Academic Board of Bedford College

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0505 BC AL100-109
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	: Academic Board of Bedford College
Date(s)	: 1909-1965
Level of description	: Subfonds of Bedford College View parent record
Extent	: 43 boxes and 26 volumes or 0.69 cubic metres
Name of creator(s)	: Bedford College | Academic Board
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Under the 1909 Royal Charter of Incorporation, the Bedford College Board of Education was replaced by the Academic Board, which also took over the functions of the Staff Meeting. It was originally composed of the Principal, who was also the ex officio Chairman, Heads of Departments or their representatives, and various other teaching staff as appointed by the Council on the recommendation of the Academic Board. These last were to number no more than five. The Secretary of the Council also acted as Secretary of the Board (until 1978 when this function was taken over by the Registrar. The Secretary of the Council was still to attend meetings). Faculties of Art and Science were created, each led by a Dean and consisting of teachers from those disciplines, the Secretaries of which reported to the Board on a regular basis. Membership was widened in 1920 and 1929 to increase the number of Assistant Staff.

At first its powers were confined to giving advice on educational matters, but the scope was enlarged in 1911 when it was permitted to make representation to the Council on matters concerning the wider management of the College. The Board was also empowered to appoint Committees made up of its members. The Charter of 1909 allowed for the election of two members of the Board to the Council, with this being increased to five by 1930. Staff Councillors held office for 3 years. The composition of the Academic Board changed in the years up to 1982 to include ex officio the Principal, the Vice-Principal, the Deans of Faculties, and the Librarian, as well as Heads of Departments and elected members from the Faculties.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Minutes of the Academic Board, 1909-1984; Committee papers and notices of the Academic Board, 1906-1929; Standing Orders of the Academic Board, 1915, 1916 and 1929; Minutes of the Board of Studies of the University, 1934-1939.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

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 Archivist.

Finding aids:

'A catalogue of the Archives of Bedford College (University of London), 1849-1985' by Claire Gobbi Daunton and Elizabeth Bennett, 1987.

Archival Information

Archival history:

The papers were transferred from the Bedford College Archives when the College merged with Royal Holloway in 1985.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

The Royal Holloway, University of London Archives hold Secretary's papers containing correspondence relating to the Academic Board, 1959-1971 (BC AR385/9/1), and correspondence, 1956-1962, with the Academic Board relating to the admission of men to Bedford College (BC AR385/9/4); and Registrar's papers containing Committee Papers, 1971-1972, regarding the structure of the Academic Board (BC AR270/10/1-3).

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

A history of Bedford College for Women, 1849-1937 (Oxford University Press, London, 1939), by Dame Margaret Jansen Tuke; Educating women: a pictorial history of Bedford College, University of London, 1849-1985 (Alma Publishers, Surrey, 1991), by Dr Linna Bentley.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the 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:
Mar 2000