City Polytechnic Archives

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1832 City Polytechnic
Held at	: Birkbeck College   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib ›
Full title	: City Polytechnic Archives
Date(s)	: 1894-1906
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 3 vols.
Name of creator(s)	: City Polytechnic

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The City Polytechnic was formed in 1891 by a Charity Commissioners' scheme linking Birkbeck Institute, The City of London College and a proposed Northampton Institute in Finsbury (now City University), to facilitate funding for these institutions by the City Parochial Foundation. Whilst each institute was to be managed by its own governing body, the institutes were to organise their educational and recreational work cooperatively to economise on resources and avoid duplication. There was to be a Council of twelve for the City Polytechnic comprising three members from the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities and three members from each of the constituent institutes' governing bodies, all serving a six year term of office. However, no real links were ever established between the three institutions and the name "City Polytechnic" was rarely used by the individual institutions on their prospectuses and annual reports. The Technical Education Board of the London County Council noted that Birkbeck Institute and The City of London College acted as though no formal federated structure existed and the Board itself treated the Northampton Institute as an independent polytechnic in the later 1890s. Efforts to dissolve the City Polytechnic were eventually successful in 1906.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the City Polytechnic, 1894-1906, comprising Council minutes, May 1894-Jan 1906; meetings attendance register, 1894-1906; scheme for proposed City Polytechnic, 1895.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English.

System of arrangement:

As indicated in Scope and content

Conditions governing access:

Researchers may apply to the Master's secretary.

Conditions governing reproduction:

At the discretion of the Master's secretary.

Finding aids:

Archival Information

Archival history:

Birkbeck Institute provided the administrative base for the City Polytechnic and the records were created and remained there.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

Birkbeck College holds Birkbeck Institute archives.

City University, London, holds Northampton Institute archives. London Guildhall University holds City of London College records.

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

S.J. Teague The City University A History (London, 1980) pp24-6, 41, 48.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Janet Foster as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with 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:
January 2001