Anglo-Russian Society Collection

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0369 ANG
Held at	: School of Slavonic and East European Studies   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/archives/ ›
Full title	: Anglo-Russian Society Collection
Date(s)	: 1892-1936
Level of description	: Collection (Fonds)
Extent	: 2 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Anglo-Russian Literary Society Anglo-Russian Society
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Anglo-Russian Literary Society was founded in London in 1893 by Edward A Cazalet with its work being conducted from the Imperial Institute, London. It was one of the earliest British organisations to promote cultural relations with Russia. Membership was open to both Britons and Russians. The Society's objects were promoting the study of Russian language and literature, the formation of a library of Russian books and periodicals, the holding of monthly meetings and the promotion of friendly relations between Britain and Russia. The Society's monthly lectures were published in the Proceedings of the Society which appeared quarterly. Tsar Nicholas II became a patron of the Society in 1894 and Tsarina Alexandra in 1897. After 1917 the Society lost many of its Russian members and its imperial patronage.
At the end of 1922 the Society moved from the Imperial Institute to the School of Slavonic Studies, King's College (later SSEES), its library of some 1,500 volumes was transferred to the School and the School's Director, Sir Bernard Pares became secretary of the Society. In September 1930 the Society was renamed the Anglo-Russian Society. It is not clear when the Society was wound up. It was probably in 1934 as the last membership subscription records are from that year although the last records date to 1936.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Anglo-Russian Society (formerly the Anglo-Russian Literary Society), 1892-1936, comprising
regulation pamphlet 1893, containing constitution, lists of officers and members of the Society, and paper by Dr John Pollen on The Russian Language and Literature; membership lists, 1904-1921; subscription records, 1910-1934; account book, 1930-1934; receipt books, 1931-1934; bank book, 1932-1935; bank statements 1935-1936; correspondence 1895-1935 (mainly 1922-1935), mainly on payment of subscriptions and arrangement of speakers for the Society's meetings; library catalogue, 1906; volume of press cuttings relating to the Society, 1892-1897; manuscript translation of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, text by Professor Delius - translator Anatolia Kremleva

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English and Russian

System of arrangement:

14 items, as described in Scope and Content.

Conditions governing access:

Unrestricted access. Researchers wishing to consult the archives or seeking further information should contact UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies Library, 16 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Librarian.

Finding aids:

Online catalogue available on the UCL Archives website.

Archival Information

Archival history:

The Society's archives were transferred to the School of Slavonic Studies with the Library.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Revised by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Revised, Feb 2002