Experimental notes, working papers, correspondence and lecture summaries compiled by Charles Wheatstone, 1836-1875, and photographs collected by him in that period. Notably including papers relating to the development and testing of the telegraph, [1836-1960]; descriptions of experiments and test results concerning the measurement of electromotive forces and electrical potential, [1840-1875]; experimental observations on the nature of magnetism, electricity and thermodynamics, including electromagnet design, batteries and dynamos, [1834-1855]; working papers relating to optics including experiments into refraction, colouration of compounds and polarisation, [1850-1875]; drafts of lectures on sound and musical instruments prepared by Wheatstone, [1832-1837]; material relating to the management of the Wheatstone collection of scientific instruments and library, 1890-1992; biographical material relating to the life of Wheatstone, the invention of the telegraph and Wheatstone's musical instrument manufacturing business, with unrelated newspapers, 1757-1975; stereoscopic photographs and glass negatives taken by Roger Fenton, Samuel Buckle, Jules Duboscq and others, featuring landscapes, still lifes, panoramic scenes of cities including Paris and Moscow and the interior and exterior of the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park, Sydenham, 1851, and especially the Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1855, [1850-1901]; artefacts from Department of Physics, King's College London, including demonstration equipment, telegraph apparatus, a nail fiddle and other prototype musical instruments, [1834-1875]; exhibition of scientific and musical instruments, [1834-1875].

King's College London Prospectuses and Syllabuses include: an incomplete run of general undergraduate prospectuses, 1854-1897, and complete, 1964-2000; incomplete general postgraduate prospectuses, 1971-1975, and complete, 1977-2000; bound volumes of detailed prospectuses for specific departments and faculties, 1964-1973, 1975-1978; loose detailed prospectuses for specific departments and faculties including Evening Classes, 1863-1918, Arts/Humanities, 1913-2011, Classics, Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, 1918-1995, History, 1913-1999, War Studies, 1985-2010, Architecture, 1908-1909, Modern Language Departments, 1917-2007, Philosophy, 1980-1982, Engineering, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, 1843-1844, 1917-1919, 1960-2006, Journalism, 1937-1940, Theology, 1897-2009, Education, 1969-2012, Laws, 1917-1918, 1978-2012, Life Sciences in general and specific departments, 1968-2008, Medical Sciences, 1900-2010, Music, 1965-2000, Natural Sciences in general and specific departments, 1840-2009, Physical Sciences in general and specific departments, 1985-2012 (Ref: K/SYL, K/EC/SYL, KFA/SYL, KDJ/SYL, KDMA/SYL, KDW/SYL, KFE/SYL, KFED/SYL, KFL/SYL, KFLS/SYL, KFM/SYL, KFMS/SYL, KFN/SYL, KFPS/SYL, KFT/SYL).

Correspondence and minutes of Faculty Boards and Departmental Committees relating to benefactions, scholarships and bursaries 1851-1979, and courses, examinations, admissions, fees and grants, 1904-1983, including the London Intercollegiate Scholarship Board, 1904-1918, admission of women to the Associateship of King's College London (Theological), 1921, the Consultative Committee of London Colleges and Secondary Schools, 1923-1929, minutes and papers of the Thomas Wall Trust, 1930-1939, the National Research Development Corporation, 1950-1964, reports, correspondence and minutes relating to the Library Committee, loans, bequests, transfers, purchases, grants and staff issues, 1917-1918, 1932-1983, correspondence, papers and minutes of the Trustees relating to the purchase of the Liddell Hart Library and the establishment of the Centre for Military Archives (later Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives), 1960-1983, correspondence and papers relating to the Gilbart lectures on banking and examinations for prizes, 1872, 1923-1939, 1947-1990.

Chelsea College Secretary's files, 1889-1998. These records reflect all aspects of the academic and administrative work of the College, ranging from strategic planning, building maintenance and finance through to University of London business where applicable to Chelsea College, notably including South-Western Polytechnic and subsequent College schemes and correspondence on the relationship of the College with the University of London, 1889-1985; governance, namely Chelsea College Senate membership, agendas, committees and other business, 1972-1985; Council minutes, agendas and membership, 1972-1987; King's, Queen's and Chelsea (KQC) Management Committee and Joint Policy Committee correspondence and papers, 1983-1985; University of London Senate agendas and minutes, 1983-1985 (Ref: 1985/CAS, 1987/CAS, 1991 CAS); papers relating to major committees such as academic planning group correspondence, 1983-1984; Finance and General Purposes Committee, Planning and Staffing Committee papers, 1983-1985, planning and resources committee papers, 1989-1991 (Ref: 1997/CAS, CAS/GC2); the general running of the College, including patents, 1972-1987; copyright, 1970-1989; College safety, 1977-1985; Data Protection Act, 1985-1987; Students' Union and student welfare, 1966-1985; a proposed merger with Westfield College, University of London, 1982-1987; the Swinnerton-Dyer Committee report documents, 1980-1982; St George's Hospital Medical School papers reflecting administrative concerns, 1976-1986; agreements and contracts with publishing companies and scientific equipment suppliers, 1968-1985; papers relating to the arsenic poisoning of porters at Chelsea College including cuttings and police investigations, 1966-1971, 1998, (Ref: CAS/AD1, 1987/CAS, 1991 CAS); personnel and staff related files including on contracts, salaries, leave entitlements, performance targets, trade unions, principally NUPE and NALGO, staff appointments and lists, 1967-1987; Academic Staff Committee minutes, papers and correspondence, 1969-1985; Technical and Manual Staff Committees, 1971-1985; demonstrators and visiting lecturers, 1975-1981 (Ref: CAS/AD8); papers relating to College property, [1970-1988] (Ref: 1987/CAS, CAS 1989); academic related papers concerning various departments at King's spanning the merger of Chelsea and King's in 1985, including Biophysics, Chemistry, English, Physiology, Spanish, Theology and War Studies, 1977-1989, Chelsea Departmental papers including the Nuffield programme, Library and Computing Department, 1966-1988 (Ref: 1987/CAS, 1991 CAS, 1992 CAS).

The records of the Principal's Office, King's College London, comprise minutes, correspondence and memoranda, 1863-1997. These notably include minutes of the Delegacy of King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1989-1990, and various committee minutes including those of the Health and Welfare Committee, Joint Medical Advisory Committee and the Committee for the London Institutes for Advanced Study, 1974-1990; a run of general correspondence relating to College business including staff salaries, property, events, scholarships and relations with other universities, 1944-1979; but also more specifically, personal correspondence with Principal Richard William Jelf, 1863-1864; correspondence and papers on quinquennia and outlining the strategic direction of the College and constituent academic departments, including merger negotiations and the College Charter, 1933-1992; Principal's files relating to named departments, faculties and schools, including the United Medical and Dental Schools Merger, 1988-1997; correspondence on students including named individuals, the Student's Union and some pass lists, 1946-1979; correspondence concerning staff appointments, including professorial and other senior vacancies such as Secretaryship and Principalship, individual Chairs, salary scales, sabbaticals and staff-student relations, 1920-1997, correspondence concerning scholarships and awards, 1988-1997; papers relating to College property including proposals for the redevelopment of the College in Bloomsbury, expansion into Somerset House, Strand, and student residences, 1920-1985; minutes and correspondence concerning College libraries including the Ronald Burrows Memorial Library, 1931- 1977; correspondence and papers on the management of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, including with donors, 1977-1994; correspondence concerning hospitality and entertainment including Fellows' dinners and graduations, public and inaugural lectures, orations, royal visits and student events, 1946-1997; correspondence and papers charting the relationship of King's with the federal University of London, including Heads of Schools and reports on teaching, post-war reconstruction and the future of Goldsmith's College, 1943-1987; assorted memoranda, 1896-1978.

The records of Queen Elizabeth College Library include minutes, correspondence and publications, 1905-1986; notably an incomplete series of Library Committee minute books, 1905-1977 (Ref: QAL/M); loose minutes, correspondence and other papers concerned with the management and operation of the Library, in particular working party notes, policy documents, Library Committee papers, donations, accessions lists, finance, redevelopment, computing, and relating to the teaching of physics and social studies, 1962-1986 (Ref: 1992/QAL/F, QAL/F1); correspondence and architectural plans relating to the planning and development of a proposed new library, statistics and inspections, 1971-1979 (Ref: 1999/QAL); publications including copies of articles from a wide range of physiological and medical journals, mainly concerning obesity, hormonal and metabolic balance with the results of studies carried out on humans and rodents, 1912-1975 (Ref: QAL/PUB1); papers relating to catering, domestic planning and appliances, including on electric cookers and refrigerators, [1963-1970] (Ref: QAL/PUB2); Harrow Consumer Group publications including its magazine, Query, 1967-1971 (Ref: QAL/PUB3); publications concerned with recipes and diet and kitchen hygiene [1915-1960] (Ref: QAL/PUB4); pamphlets, brochures and other publications issued by the Government of Malawi and organisations in Rhodesia and Nigeria, on nutrition, health education, agricultural development and farming practices, 1969-1973 (QAL/PUB5).

The records of King's College London Library consist of committee minutes, correspondence, memoranda and other papers, 1830-1998. These include the principal Library Committee minutes and correspondence , 1871-1994; Library Resources Co-ordinating Committee (LRCC) minutes and papers, 1974-1993; Library Services Management Team papers, 1990-1994; minutes of the Strand Campus Users Committee, 1987-1990; minutes, correspondence, reports and memoranda concerning the strategic planning and general policy of the Library including Library Reports, 1987-1990, quinquennia, the University Grants Committee, building, mergers, individual campus libraries committee minutes and overall Library aims and objectives, 1925-1994; papers relating to grants, expenditure and finance, including invoices, 1933-1993; general papers concerning the day-to-day management of the Library including constituent libraries, Second World War disruption, security issues, noise, user/reader services, information retrieval and cataloguing, rare books and Special Collections, policy on periodical subscription, binding and repair, interlibrary loans, publicity and relations with the Students' Union, 1932-1995; correspondence with departments, faculties and schools concerning accessioning policies, 1934-1992; register of borrowers, 1845-1854, 1962-1968, and general correspondence with readers, 1946-1993; papers relating to Library equipment including automation, 1986-1992; papers on building and planning, including the Library Planning and Accommodation Sub-committee, notes on Strand libraries, Cornwall House, Manresa Road, Chelsea, and Hampstead sites, 1948-1993; papers relating to staff and staffing levels, including lists, appointments, appraisals, questionnaires, staff meeting minutes and establishment papers, 1933-1997; individual personnel records of Library staff, 1957-1998; manuscript and typescript Library catalogues and shelf lists, including the Marsden Library, 1830-1993; papers relating to stock, including stock checks and transfers, 1989-1994, accessions registers, 1847, 1932-1975, correspondence and registers of gifts and bequests, including the private papers of academics, 1898-1992, indexes to journals and serials, 1931-[1963]; 1986-1992; papers of Hedwig Pollock, rare book librarian, 1943-1967, including professional correspondence, detailed descriptions of very rare books and manuscript texts and some fragments from a 16th century volume; papers relating to the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives and Library, including correspondence with Trustees, minutes of the Trustees and external funding, 1959-1996; interlibrary co-operation and computerised data collection and librarianship including the Standing Conference of Librarians of Libraries of the University of London, Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL), British Library Research and Development Department, Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre (MARC), Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS), European Union Trans-European Mobility Scheme for University Studies (TEMPUS) and Standing Conference of National and University Libraries (SCONUL), 1955-1998.

Chelsea College Library records, 1895-1987, comprise papers collected by the College Library or describing the work of the Library on the Chelsea campus following the merger with King's College in 1985, notably correspondence with the College Secretary and departments, 1974-1980; papers relating to Library computerisation, 1979-1987; staffing and salary matters, 1978-1985; University Grants Committee papers on libraries, 1974-1982; History and Philosophy of Science Library correspondence and bibliography, 1964-1987; Chelsea Campus Libraries Users Committee notes, 1985-1987; finance, 1975-1977; concerning the College History Collection, 1965-1974; notes relating to building and planning at the King's Road site, 1971-1987; University of London merger and other papers, 1978-1983; reports on medical education in London, 1980; concerning Library private papers, 1949-1970; Library Annual Reports, 1963-1987 (1992/CAL, CAL/1986); correspondence concerning Library donors and Zoology reprints, 1967-1985 (Ref: 1986/CAL); accessions registers, 1921-1975 (Ref: CAL/RG); lists of current periodicals, 1960-1974 (Ref: CAL/RGJ); payments books for stock, equipment and expenses, 1960-1973 (Ref: CAL/CB); Library staff personnel files for leavers between 1970-1976 (Ref: CAL/FP); material concerning the history of the College accumulated by the Library, including charters, official reports, with some press cuttings, 1914-1981 (Ref: CAL/H).

Records of King's College Hospital, 1562-1999, comprising the governing and management bodies' and sub-committees' minutes and papers, 1839-1976; files of senior administrative staff including the Hospital Secretary, House Governor and District Administrator, 1853-1990; title deeds and other legal documents, 1562-[1970]; registers, indexes and inventories, 1879-1980; Medical School papers, 1833-1997, including the Medical Society/Listerian Society, the Clubs and Societies Union, and the Medical School Library; private papers of several professors, 1834-1988, including Albert Carless, Arthur Edmunds, Sir (Harold Arthur) Thomas Fairbank, and Herbert Willoughby Lyle; case notes, 1820-1959; ephemera, 1742-1998, including programmes for ceremonies and events, Hospital serials and publications, appeals and publicity, photographs and press cuttings; minutes and annual reports of the Friends of King's College Hospital, 1955-1988; Hospital accounts, 1961-1981; records of the Thrombosis Research Unit, [1972-1996]; records of the Nightingale Institute, 1813-1999.

South-Western Polytechnic, Chelsea Polytechnic, Chelsea College of Science and Technology, Chelsea College Governing Body, Council and Academic Board Minute Books, 1888-1985. This series of minute books comprises one of the most important sources of evidence of the strategic and academic development within the Polytechnic and College from the earliest subscription campaign for the new Institute to the closure of Chelsea when it merged with King's in 1985. It comprises the main class of College governance minutes with a duplicate set covering the years 1906-1966, and in particular the manuscript minutes of the Executive or Governing Body of the South Western Polytechnic (with index), 1881-1906; printed and bound minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1906-1918; printed and bound copies of the minutes of the Governing Body and Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1919-1922; printed and bound copies of the minutes of the Governing Body, 1923-1966; folders of typescript minutes of the Governing Body, 1966-1972 (Ref: CA/G/M); folders containing typescript Chelsea Council minutes, 1972-1985 (Ref: CA/C/M). Governing Body/Council minutes typically contain information on appointments and salaries, strategic and academic planning, academic services, scholarships and student numbers, the relationship with other Higher Education institutions and merger details. Incomplete manuscript and typescript Board of Studies and complete typescript Academic Board and Senate minutes, 1917-1931, 1962-1985 (Ref: CA/S/M), covering topics including departmental organisation, examinations, grants and student discipline; meeting papers relating to the Senate minutes, 1972-1985 (Ref: CA/S/MP). Minutes of Special Committees of the Governing Body/Council such as Non-Academic Staff Committee, 1966-1981, Sites and Buildings, 1966-1985; Finance and General Purposes Committee, 1967-1985; Residence and Refectories Committee/Amenities Committee, 1967-1985; Development Committee, 1971-1976; Staff Association, 1956-1976; Sports Ground Committee, 1972-1985; Joint Athletic Ground Committee, 1922-1939; Joint Policy Committee, 1973-1978 (Ref: CA/CS/M, CA/M); Special Committee meeting papers for the Academic Planning Committee and a working party on the College Library, 1965-1983 (Ref: CA/CS/MP).