Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1903-1995 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
40 m (approx)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) was founded in 1903 under the title Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men following a scheme proposed by Albert Mansbridge (1876-1952). He became its general secretary in 1905 when the name was changed to The Workers' Educational Association and the first constitution was established in the following year. After a conference on the WEA and Oxford University in 1907, the WEA Central Joint Advisory Committee was established and three year university tutorial classes were started with the close involvement of R H Tawney (1880-1962). The WEA was also linked to the trade union movement and formed the Workers' Education Trade Union Committee in 1919 to strengthen and give cohesion to the educational work with trade unions. The WEA was closely involved in campaigns for better state education and in particular the campaign preceding the 1944 Education Act. The WEA is now a national voluntary organisation existing primarily to provide adults with access to organised learning. It is a registered charity and is non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. The WEA is one national organisation in England and Scotland, organised into 13 districts in England and a Scottish Association. It has over 650 local branches and 28 local organisations including 23 national trade unions are affiliated at national level.
Archival history
GB 1924 WEA 1903-1995 Collection (fonds) 40 m (approx) Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men , Workers' Educational Association
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) was founded in 1903 under the title Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men following a scheme proposed by Albert Mansbridge (1876-1952). He became its general secretary in 1905 when the name was changed to The Workers' Educational Association and the first constitution was established in the following year. After a conference on the WEA and Oxford University in 1907, the WEA Central Joint Advisory Committee was established and three year university tutorial classes were started with the close involvement of R H Tawney (1880-1962). The WEA was also linked to the trade union movement and formed the Workers' Education Trade Union Committee in 1919 to strengthen and give cohesion to the educational work with trade unions. The WEA was closely involved in campaigns for better state education and in particular the campaign preceding the 1944 Education Act. The WEA is now a national voluntary organisation existing primarily to provide adults with access to organised learning. It is a registered charity and is non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. The WEA is one national organisation in England and Scotland, organised into 13 districts in England and a Scottish Association. It has over 650 local branches and 28 local organisations including 23 national trade unions are affiliated at national level.
The collection was transferred from the WEA headquarters in Bethnal Green to the custody of the TUC Library Collections at the University of North London in August 1998.
Archives of the Workers' Educational Association, 1906-1995, comprising central organisation records, 1906-1995; records of the WEA Central Joint Advisory Committee, 1910-1958; records of WEA districts, 1914-1992; and records of the Workers' Education TUC Committee, 1919-1964. Central Labour College archives, 1909-1918; and archives of the International Federation of Workers' Educational Associations, 1945-1986. Papers and pamphlets of R H Tawney, President of WEA, 1896-1962; papers and publications of Ernest Green, General Secretary of WEA, 1920s-1960s.
There may be further deposits in the future
As indicated in Scope and Content.
Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.
At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions
English
List, 1998, copy in NRA (NRA 41853)
University of North London TUC Collections, Ethical Movement collection.
Compiled by Janet Foster as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project 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. . December, 2000 Adult education Educational systems Green , Ernest , 1885-1977 , General Secretary of the Workers' Education Association (WEA) Tawney , Richard Henry , 1880-1962 , historian WEA , Workers' Educational Association x Workers' Educational Association Workers education
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The collection was transferred from the WEA headquarters in Bethnal Green to the custody of the TUC Library Collections at the University of North London in August 1998.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Archives of the Workers' Educational Association, 1906-1995, comprising central organisation records, 1906-1995; records of the WEA Central Joint Advisory Committee, 1910-1958; records of WEA districts, 1914-1992; and records of the Workers' Education TUC Committee, 1919-1964. Central Labour College archives, 1909-1918; and archives of the International Federation of Workers' Educational Associations, 1945-1986. Papers and pamphlets of R H Tawney, President of WEA, 1896-1962; papers and publications of Ernest Green, General Secretary of WEA, 1920s-1960s.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
There may be further deposits in the future
System of arrangement
As indicated in Scope and Content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.
Conditions governing reproduction
At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
University of North London TUC Collections, Ethical Movement collection.
Finding aids
List, 1998, copy in NRA (NRA 41853)
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
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