King's College London Computing Centre

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0100 KCLCA KA/COM
Held at	: King's College London College Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/library/archivespec/ ›
Full title	: King's College London Computing Centre
Date(s)	: 1967-2005
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 13 boxes, 1.3 cubic metres
Name of creator(s)	: King's College London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

In 1967 a committee was appointed to be responsible for establishing a computer service for King's College London, this became the King's College Computer Unit. Dr D C Knight was appointed as Computing Manager and plans were made to convert a former Chemical Engineering Laboratory to house a small computer for the joint use of King's College London and the London School of Economics, linked to a main computer at the University of London Senate House. In October 1969 the Computer Centre at King's was officially inaugurated. From May 1968, the King's College Computer Unit published a newsletter suggesting that King's College London would be provided with a computer of its own; this was intended for use within academic departments, for administrative staff, research, data processing and information retrieval.

In 1980 the centre became King's College Computer Centre and no longer required use of the main University of London Computer Centre. In 1985 King's College London merged with Queen Elizabeth College and Chelsea College, having facilities on the Strand Campus, Kensington Campus and Chelsea Campus. The Strand site also contained the Humanities Computing Laboratory, (now removed to the Centre for Computing in the Humanities).

The Centre provided advice and support for Computer Assisted Learning applications and support and assistance for members of the College wanting to use facilities of external computer centres, including the University of London Computer Centre. By 1988 the King's College Computer Centre had expanded and was managed by the Director of Computer Services and had eight separate divisions; Humanities and Information Management, Science and Engineering, Communications, KCSMD, Management Information Systems, Microsystems and Computing Services Development, Systems and Operations. From 1985 the Director reported to Information Services and Systems.

Following several restructurings the Centre has been variously known as ISS Computing Centre [1990], Information Systems (2002) and IT Systems (2006), sitting within Information Services and Systems department.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of King's College London Computing Centre, 1967-2005 comprise administrative records of the Computing Centre, committee papers and related internal and external publications.

The collection most notably reflects the purchase of new workstations in various campuses, 1994-1997; new computer rooms, furniture and computers at the Kensington campus, 1993-1998; the introduction of IMAP emailing, 1993-1995; upgrades to the King's College London emailing service, 1995-1999 and index cards, 1967-1985, detailing the purchase and lease of equipment.

Committee papers including the agendas and minutes for Assistant Director's Committee, 1988-1991; User Services Committee, 1989-1997 and New User Services Committee, 1998; Computing Services Advisory Committee, 1994-2000; Computing Policy Committee, 1993-1996 and the proceedings of JANET User Support Workshop, 1991-2000.

Internal publications include a TRAINIT leaflet, 2004-2005, PAWS handbooks, 2000-2005 and newsletters of the KCL Computing Centre, Issues 1-51, (1967-1985).

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in accession order.

Conditions governing access:

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 Director of Archives and Information Services.

Finding aids:

No additional finding aids exist.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Transferred to King's College London College Archives in 2006.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Samantha Velumyl.

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 2008