Student Unions and Associations of Imperial College

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0098 S
Held at	: Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/recordsandarchives ›
Full title	: Student Unions and Associations of Imperial College
Date(s)	: Created 1846-1998 (ongoing)
Level of description	: Series of Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine records View parent record
Extent	: 114 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Imperial College Union was established in 1907. There are also four constituent unions, the Royal College of Science Union, Royal School of Mines Union, City & Guilds College Union and Imperial College School of Medicine Union. The governing body of the Unions is the Council. The Executive, comprising Union officers, has responsibility to carry out policy. Clubs and societies, financial affairs and other functions are organised through committees.
Alumni Groups and Associations exist to keep former students in touch with each other and with the College. The Old Student Associations became Constituent College Associations in 1992. All are predominantly volunteer organisations but receive administrative support from the College's Alumni Relations office. The City & Guilds College Association was formed in 1897, and until 1992 took its name (Old Centralians) from the original Central Technical College of 1885. The Twentyone Club was established in 1922 as a correspondence club for former students of the City and Guilds College. The Links Club was established in 1926 as a similar club for the Guilds. The Royal College of Science Association was founded in 1908 under the Presidency of H G Wells. The Royal School of Mines Association began life as the Royal School of Mines Old Students' Dining Club and the first Annual Dinner was held in 1873. The Association was formally inaugurated in 1913. The Chaps Club was established in 1921, as a Club for past students of the Royal School of Mines.
The Hofmann Society was established in 1933 for Organic Chemists in the Royal College of Science. The H G Wells Society was established in 1963 for students and staff.
The Imperial College Representative Council was formed in 1969 to consider matters of general college interest, and comprised representatives from staff and student unions within the college.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records relating to Student Unions and Associations of Imperial College, 1846-1998, comprising Rector's correspondence on student matters, 1968-1972; Old Students' Associations, 1964-1972 (SA);
records of the Royal College of Chemistry, comprising Laboratory Library Committee minutes, 1846-1851; Discussion Society minutes, 1859-1869 (SC);
records of the Royal College of Science and Royal School of Mines Students' Union, 1889-1913, including minutes of the committee, 1890-1900, 1911-1913; cash book and balance sheets, 1899-1904; printed rules, 1889-1901; records of the Royal School of Mines Student's Union, 1905-1973, notably accounts, 1926-1960; minutes of committees, 1905-1971; general meetings, 1912-1973; handbook, bookstall lists, 1948-1960 (SD); records of the Royal School of Mines Old Students' Association, 1912-1984, including annual dinners, 1907-1984; correspondence, 1912-1947 (SDA); Chaps Club, 1923-1973, comprising annual booklets, 1923-1970; awards of the Club tie, 1962-1973 (SDC);
records of the Royal College of Science Student Union records, 1909-1981, notably minutes, 1909-1979; annual reports, 1926-1933; correspondence, 1901-1956; rules and handbook, 1931, 1967; Joint Publications Board minutes and correspondence, 1931-1981; correspondence concerning colours, 1926-1937 (SE); Royal College of Science Old Students' Association records, 1907-1990, including minutes of Committee meetings, 1908-1976, 1990; rules, 1909; correspondence, 1907-1975; attendance book, 1950-1970 (SEA);
records of the City and Guilds Union, 1895-1984, including committee minutes, 1902-1983; Union Executive minutes, 1976-1984; accounts, 1909-1976; committees, correspondence, 1911-1969; records of the Engineering Society, 1895-1972, including minutes, accounts, letter books, photograph album, Athletic Club minutes and papers, 1912-1969; Boat Club accounts, 1921-1948, 1983; Boxing Club minutes, 1958-1962; Dancing Club accounts, 1945-1948; Football Club accounts, minutes, 1909-1974; Rugby Club minutes, 1899-1964; Radio Society log books, minutes, 1927-1990; Swimming and Water Polo Club minutes, 1977-1982 (SF); records of the Old Centralians, 1897-1998, including rules, 1903; correspondence, 1899-1938; subscriptions, 1897-1906, 1951-1961; accounts, 1897-1959; minutes, 1897-1903, 1968-1979; attendance registers, 1938-1973; annual dinners, 1907-1998 (SFA); records of the Twentyone Club, 1928-1983, including history, 1968; minutes, 1928-1975; papers of chairmen, subscriptions, 1930-1976 (SFAA); batches and bulletins, 1923-1983 (SFAB); The Links Club magazine, 1945-1948, 1965 (SFL);
records of Imperial College Students' Union, 1911-1985, notably secretaries' correspondence, 1911-1979; handbooks, 1966-1985; policy statements, minutes of the Committee and Council, 1920-1981; Social Clubs Committee, 1935-1987; Athletic Clubs Committee, 1925-1976; Cricket Club, 1958-1976; Finance Committee, 1923-1938; general meetings, 1937-1981; Entertainments Committee, 1945-1959; accounts, 1946-1959; awards of colours, 1921-1968; list of union members, 1911-1947; Rectors' correspondence concerning student matters, including admission, complaints, accidents, deaths, 1958-1979 (SG/SGA);
records of Imperial College Boathouse and Boatclub, notably opening, 1938; correspondence with the architect, 1936-1938; Rectors' correspondence, 1949-1963; purchase of site, 1933-1937; Boathouse Committee minutes, correspondence, 1938-1977; rules and constitution, 1921-1947; flood prevention scheme, 1936-1952 (SGDB);
papers concerning Wembley Sportsground, comprising minutes of the Imperial College Athletic Ground Committee, 1932-1939; correspondence on the sale of the ground, 1922-1939; evidence of the Rector, 1936 (SGC); correspondence concerning the purchase, construction and military requisition of the Harlington Sports Pavilion, 1936-1946; Finance Committee papers, 1923-1952; Athletic Committee minutes, 1938-1981; Athletic Ground Committee minutes, 1945-1980; papers relating to the Sports Centre, 1965-1986, including South Kensington Sports Committee reports, 1968-1971; correspondence concerning the boats Olympic IV and VIII, 1975-1980; rifle range, 1947-1962; Gliding Committee correspondence and papers, 1930-1981, concerning foundation, grants, equipment, (SGD); Boxing Club minutes, 1950-1960 (SGE);
Imperial College Chemical Engineering Society, proceedings of meetings, 1946-1958 (SGFC); Royal College of Science Entomological Society minutes, 1925-1938 (SGFE); Debating Society reports, 1963-1970 (SGFF); Hofmann Society minutes, 1933-1951, cashbook, 1933-1951, including the Hofmann prize to 1961 (SGFH); Imperial College Industrial Society magazine, 1986 (SGFI); Royal College of Science Mathematical and Physical Society minutes, 1923-1968 (SGFM); Imperial College Students' Union Overseas Societies, including the Chinese Society magazine, 1984-1985 (SGFO); Imperial College Students' Union Rugby Football Club minutes, 1934-1963 (SGFR); Imperial College Students' Union Social Clubs, including Exploration Society papers, 1961-1963, (SGFX); H G Wells Society correspondence, magazines, 1963-1984 (SGFW), G Wing Club (SGG); Imperial College Liberal Club newspaper, 1978 (SGGL); Imperial College Music Society, notably minutes 1984-1986, programmes, 1950-1985, Folk Club members, 1979-1981, Imperial College Sinfonietta programme (SGM); Imperial College Operatic Society programmes, 1977 (SGO); Imperial College Students' Union Radio Service papers, 1974-1979 (SGRS); Imperial College Womens' Association minutes, 1951-1967, accounts, 1975-1980 (SGW);
papers relating to Imperial College Hostel and Halls of Residence, 1918-1983, notably Hostel Committee minutes, 1918-1950, regulations, 1926, Residents' Committee minutes, 1945-1959, Residential Amenities Committee correspondence, 1944-1961, Combined Colleges Housing Association papers, 1946-1975, Rectors' papers, 1965-1971, report and papers, 1983 (SH);
papers relating to Imperial College Union Bookshop, notably Committee minutes, and regulations, 1926-1973, ledger, 1966-1990, correspondence, annual reports, 1922-1973, balance sheets, 1925-1971, papers concerning staff, 1949-1973, premises, 1955-1969 (SJ);
Imperial College Refectory Committee minutes, 1930-1990, expenditure, 1930-1940, Hall Dinner Committee minutes, 1947-1962, menus (SK); Wine Committee minutes, 1954-1978, annual reports, 1954-1967, correspondence, 1954-1973 (SKW);
papers relating to student discipline, 1945-1978, Imperial College Carnival, 1960-1966, including Rag magazines, International Conference of Students of Technology report, 1981 (SM);
Imperial College Representative Council correspondence, 1969-1971 (SNA).

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The records are arranged in sections as outlined in the scope and content.

Conditions governing access:

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction:

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Finding aids:

A catalogue is available at the College Archives.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Accumulated by Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine during the course of business.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

Records relating to Former and Overseas Students (SR-SW), held at Imperial College.

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions:
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.

Date(s) of descriptions:
October 2000