University of London Court

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0096 UoL/CT
Held at	: Senate House Library, University of London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections ›
Full title	: University of London Court
Date(s)	: 1791-1999
Level of description	: Subfonds of the University of London View parent record
Extent	: 176 volumes, 125 bundles, 1 single sheet, 1 envelope, 93 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: University of London | Court
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Along with the Senate, the Court is one of the supreme governing bodies of the University. The establishment of the Court was recommended in the Hilton Young Report 1926 and was created by Statute 27 in July 1928, which came into operation in March 1929. The first meeting of the Court was held on 10 July 1929.

Originally the Court was comprised of sixteen members: ex officio members, the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and the Chairman of Convocation and thirteen other members appointed by the Senate, His Majesty in Council, the London County Council and one co-opted member. In 1981 it was enlarged to 24 members. Besides the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the Chairman of Convocation it had ten members voted by the Senate, four by the Crown, two by the Greater London Council, one from local authorities and four co-opted members.

Statute 27 defined the Court's functions, which included:

to have custody, control and disposition of all the property, funds and investments of the University;to control the finances of the University;to represent the University in all negotiations for obtaining grants;to determine the allocation of funds at the disposal of the university;to determine the expenditure necessary for the University property and staff.

The Court delegated its functions to various Court committees, such as the Committee on Accommodation, Bloomsbury Development Committee and the Allocation of Grants Committee.

In 1933 the Court took responsibility for arranging the laying of the foundation for the new site at Bloomsbury. Normally the Establishment Secretary was responsible for functions and ceremonies, but because of the Court's connection with the development of the Bloomsbury Site it was thought appropriate that Court staff along with the Principal should do most of the organisation. The Clerk of the Court represented the University at meetings of the Russell Square Garden Commissioners.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

The collection, 1929-1994, contains minutes and papers of: Court Meetings (CT 1) various Court Committees (CT 2) and the Committee on Academic Organisation (CT 9). Also contains papers created by: Building and Equipment (CT 3); Benefactions (CT 4); the Russell Square Garden Commissioners (CT 5); Finance and Statistics (CT 6); Functions and Ceremonies (CT 7); Estates (CT 8) and photographs of Chairmen of the Court (CT 10).
There are also 59 boxes of uncatalogued material (Ref. CT) containing material dating from 1838-1999. This includes court correspondence, Lasden model papers, war damage claims, financial papers, deeds and leases and estates correspondence, Resources and Planning papers, Building Services and Engineering papers and University Grants Committee papers.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open except for records exempt under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Access to the records for the purposes of private study and personal research is possible within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Finding aids:

Catalogue: Archives of the University of London

Archival Information

Archival history:

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:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
1999-08-31 Simon McKeon, 2006-08-23 Michael Broadway