Collection QAL - LIBRARY: Queen Elizabeth College administrative records

Key Information

Reference code

QAL

Title

LIBRARY: Queen Elizabeth College administrative records

Date(s)

  • 1905-1986 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent

13 boxes including 1 outsize box

Scope and content

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).

System of arrangement

The records are arranged into the main series described in the Scope and Content section.

General Information

Name of creator

(1953-1985)

Biographical history

A library existed from the earliest days of the Ladies Department of King's College London in Kensington Square. It was enlarged on the creation of King's College for Women, and in the later Household and Social Science Department at Campden Hill. It was bombed during the Second World War and some 3000 volumes were salvaged from the ruins and these formed the nucleus of the post-war Library. These were deposited in a main, general, library, and in subject-specific departmental collections. Following the opening of the Atkins Buildings extension during the 1960s, the main Library was housed in two separate buildings on site: the Sargeaunt and Burton libraries. Their capacity was strictly limited, however, and a new purpose built library was proposed during the 1970s. This plan was dropped when merger negotiations between Queen Elizabeth and King's College commenced shortly afterwards. The Queen Elizabeth Library was eventually combined with the King's Library holdings from 1985 onwards.

Custodial history

Queen Elizabeth College, [1985]

Conditions governing access

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be provided for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive Services, King's College London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Finding aids

A descriptive list for the publications and 1992/QAL/F, items 1-21 and 28-41 only, is available for consultation in the King's College London Archives Reading Room.

Related materials

Queen Elizabeth Principal's Records, Minute Books and Secretarial Records all describe the administration of the College including the Library (Refs: QAP, QA/M, QAS). Annual Reports include public information on the Library (Ref: Q/EPH/RPT). Other publications on nutrition can be found in the King's College London Nutritional Survey Records that include material originating in the Queen Elizabeth College Department of Nutrition that was transferred to King's after the merger in 1985 (Ref: KCLCA NUT).

Related descriptions

Alternative identifier(s)

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

Neville Marsh, The history of Queen Elizabeth College (London, 1986). Entry compiled by Geoff Browell.

Accession area