Clubs and Societies of Royal Holloway College

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0505 RHC AS205-850
Held at	: Royal Holloway, University of London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/archives ›
Full title	: Clubs and Societies of Royal Holloway College
Date(s)	: 1889-1971
Level of description	: Subfonds of Royal Holloway College View parent record
Extent	: 19.5 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Royal Holloway College
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The number of student societies and clubs increased rapidly as student numbers rose during the 1890s. These groups, each with their own President and Committee, had high staff participation, mainly due to the residential nature of the teaching posts. Examples of the earliest societies are CHARD, the Royal Holloway College Dramatic Association (founded 1887); musical groups, including the Choir, the Band, and the Choral Society; departmental societies such as the Art History Society, at which various staff gave lectures; political and debating clubs; religious societies; and charitable organisations. Sports societies organised matches and other activities in the afternoons.

The societies and clubs were organised firstly by the College Meeting (1890-1925), which controlled the Theoric Fund from which allocations were made for Chard, the various sports clubs, and other purposes such as the College Albums Committee. The role of the College Meeting was superseded on the creation of the Royal Holloway College Union Society in 1923, which took over its responsibilities in 1925. Each Society seems to have kept its own minutes and financial records.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of CHARD, 1913; the Tennis Club, 1889-1914; the Browning Society, 1890-1907; Hockey Club, 1890-1904; the Shakespeare Society, 1908-1945; the Lambeth Association, 1891-1939; the Science Discussion Society, 1892-1936; the Sharp Practice Society, 1896-1906; The Christian Union (later Student Christian Movement), 1900-1936; the Swimming Club, 1899-1938; the Boat Club, 1905-1944; the Fencing Club, [1935]; the Ping Pong Club, [1936]; the '47 Society, 1957; the Poetry Society, 1963-1964; and the Savoy Opera Society, 1970-1971.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The papers mainly comprise bound volumes of minutes and accounts.

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 College Archivist.

Finding aids:

'A guide to Royal Holloway College Archives' by Derryan Paul, Jun 1973.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold a review of a play by the Royal Holloway College Classical Club from The Ladies Field, Vol XXIX, Apr 1905 (RHC RF120); and photographs of student activities including sports, drama, music and rag events, 1894-[1967] (RHC PH210-226, 240-242 and 250-260).

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

The history of Royal Holloway College, 1886-1986 (Constable, London, 1987), by Caroline Bingham.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions:
ISAD(G) 2nd edition, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997).

Date(s) of descriptions:
Apr 2000