committees set up at different times to look at the building, its use, function, administration and management (Ref: AD.MA/305).

Accounting and financial records produced by various committees including the Accounts Committee and Finance and General Purposes Committee (Ref: AD.MA/400).

Annual Reports recording the Society's activities over the year, initially within the Journal (from 1852), but later as a separate publication (Ref: AD.MA/701).

Records relating to general lectures (developed from the 1850s when the Society ceased the award of premiums for inventions), with correspondence mainly concerning administrative arrangements for speakers and publication of their texts (in the RSA Journal) and suggestions for topics for discussion (Ref: AD.MA/800).

Records relating to the RSA Silver Medal awarded annually for the most interesting lecture over the preceding year (Ref: AD.MA/803).

Records relating to production of the Journal and other publicity, promotion and communication (Ref: AD.MA/203).

Donations and collections, comprising objects and artefacts donated to or bought by the Society (Ref: AD.MA/204).

Records of the Society's activities (such as award schemes, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and lectures), including joint initiatives with a range of other organisations, include:

Guard Books (30 volumes), 1754-1770, containing correspondence and papers about all Society activities and committees, on a range of subjects (Ref: PR.GE/110).

Manuscript versions of the Society's Transactions, comprising draft versions of the printed Transactions, including drawings, plans and diagrams in support of claims for premiums and awards. Also general correspondence to the Society on various 19th century campaigns, conferences and committees, covering subjects including lectures (arrangements for dates, speakers, chairmen, participants; suggestions for subjects, submission of lecture texts, corrections to texts, requests for tickets/programmes, acceptances, apologies for non-attendance etc), examinations (requests for syllabus, copies of certificates, programmes, rules; complaints, arrangements, agreements with colleges, details of examiners etc), membership (requests for information, applications, replies to circulars, notes accompanying subscriptions, resignations, complaints), Council/committee chairmen (intention to attend meetings, acceptances, general arrangements for meetings, requests for information, dates, times etc), Journal (receipt/non-receipt of copies, reciprocal arrangements with other libraries, requests for extra copies, corrections to proofs, advertising, arrangements for making blocks, photogravures etc), House (letters from freeholders, solicitors, contractors; booking of rooms), staff (applications for employment, testimonials, sick notes etc - a very small number of items), general (invitations, letters from bankers, auditors, business circulars, requests for funding, suggestions for campaigns, policies, events etc), and including artistic copyright, uniform musical pitch, domestic economy, art workmanship, musical training, food committees, patent law reform, prevention of fires in theatres and education exhibitions (Ref: PR.GE/118-19, 121).

Records relating to Premium and Programme committees (Ref: PR.GE/112); Albert Medal (founded 1863) (Ref: PR.GE/101); Memorial Tablet (blue plaque) scheme (founded 1866) (PR.GE/122); War Memorials Advisory Council (established 1944, disbanded 1948), concerning memorials of the Second World War (Ref: PR.GE/117); Exhibition of Exhibitions (1951), concurrent with the Festival of Britain, to commemorate earlier ground-breaking Society exhibitions on contemporary art (1760), industrial design (1847-1850), photography (1852), industry (1761), and the first international exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.GE/102); R B Bennett Commonwealth Prize (endowed 1944) for outstanding contribution to the promotion of the arts, agriculture, industries and commerce of the Overseas Empire (Ref: PR.GE/116); Commonwealth Committee (Ref: PR.GE/113); proposals and planning for the Festival of Britain (1951) (Ref: PR.GE/103); events for the RSA Bicentenary (1954) (Ref: PR.GE/107); Benjamin Franklin Medal (instituted 1956) (Ref: PR.GE/100); Trusts, bequests, fundraising and development (Ref: PR.GE/111).

Records relating to manufacture and commerce, including the Paris Exhibitions (1844-1900) (Ref: PR.MC/109); Great Exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.MC/107); International Exhibition (1862) (Ref: PR.MC/108); Chicago Exhibition (World's Columbian Exposition, 1893), British Section (Ref: PR.MC/112); Industry Year/Industry Matters (1986) (Ref: PR.MC/100); Tomorrow's Company (begun 1994), concerning the role of business in a changing world (Ref: PR.MC/115); Redefining Work (launched 1995) (Ref: PR.MC/116); Forum for Ethics in the Workplace (1997) (Ref: PR.MC/117); Manufacturing, Wealth Creation and the Economy (1998) (Ref: PR.MC/118).

Records of subject-based standing committees set up by the Society from 1754 to judge awards and premiums in particular areas, including minutes and correspondence about awards and attendance at and structure of committees: Agriculture (Ref: PR.MC/103), Chemistry (Ref: PR.MC/105), Colonies and Trade (Ref: PR.MC/104), Manufactures (Ref: PR.MC/102), Mechanics (Ref: PR.MC/101), and Polite Arts - including prints, drawings and other artwork submitted for award (Ref: PR.AR/103).

Records relating to fine and applied arts, including exhibition of works of Ancient and Medieval Art (1847-1850) (Ref: PR.AR/105); exhibition of the works of William Etty and William Mulready (1848-1849), including general correspondence, printed matter, catalogues, press cuttings, tickets and notices about mounting of exhibitions, and attendance (Ref: PR.AR/112); British Art in Industry Exhibition (1935) to publicise good design in articles of everyday use (Ref: PR.AR/101); Humorous Art Exhibition (1949-1950) (Ref: PR.AR/100); Art for Architecture scheme (from 1990), aiming to enhance the urban environment by encouraging cross disciplinary approaches to building and landscape projects, and associated with the Jerwood Art for Architecture Award (introduced 1994) (Ref: PR.AR/110); Shakespeare in Schools (begun 1992), a pilot project to introduce Shakespeare to children (Ref: PR.AR/108).

Records relating to promotion of design, including the Design Bursaries Board, Design Committee, the Design Board, Design Advisory Group and Design Section (Ref: PR.DE/106-7); Industrial Art Bursaries Competition (started 1924), succeeded by the Design Bursaries Competition, Competition of Industrial Designs and Student Design Awards (Ref: PR.DE/100); Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) scheme (created 1936) to encourage a high standard of industrial design (Ref: PR.DE/101); Bicentenary Medal (instituted 1954) for exceptional influence in promoting art and design in British industry (Ref: PR.DE/102); Presidential Awards for Design Management (instituted 1964) to recognise outstanding design policy (Ref: PR.DE/105).
Records relating to education, including the RSA Examinations Board (PR.ED/100); the Education for Capability programme (initiated 1979) to counteract academic bias in British education and promote practical, organising and co-operative skills (Ref: PR.ED/107); the future of Technological Higher Education in Britain (1982), a study group to consider the problems facing Britain in the development of technological higher education (Ref: PR.ED/118); Home-School links (from 1988) (Ref: PR.ED/108); Parents in a Learning Society, a development project to involve parents in education and assess home-school work (Ref: PR.ED/104); the National Advisory Council for Careers and Educational Guidance (established 1994), to promote and advise on provision of guidance for learning and work (Ref: PR.ED/103); Education Futures (2000) (Ref: PR.ED/116).

Records relating to the environment, including the Campaign for the Preservation of Ancient Cottages (begun 1926) to protect cottage architecture, establishing a fund which purchased or restored cottages near Worthing, at Bibury, Gloucestershire, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Chiddingstone, Kent, and elsewhere (Ref: PR.EN/100); three 'Countryside in 1970' Conferences (1963-1970) (Ref: PR.EN/104); Environment Committee (formed 1971) to identify and anticipate major environmental problems and provide a forum for discussion (Ref: PR.EN/107), which began the Pollution Abatement Technology Award Scheme (PATAS) (1983-1986) (Ref: PR.EN/103), succeeded by the Better Environment for Industry/European Better Environment Awards for Industry (BEAFI/EBEAFI) (1987-1991) (Ref: PR.EN/101); the Environment Committee's sub-committee the RSA-Cubitt Trust Panel (to 1991), devoted to the built environment and working with the Cubitt Trust to convene conferences, seminars and an annual Cubitt Lecture (Ref: PR.EN/106); After the Earth Summit - What Next? (1992) (Ref: PR.EN/128); RSA Environmental Management Awards (begun 1993) (Ref: PR.EN/102).

The Early Library (Ref: SC/EL/1-5), comprising c500 printed works collected by the Society before 1830, including journals and periodicals, and c300 pamphlets and tracts covering broad-ranging topics relating to premiums and awards of the various sectional committees (Agriculture, Polite Arts, Chemistry, Manufactures, Mechanics, and Colonies and Trade), and including extracts from proceedings of other societies and learned institutions.

Papers of Derek Senior, [1940-1988], including material relating to the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, 1966-1969, notably briefing papers, evidence, minutes of meetings, printed materials, working papers, press cuttings, research studies, correspondence and drafts of the final report; cuttings, articles and reports on urban form, structure, land use and town planning; reports, articles and pamphlets on numerous subjects, including rural conservation, local government reorganisation, education, housing, and transport; typescripts of several books by Senior.

Letter from Lewis Slight of the Town Hall, Brighton to the Clerk to the Commissioners for Lighting, [King's] Lynn, Norfolk, 6 Jul 1839. Printed circular explaining that the Commissioners under the Brighton Improvement Act [6 Geo.4. c.clxxix (22 Jun 1825)] are about to enter into a new contract for lighting the town with gas; asks the recipients to supply the information specified on the accompanying half sheet [missing], and any other useful particulars.

Signed by Lewis Slight.

Minutes and presented papers of London County Council special and joint committees, 1889-1965, as follows:

Allegations (Council Officials) Committee

Special Committee on the Establishment of an Ambulance Service

Special Committee on Building Control

Advisory Committee on the Control on the Construction of Buildings in London

Charing Cross Bridge Advisory Committee

Church of England Advisory Board on Spiritual Ministration

Special Committee on Contracts

Special Joint Committee on the provision of Coroner's Courts and Mortuaries

Council Chamber and Offices Committee

Special Committee on the transfer of County Business

County Hall Luncheon Club Committee

County Rate Committee

Departmental Committees on the Organisation and Working of LCC Departments

Special Committee on the Office of Deputy Chairman of the Council

Advisory Committee on the Design of Consumer Goods

Special Committee on Finance Bill, 1914

Special Committee on Fire Insurance

Greater London Regional Planning Committee

Meetings of Heads of Departments

Special Committee on Health Administration in London

Hospitals Committee

Interim Panel

Juveniles Committee

Lack of Employment Conference

Joint Committee on the working of the Leyton tramways

Loan Fund for Prospective Teachers

Special Committee on Local Expenditure

Local Pension Committee

Special Committee on Locomotion and Transport in London

London Air Terminal

Advisory Committee on the Amendment of the London Building Act, 1930

Special Committee on London Electricity Supply

Special Committee on changes in London Local Government

Special Committee on London Government

London War Pensions Committee

Special Joint Committee on the Control of lunatics, imbeciles and infectious poor

Advisory Committee on combined medical appointments in Division 9 of the LCC Public Health Department

Members and Staff Committee

Joint Committee of Members and School-keepers

Special Committee of Inquiry into certain matters of administration in the Mental Hospitals Department

Sub-committee of the Provisional LCC appointed to confer with a Committee of the Metropolitan Board of Works

Special Committee on the provision of New Offices

Officers (Education) Superannuation Committee

Conference on Open Spaces for recreational purposes

Special Committee on the Organisation of the Council's Service

Poor Law Committee

Procedure Committee

Richmond Hill (Preservation of View) Executive Committee

Committee of Inquiry on Sadlers Wells

Special Committee on Staff Appeals

Conference on regulations in connection with Streets and Street traffic

Special Committee on the allocation of the cost of Street Improvements along Tramway Routes

Survey of London (Joint Publishing) Committee

Teacher's Superannuation Committee

Special Committee on Technical Education

Special Committee on Thames Bridges

Joint Committee on Thames Flood Prevention

Special Committee on Traffic

Tramways Committee

Special Joint Sub-committee on the Typhoid Fever Epidemic in Maidstone and the London Water Supply

Special Committee on the Unemployment

Special Committee on the Valuation of Land

Special Committee on the War Estimates

Special Committee on the Works Department

Please note that copies of these minutes and papers are on open access in the Information Area.

Minutes and presented papers of Special Committees, Joint Committees and Advisory Committees of the Middlesex County Council, 1889-1965:

Airports Committee

Arms Committee

Auxiliary Forces Committee

Barnet Union Committee

Bridges Committee

Common Interests Committee

County Solicitor Committee

Dyrham Park Committee

Edmonton Union Committee

Education Committee

Governance Committee

Guildhall Committee

Health Committee

Local Government Committee

Medical Committee

Member of County Council Committee

National Insurance Committee

Officers Committee

Pensions Committee

Physically Handicapped Committee

Planning Committee

Poor Law Committee

Quarter Sessions Committee

Refuse Dumps Committee

Registration of Title Committee

Richmond Hill Committee

Road Stone Committee

Testimonial Committee

Thames Committee

Unemployed Workmen Committee

Vagrancy Committee

Voluntary Hospitals Committee

Wild Birds Committee

Records of Staines Local Board of Health, 1883-1929, comprising minute books, notice of bye-laws relating to Staines Commons and petition to Parliament for exclusion from Coal and Wine Duties Bill.

Records of Staines Urban District Council, 1894-1946, including minute books of various Committees including the Highways Committee and the Cemetery Committee; copies of agreements; reports and inquiries; financial accounts and town planning schemes including plans.

Records of Staines Rural District Council, 1894-1934, including Council minute books; Committee minute books; Parochial Committee minute books; reports; correspondence; housing scheme plans and town planning meetings.

Records of parishes in Staines, 1803-1953, including poor rate books; papers relating to tithes; papers relating to maintenance of roads, including plans; minute books of various Committees; and bills for maintenance work done.

Records of other bodies, 1828-1930, including the Commissioners of Staines Bridge; Staines Poor Law Union; Staines Joint Hospital District; Sunbury Hall Company Limited and Staines School Board.

Records of the Sutton Housing Trust, consisting of a fine series of minutes and accounts. In particular there are detailed registers of tenants (including information on income and employment), hundreds of photographs of estates and developments and correspondence giving advice from people such as Octavia Hill and Charles Booth.

Records of the United Land Company Limited, comprising plans of freehold building plots suitable for moderate sized villa property, off the Harrow Road, adjoining Sudbury Railway Station, Sudbury, property of The United Land Company, Limited, to be sold by auction 17 July 1882 and 1883.

Records of the London County Council Valuation Department, 1891-1965, including papers on the assessment of railways in London; press cuttings and other papers relating to transport organisation including fares and facilities, River Thames passenger services, canals, policy, railways, parking, congestion, air fares, the British Transport Commission, the London Transport Executive, pay and working conditions, bus services, arterial roads, the London Traffic Act, 1924; papers relating to town planning schemes; legislation affecting London and papers relating to road improvement schemes.

Registers of applications for mortgages and housing loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and the Housing Acts. Returns of gross and rateable value of properties by locality; pamphlets, articles and posters relating to street and road improvements; site plans of LCC hospital properties transferred to the Ministry of Health in July 1948 under the National Health Service Act, 1946.

Plans made by the Engineer's Department, West Ham Borough Council, 1894-1966. The collection includes building plans, site plans, proposals for projects and Ordnance Survey maps. The maps have been amended by the engineers to show proposals or extent of works. The proposals include swimming pools, recreation grounds, public baths, sewers, new roads and unemployment relief works. There is a large amount of material relating to Whipps Cross Hospital, including contract plans. A detailed index of the plans can be found in hard copy at the LMA Information Area.