Records, 1908-1985, of the Principal of Queen Elizabeth College and heads of its predecessor bodies, comprising general and policy files on administration of the College, 1912-1984, the subjects including buildings, relationship with the University of London, curriculum, relationship with royalty, evacuation and other arrangements during World War Two, granting of the charter and the name Queen Elizabeth College in 1953, financial matters, employees, catering, student relations, the library, and the future of the College (Ref: QAP/GPF1); papers on departmental and academic affairs, 1922-1985, including curricula and academic appointments (Ref: QAP/GPF2); files on arrangements for public lectures at the College, 1925-1968 (Ref: QAP/GPF3); minutes and other papers of College council, academic board and committees, 1915-1985, including staff appointments, salaries, curricula, timetables, safety, finance, and the merger with King's College London and Chelsea College in 1985 (Ref: QAP/GPF4); papers on the relationship with the University of London, 1915-1985 (Ref: QAP/GPF5); papers relating to the University Grants Committee, 1917-1985 (Ref: QAP/GPF6); correspondence and papers relating to other outside bodies, 1908-1985, including government departments, London County Council and other educational and health bodies, the subjects including students, training, and curricula (Ref: QAP/GPF7); papers on College premises, buildings and equipment, 1912-1985, including sports facilities, hostels and academic accommodation, damage sustained in World War Two, and alterations (Ref: QAP/GPF8); papers on the merger between Queen Elizabeth College, King's College London, and Chelsea College, 1982-1985, the subjects including finance, sites, and staff (Ref: QAP/GPF9).

Correspondence, reports, minutes, accounts and papers relating to Academic Schools, Faculties and Departments concerning appointments, buildings, bequests, mergers, equipment, finance, scholarships and endowments, courses and examinations, research grants, staff appointments, fees, admissions, students and grants, 1830-1841, 1851-1983, comprising Faculty of Education, 1965-1982; Faculty of Engineering, 1882-1982; Faculty of Medicine, 1923-1930, 1946-1955, 1972-1981; Faculty of Natural Science, 1940-1955, 1969-1975; School of Slavonic Studies, 1915-1937; Faculty of Theology, 1977-1983; Departments of Anatomy, 1900-1913, 1932, 1936-1948, 1966-1981; Arabic, 1894-1904; Architecture, 1890-1914; Arts, 1856-1860, 1897-1917, 1939-1956, 1971-1981; Biochemistry, 1936, 1965-1981; Biological Sciences, 1967-1976, 1983; Biophysics, 1948, 1952, 1962-1982; Botany, 1916-1918, 1923-1936, 1962-1977; Plant Sciences, 1977-1981; Chemical Engineering, 1965; Chemistry, 1897-1918, 1940-1945, 1960-1983; Civil Service Classes, 1892-1918; Classics, 1909-1917, 1970-1982; Commerce, 1872, 1918; Day Training College, 1890-1947; Department for the Training of Teachers, 1914-1939/40; Education Department 1939/40-1952/53; Engineering, 1882-1883, 1890-1980; Civil Engineering, 1977-1983; Mechanical Engineering, 1977-1981; Electrical Engineering, 1978-1981; English, 1840, 1893-1918, 1926, 1931-1934, 1959-1980; Evening Classes, 1896-1916, 1921-1929; French, 1946-1982; Geography, 1951-1953, 1961-1982; Geology, 1896-1918, 1965-1981; German, 1902-1958, 1977-1982; Modern Greek, 1917-1919, 1927, 1945-1946, 1961; Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1961-1977; Histology, 1918; History, 1877-1878, 1909-1918, 1938-1948, 1968-1977, 1981; Human Environmental Studies, 1973-1983; Icelandic, 1914; Italian, 1903, 1915-1918; Journalism 1923-1931, 1936-1939, 1944-1946; University of London Board of Laws, 1900-1952, 1971-1983; Mathematics, 1872, 1906, 1969-1982; Medicine, 1834-1837; 1851-1984; Metallurgy 1919; Music, 1962-1981; Natural Science, 1890-1917; School of Oriental Studies, 1895-1917; School of Chinese, 1899-1916; Palaeography 1972-1976; Pharmacology, 1925, 1966-1982; Philosophy, 1965-1966, 1971-1975, 1981; Physics, 1896, 1904-1918, 1926-1982; Physiology, 1891-1919, 1926, 1935-1939, 1949-1981; Economic Science and Statistics, 1851, 1904-1916, 1931; Portuguese, 1913-1924, 1948-1960, 1958-1982; Psychology, 1902-1904, 1914-1917, 1939-1947; Public Health, 1894-1917; Bacteriology, 1898-1902, 1910-1917, 1923-1925; Spanish, 1913-1922, 1937-1952, 1966-1970, 1977-1982; Theology, 1830-1841, 1862, 1864, 1888-1983; War Office Classes, 1916-1925; War Studies, 1959-1981; Zoology, 1905-1914, 1918, 1925, 1965-1970, 1977-1981.

From 1828-1909 the Council was the College's governing and executive body, exercising the powers of the College as provided in the Charter or Statutes. The King's College London (Transfer) Act 1908 incorporated the college into the University of London, and the Delegacy became the governing body of King's College. The Council thereafter governed the Theological Department only, which was separately administered from the rest of the College. The Delegacy was a committee of the Senate of the University of London, which had to ratify all major decisions. By the Royal Charter of 1980, King's College London was reconstituted, merging the Theological Department with the Faculty of Theology and the Council again became the governing body for the whole College. Between 1909-1980 the Court, as the financial board of the University of London, controlled the finances of the College through the custody, control and disposition of all property, funds and investments. The Academic Board advises the Council on all academic matters. The Professorial Board became known as the Academic Board in 1980.

The records comprise five series covering the period 1828-1992: records of the College's governing bodies, records relating to College constitution, policy and structure, relationship with the University of London, external bodies and the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals. These include minutes, papers and correspondence, 1890-1983, of the following: the Court, 1906-1938, 1966-1979; College Council and its committees, 1890-1983; Delegacy, 1909-1989, including the new site at Bloomsbury, 1921-1926; building works estimates, 1963-1977; the international interchange of students, 1909-1918; research into Radio Telegraphy, 1924-1941; Delegacy membership 1960-1980; Professorial Board minutes and papers, 1936-1939, 1958-1979; Academic Board minutes and papers, 1980-1983; Academic Board correspondence, 1917-1983 notably relating to appointments and alternative BSc examinations, 1929-1939; Theological Professorial Board minutes, 1920, agendas and papers, 1932-1938, 1967-72; Committee of Deans minutes and papers, 1921, 1956-1982; Heads of Departments' meetings with the Principal, 1976-1983; Joint Committee of the Council and Delegacy minutes and papers, 1972-1973; various development committees, 1976-1983, 1991-1992 (KAS/GC1). Provisional Committee of King's College London original resolution, report and petition for establishment, 1828-1833; draft charter (not granted), 1855-1863; papers and correspondence relating to the proposed 'University for London', 1844-1892, including draft charter for 'Albert University', 1891; University of London Act (1895) and Commission with related papers and correspondence, 1889-1901; King's College London Act (1903) with related correspondence, 1902-1903; papers relating to the incorporation of the College into the University of London, 1904-1913; papers relating to the development and rebuilding of King's College London, 1910-1919; papers relating to the Royal Commission on University Education in London, 1909-1915; University of London and King's College Committees minutes, correspondence and reports on the proposed Bloomsbury site, 1920-1924; papers relating to the Statutory Commission concerning the revision of University statutes, 1925-1928; papers relating to the merger of King's College London and the Arts and Sciences Departments of King's College for Women, 1928; papers and correspondence relating to the possible disincorporation of King's College London, 1964-1965; student participation in College government, 1969-1974; minutes of Joint and Steering Committees of the Council and Delegacy on the Murray Report, 1972-1979; Committees concerning the drafting of College regulations required under the new Charter and Statutes, 1977-1980; Committee structure of the College, 1978-1988; new faculty of Theology on reunification with the College, 1976-1977; the Flowers Report concerning medical education in London, 1979-1981; scheme for the integration of St Thomas' Medical School, Westminster Medical School and the Biological and Medical Departments of King's College London to form a School of Biology and Medicine, 1969-1972; proposed amalgamation of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies with King's College London, 1971-1976; reunification of King's College London and King's College Hospital Medical School, 1981-1983; merger of King's College London and Bedford College, 1981-1982; merger of King's, Queen Elizabeth and Chelsea Colleges, 1983-1985; Assistant Secretary's general correspondence and papers, 1982-1985; the development of the sites of King's, Queen Elizabeth and Chelsea Colleges, 1982-1983, and the College's Development Plan, 1985 (KAS/GC2). Correspondence with the University of London, 1901-1954, 1966-1988; correspondence and notices of Senate proceedings and resolutions, 1910-1918, 1934-1942; reports of the Delegacy to the Senate, 1911-1918, 1934-1914, and to the Court, 1929-1946; membership of the Delegacy and College representation on University of London boards and committees, 1939-1960; membership of Senate Committees and electoral procedures, 1978-1983; King's College London's submissions to the Robbins and Murray Committees, 1961-1972; reports and correspondence relating to the University of London Act 1978, 1974-1978; response to new statutes, 1976-1983; correspondence and papers relating to student discipline, 1968-1979; response to the University of London Committee on Academic Organisation, 1980-1982; registration of teachers, appointment of staff and conferment of titles, 1890-1918; registration of students, 1909-1921; University of London inspections on King's College London teaching and equipment; 1909-1910, 1932-1939, 1949-1950 (KAS/GC3). Papers and correspondence relating to the allocation, application and appeals for Treasury and Board of Education grants, 1889-1918; Treasury Commissioner Inspections, 1889-1904; returns to the Board of Education and University Grants Committee for the annual report to Parliament, 1897-1921; response to the Board of Education's proposals to revise secondary school examinations, 1913-1918; correspondence, minutes and papers relating to University Grants Committee visits and meetings, 1921-1934, 1950-1983; University Grants Committee accounts of air-raid damage repairs, 1938-1945; papers relating to Quinquennium reports, 1947-1961, 1966-1980; circulars from Science Research Councils, 1976-1981; correspondence with London County Council and reports notably relating to grants, scholarships, bursaries, appointments and teachers' classes, 1894-1927 (KAS/GC4). Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals' general correspondence, circulars and reports relating to the National Union of Students, College societies, tuition fees, data protection, finance and higher education, 1954-1982 (KAS/GC5).

The correspondence largely contains letters sent to the Secretary of King’s College London concerning all aspects of the business of the College and its related bodies including King’s College School, 1831- 1908; the Ladies Department of King’s College, subsequently King’s College for Women, from 1885; and some aspects of the business of King’s College Hospital, 1839-1909, relating to new appointments and resignations as well as letters from the Secretaries of the Hospital - mainly regarding decisions of the Committee of Management.

The series contains letters from subscribers to the College regarding their donations, shareholdings or the nomination of prospective students; letters from staff include applications for posts, the content of syllabuses, appeals to College Council for funds for improved facilities, the names of prize and scholarship winners, requests to take in boarders, hold posts at other organisations, and resignations; letters from students and parents include general enquiries about the College, applications for enrolment, requests to remove pupils from King’s College School, applications from prize-winners for their prizes, applications for the AKC (Associateship of King’s College) the College’s own academic award, requests for the refunding of fees; letters from the College Architect regarding the building and later redevelopments of the Strand site; letters from businesses connected to the College including those who supplied equipment and groceries to the College and estimates from contractors for building work; letters from external bodies and individuals regarding the use of rooms in the College, donations and gifts to the College museums and Departments; correspondence relating to schools in union with the College; and papers regarding College Commemoration Days and the Gilbart Lectures on Banking.

The series is remarkably complete until the late 1890s. With the appointment of Walter Smith in 1895 came the introduction of a modern filing system (see KAS/GC, AC and AD) although bundles continued to be used on occasion until 1919. A few letters in the collection post date 1919, but these are largely related to loans of letters for historical research.

The out-letter books contain chronologically arranged copies of a number of significant letters written by or on behalf of the Principal and College Secretary, 1834-1917, in relation to a wide variety of College business. The series does not however, include responses to all letters in the parallel series of in-letters (KA/IC).

Copy notes and diagrams, 1988, on 'General theory of colour', and planetary motion, with diagrams and covering letters; paper, Jul 1988, on 'The foundations of knowledge', listing an ideal syllabus.

King's College London Spanish and Spanish-American Studies Department records comprising correspondence with staff and students, departmental minutes, University of London Board of Studies' papers, papers relating to the University Grants' Committee, course outlines, mark sheets and photographs, 1949-1992. These notably include departmental minutes, 1975-1989; correspondence relating to research funding, lecture programmes, sabbaticals, the teaching of Spanish in United Kingdom universities, staff references, publishing agreements, the merger of 1985, course outlines and structure, [1960-1990]; minutes of the University of London Board of Studies in Romance Language and Literature, 1972-1992; minutes and correspondence relating to the University Grants' Committee collected by Leonard Patrick Harvey, Cervantes Professor of Spanish, King's College London, 1980-1982; correspondence concerning Si Titulo , the departmental newsletter, with copies, 1980-1986; photographs of students and staff, the Spanish Society and various social events, 1948-1992.

Ladies' Department, Women's Department and King's College for Women student registers, 1878-1919 (Reg: KWA/R). This series includes a register and file of examination classifications, 1878-1904, 1899, consisting of student listings under subject and class of degree awarded (Reg: KWA/R1, R3a); a register of term lists, 1879-1910, giving the numbers of students (no names) taking each course, tutor and fees for each term, and from 1906 also giving the number of students taking each public examination (Reg: KWA/R2); a register of certificates gained by students, 1884-1896, arranged by subject (Reg: KWA/R3); a register of matriculated students, 1902-1919, containing signature, date and witness (Reg: KWA/R4).

Ladies' Department, Women's Department, King's College for Women rough day book, 1901-1910 (Ref: KWA/MISC1), containing the signatures of students admitted without a ticket; King's College for Women counterfoils of tickets for intercollegiate courses at the University of London, 1912-1914 (Ref: KWA/MISC2), giving students' name, course, teacher and institution.

King's College for Women record books, 1897-1917 (Ref: KWA/REC). This series consists of student record books, 1903-1917, giving name, address, age, parent's profession previous education, date of entry, date of matriculation, examinations prior and subsequent to matriculation, terminal reports, subjects taken, positions of responsibility held, prizes and distinctions, and some information on subsequent achievements; record books of examinations, 1905-1918, which gives name and exam studied for, and can be cross referenced to the student record books; record book of students taking London, Oxford and other examinations, 1897-1903, which contains a similar level of information as the student record books; record book of students taking the Archbishop's Diploma in Theology, 1905-1907, giving address, previous education, parents' profession, date of entry, subjects taken, examinations prior to entry and termly reports.

South-Western Polytechnic, Chelsea Polytechnic, Chelsea College of Science and Technology, and Chelsea College Syllabuses & Prospectuses contains sets of general undergraduate prospectuses for Chelsea courses, 1895-1985, and of general postgraduate syllabuses, 1967-1985; prospectuses for specific undergraduate and postgraduate component courses of study including physics, chemistry, electronics, pharmacy and science education, 1962-1985 (Ref: C/SYL)

Theology student records, [1852]-1998, specifically undergraduate and postgraduate male student files, 1886, 1908, 1910-1974 (Ref: KFT/FPM), undergraduate and postgraduate male withdrawals, [1914-1951] (Ref: KFT/FPMW), miscellaneous correspondence relating to students whose date of entry is not known, [1939-1969] (Ref: KFT/FPMM), undergraduate and postgraduate female student files, 1929-1974 (Ref: KFT/FPF), undergraduate and postgraduate female withdrawals, 1948-1968 (Ref: KFT/FPFW), miscellaneous correspondence relating to female students whose date of entry is not known [1932-1968] (Ref: KFT/FPFM), occasional students, 1980-1991 (Ref: KFT/FP/OCC), postgraduate occasional students, 1980-1992 (Ref: KFT/FPPG/OCC), undergraduate student files, 1975-1998 (Ref: KFT/FP), postgraduate student files, 1980-1994 (Ref: KFT/FPPG), examination results, [1978-1987] (Ref: KFT/ER), address register of former students, [1871] (KFT administrative series), 2 slip books of male students who took the Theological Associate of King's College examination, [1852]-1921 (Ref: KFT/RC1), 13 slip books of male, and in later years, female students who took the Theological AKC, [1920-1980] (Ref: KFT/RC2), 1 slip book of women theological students, including AKCs, 1946-1982, 1 slip book of male and female BA Religious Studies, Biblical Studies and postgraduate students, 1976-1985, 1 slip book of BD and combined studies students, 1983-1985. The KFT/FPM file series incorporates all students, including withdrawals, AKC, BD and a small number of postgraduates. Information contained typically includes letters of reference, tutors' terminal reports, general correspondence and application for admission, the name of the Bishop by whom the student was confirmed and the name and address of the clergyman from whom a confidential report was received, from 1931 most files have a photograph attached. Prior to 1919 generally only the admission form survives. The KFT/FPMW series is not comprehensive. Information typically includes application for admission, letters of reference and correspondence. Information typically contained in the KFT/FPF file series includes UCCA forms, statement of eligibility, terminal reports, admission form, letters of reference and correspondence, from 1935 files occasionally contain a photograph. The KFT/FPFW series includes those who withdrew their application or who rejected the offer of a place, but again is not comprehensive. From 1996 onwards the main subjects included in the KFT/FP series include BA Religious Studies, BA Theology and BA Biblical Studies. Information contained in the KFT/FP and KFT/FPPG series varies but generally includes statement of eligibility, declaration, application for admission, UCCA form, statement by referee, terminal report and correspondence. The examination results series includes pass lists for the AKC, MTh, MPhil, PhD, BA and BD degrees. Information typically contained in the KFT/RC1 slip books include the date the AKC was passed, any prizes or other qualifications gained at King's or elsewhere, the church at which the student went on to serve, and address. The end of this series also contains a small number of forms relating to deceased former students. The KFT/RC2 slip books have an attached AKC detail sheet giving courses and marks. Other information typically contained in the Theological slip books include name, address, date of birth, date of entry, course, examinations, previous education, and whether ordained.

King's College London History and Philosophy of Religion postgraduate student files, 1975-1981 (Ref: KDPR/FPPG). These generally relate to MTh courses and information typically contained includes applications for admission as a postgraduate student, results, title of thesis/dissertation, references and general correspondence.

The records of the Department of War Studies at King's College London consists of correspondence, printed reports and programmes, 1953-1990. These comprise correspondence and papers on course structure and syllabus, with reading lists, 1958-1969; papers relating to the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives and College Library, including Trustees' meetings, 1953-1971; correspondence and papers relating to research funding organisations including the Ford Foundation and the Social Science Research Council, 1962-1985; correspondence concerning conferences and seminars, with outlines of lectures and supporting materials, 1970-1989; agendas and briefing papers concerning Faculty of Arts' meetings, 1978-1982; papers and correspondence compiled by Professor Lawrence Freedman for a project on the Falklands conflict, 1982-1990 (closed); papers of the University of London Board of War Studies, 1980-1985, including on external monitoring of academic standards and the supervision of higher degrees; texts of two lectures by Professor Lawrence Freedman, including inaugural lecture, 1983-1986; papers relating to an invitation to tender for academic teaching at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, 1990.

King's College London Department of War Studies, undergraduate and postgraduate student files, 1960-1995 (Ref: KDW/FP). The majority of files to date are for postgraduate MA, MPhil/PhD and research degrees, with BA files dating from 1992. Information typically includes application for admission, notification of title of thesis, application for fellowship, letters of reference, interim progress report and correspondence.

Papers, [1949]-1988, mainly relating to the teaching of physics at King's College, London, notably teaching notes, handouts and offprints of articles for use in lectures and tutorials, on subjects including Raman Spectroscopy, Microwave and Physics Frequency Spectroscopy, Solid State Physics, Hydrograph Bonding, and Modern Physics, [1950-1986]; two copies of the King's College London Physics Department Second Year Laboratory Manual; correspondence relating to references provided by Wilkinson [for his students], 1979-1988; notes, correspondence and papers relating to physics and chemistry syllabi, [1964-1971], including proposals for physics teaching; papers, [1949]-1969, on examination of students of chemistry and physics, including King's College and University of London exam papers, [1949-1966], and examples of physics exam questions at other London colleges, 1964; agenda, minutes and reports of King's College and Queen Elizabeth College Physics Department Staff Meetings, [1981-1987]; reports of the Development Planning Committee, 1969-1971; Annual Reports of the Physics Department Spectroscopy Group, 1959-1960 and 1962-1966. Papers relating to research funding, notably reports by Wilkinson on research proposals submitted to the Science Research Council, [1973], [1978], and [1981-1986]; files of correspondence and papers relating to Wilkinson's PhD students, notably David Meade and K J Dean, 1978-1985; papers relating to Science Research Council grants made to Wilkinson, [1950-1989]. Named files, containing correspondence, drawings, photographs and papers on various scientific subjects, especially relating to Raman Spectroscopy, largely containing offprints of articles by Wilkinson and others, [1960-1980]. Files of correspondence and papers relating to academic papers and articles written by Wilkinson, including a speech to the Indian Raman Conference; an article with W F Sherman and J S Budenheimer on 'High pressure studies on Hexamethyl Benzene'; the 'Chinese University Development Project Panel and Commission Report on solid state spectroscopy in physics at Sichuan University, Chengdu, China', May 1985; correspondence and proofs relating to a chapter by Wilkinson and W F Sherman on Raman Spectroscopy; correspondence with the Reverend Stanley H Williams concerning a proposed biography of W E Williams; correspondence with Pergamon Press relating to a new edition of the Encyclopedia of Physics . Papers, notes and drawings relating to scientific equipment, including a Dovesbury Synchrocyclotron, 1980-1981, a Spex Laser, 1978, a Carey 81 Laser, and an Ionised Argon Laser, 1954 and 1967. Personal files include information regarding Professor Sir John Randall, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at King's College, [1984], correspondence and papers relating to the Perkin Elmer Prize, 1987, copies of book reviews by Wilkinson, and a list of his papers published before 1978. The collection also contains 4 boxes of glass slides showing sample spectra.