IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0366 WEF
Held at: Institute of Education
Title: World Education Fellowship
Date(s): 1920-1980s
Level of description: collection
Extent: 69 boxes; 34 parcels
Name of creator(s): World Education Fellowship
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Founded in 1921 as the New Education Fellowship by a small group of progressive educationists and liberal thinkers who were heavily involved with the British Theosophical Society and the Theosophical Educational Trust, this organisation grew into a national and then international organisation, with local sections in many countries worldwide, and was re-named the World Education Fellowship in 1966. Although the Fellowship has embraced a wide range of individual philosophies, the central focus has been on child-centred education, social reform through education, democracy, world citizenship, international understanding and the promulgation of world peace. Many famous thinkers and educationists have been involved with the Fellowship and it has forged close links with academic institutions, including the Institute of Education, University of London, and with international organisations, especially UNESCO. An English Section of the Fellowship was founded in 1927 and has included amongst its prominent members, Sir Michael Sadler, Sir Percy Nunn, Sir Fred Clarke, R.H. Tawney and J.A. Lauwerys. The English Section was also instrumental in the establishment of the Home and School Council and the English Association of New Schools.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the World Education Fellowship's central administration, including officers' correspondence, constitutional papers, minutes and committee papers, 1929-1970s; files relating to individual regional sections, 1930s-1970s; records of international conferences, 1921-1972; files concerning special projects, 1942-1968 and relations with UNESCO, 1948-1973; audio-tapes, including conferences and personal reminiscences, 1959-1971; publications, pamphlets, and newsletters, including the journal The New Era.
Records of the English New Education Fellowship, [1940s-1980s], including minutes, correspondence, administrative and subject files and publications.
Minutes of the Home and School Council of Great Britain, 1929-1950s.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Conditions governing access:
Open. However, some papers (indicated in the list) are closed for 30 years from the terminal date of the file, except to members of the WEF or with written permission.
Conditions governing reproduction:
A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Librarian or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Detailed catalogue available at http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited by the World Education Fellowship in 1973, 1983, 1990, and 1995.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Created 11/24/1999, modified 12/5/2000