IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0505 BC AR150-160
Held at: Royal Holloway, University of London
Title: Personnel Files of Bedford College
Date(s): 1900-1985
Level of description: sub-fonds
Extent: 326 boxes or 3.26 cubic metres
Name of creator(s): Bedford College
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
During the early existence of Bedford College, the Professors were all part-time, some with second jobs elsewhere. Appointments were made in a haphazard fashion by the Council, giving the staff no period of notice if their services were dispensed with. Various Committees were set up to recommend candidates to the Council. Following the Incorporation of 1869, the staff were accorded the right of appeal to the Members of the College if dismissed, but not until 1892 was a three month period of notice instituted. Assistant members of staff, of which there were a growing number, mainly former students, were also employed by the Council, who received nominations from the Professors concerned. After 1896 the Board of Education had advisory powers relating to staff appointments.
For some time, staff files remained in the keeping of the Principal, though it appears that the day to day organisation of personnel matters resided with the Secretary until recent times.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Staff files, 1900-1985, containing information relating to employment issues such as applications, appointment letters, correspondence, and information on salary and superannuation; correspondence with the University of London, 1908-1961; material relating to the appointment of staff, including the Principal, 1929 and 1971, research staff, 1921-1953, Library Assistants, 1912-1948, administrative Assistants, 1927-1946, and Laboratory Assistants, 1912-1939; papers relating to Staff appointments and conditions, 1906-1918 and 1940; papers concerning the restructuring of pay and duties of Laboratory Technicians, 1973; papers regarding the employment of postgraduates in science research, 1962-1964; material on war, disablement and sickness benefits, 1919-1955; papers on appointments to Chairs and Readerships, 1919-1960; papers of the Sub-Committee on Secretarial and Clerical Staff, 1968-1972; Minutes, papers and reports of the Department Staffing Committees, 1946-1976.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Arranged according to subject.
Conditions governing access:
Administrative and Committee papers are closed for 30 years from the last date on file. Papers relating to individuals are usually closed for 100 years from the subject's birth. Users are advised to consult the College Archivist for specific details.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies of open material may be supplied, subject to the condition of the original. Requests to publish original material should be directed to the Archivist.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
'A catalogue of the Archives of Bedford College (University of London), 1849-1985' by Claire Gobbi Daunton and Elizabeth Bennett, 1987.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.
Immediate source of acquisition:
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold papers relating to staff salaries and pension schemes (BC AR440-447); material relating to staff of academic departments is in the Secretary's papers (BC AR330-337) and photographs of various members of staff (BC PH1).
Publication note:
A history of Bedford College for Women, 1849-1937 (Oxford University Press, London, 1939), by Dame Margaret Jansen Tuke; Educating women: a pictorial history of Bedford College, University of London, 1849-1985 (Alma Publishers, Surrey, 1991), by Dr Linna Bentley.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the AIM25 project.
Date(s) of descriptions: Mar 2000