Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1958 (Creation)
- 1953 (Creation)
- 1931 (Creation)
- 1926 (Creation)
- 1828-1920 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent
196 boxes and 1 oversized box or 19.8 m3
Scope and content
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.
System of arrangement
Until 1894, the College's in and out correspondence and bills and accounts were arranged in two sequences. At the year end the in-correspondence and bills were bundled alphabetically by the first letter of the surname of the correspondent or the first letter of the topic, and then arranged chronologically and stored in wooden deed boxes.
By 1992 a majority of the deed boxes were collapsing, and a decision was taken to re-order the bundles in an integrated alphabetical sequence.
The reference number corresponds to the letter under which the correspondence has been filed. The bills and accounts were separated out into a different series (KA/BB).
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Between 1831 and 1988 the role of College Secretary evolved from Secretary to the Principal and Council to become a senior administrative officer of the College. Throughout the period the College Secretary had responsibility for servicing the Council, its main standing and special subcommittees, and the Academic Board. In the 1960s, the post of Academic Registrar was reorganised to reflect the coordinated responsibility for student admission and examinations with the Department.
The College employed four Secretaries between 1828 and 1919: Henry Nelson Coleridge (1828); Henry William Smith (1829-1845); John William Cunningham (1845-1895), and Walter Smith (1895-1919).
Repository
Archival history
Transferred by the College Secretary’s office in 1981.
Conditions governing access
Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.
Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archives.
Language of material
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Persian
- Spanish
- Urdu
Script of material
Finding aids
Summary guide entry and detailed catalogue, online and in hard copy.
Related materials
Alternative identifier(s)
Subjects
- Curriculum
- Economics of education
- Educational administration
- Educational buildings
- Educational finance
- Educational levels
- Educational management
- Educational personnel
- Educational planning
- Educational policy
- Educational statistics
- Enrolment
- Higher education
- Higher education institutions
- Students
- Universities
- University students
- Personnel
- People by occupation
- People
Place access points
People and Organisations
Genre access points
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.
Script(s)
Archivist's note
Detailed catalogue by Frances Pattman