IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0103 UCLCA/SB
Held at: University College London
Title: University College London Student Bodies' Records
Date(s): 1833-1992
Level of description: sub-fonds
Extent: 18 boxes, 140 volumes, 4 files
Name of creator(s): University College London | Union Society
University College London | Women's Union Society
University College London | Debating Society
University College London | Women's Debating Society
London University Examiner | magazine
University College London | Roundhead Debating Society
University College London | Gymnasium Society
University College London | Old Students Association
University College London | Guild of Graduates
University College London | Department of Chemistry | South Seas Club
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Student bodies existed at University College London (before 1836 known as the University of London) from its inception in 1828. The Men's Union Society was formed in 1893 to promote 'social intercourse and ... the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the financial success of students' clubs'. The Society was unusual amongst early student unions in that it was formed both for the athletic clubs and for social activities - the first of its kind in Britain. There had been previous attempts to provide organised recreational activities for students: there were literary, scientific, musical, cycling, skating and debating societies before 1893. The first President of the Union Society was Professor Edward Schafer, Professor of Physiology, who had been instrumental in establishing the Society. He was reluctant to accept the honour, believing the President should be a student, but did so on the understanding that after the first year a student would fill the post. However, the first student President, John Farncombe, was not actually elected until 1904. The Women's Union Society was formed in 1897, its main function in the early years being to help initiate improvements to the sports facilities and to continue the activities of the Tea Club. The first President of the Women's Union Society was Rosa Morison, Lady Superintendent of Women Students. During World War Two, the students became very keen to form a joint Union instead of two separate Unions. The Unions temporarily joined in 1946, and in 1954 the Union was officially established. The oldest society of University College London is the Medical Society formed in 1828, which later became part of the Union. However, in 1907 it became detached from the Union due to the separation of the University College London Hospital Medical School from the University. In order to facilitate the Medical Society's continued use of and input into the running of the sports ground, a joint finance committee was formed. The Debating Society, originally named the Literary and Philosophical Society, was started in 1829. On the founding of the Union Society in 1893 the Debating Society subscribed to the Union and in 1909 was incorporated into the Union Society. The Women's Debating Society was formed in 1878 and was absorbed by the Women's Union Society in 1897. The Old Students Association of University College London was founded in 1890.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of University College London student bodies, 1833-1992, including:
An early student magazine, the London University Examiner, 1833.
Manuscript minute book and subject book, containing list of topics for debate, of the Roundhead Debating Society, 1853.
Records of the Debating Society, comprising minute books, 1856-1969, minutes of the Committee, 1913-1937, registers of attendance, 1855-1877, and list of members, 1858-1897.
Gymnasium Society minutes and accounts, 1857-1867.
Records of the Union Society, comprising annual reports, 1893-1933; cash books, 1912-1973; accounts, 1929-1941, 1980-1986; ledgers, cash and account books, 1935-1955; Clubs subscriptions book, 1947-1952; register of trophies, 1937; property register [1960-1965]; general and committee minutes, 1893-1946; Committee attendance book, 1914-1945; papers of the Finance Committee 1939-1984, Finance sub-committee 1922-1931, Services Committee 1975-1986, Sports and Finance Committee 1956-1969, External Affairs Committee 1968-1972, Arts Committee 1971-1976, Music Society Committee 1951-1957, Shenley Grounds Committee 1953-1969, and Bloomsbury Theatre committees 1987-1992; Ents Committee cash book, 1972-1973; Publicity Committee, 1990-1991; Inter-Union Standing Committee Minutes, 1919-1946; Shenley bar Committee minutes, 1958-1965; Pi Management Committee, 1991; Special Advisory Committee to the Trustees minutes, 1938-1939; Foundation Week Committee minutes, 1942-1944; minutes of General meetings and Executive Committee meetings for when University College London students were at Llanfairfechan, 1940-1944; Union Development NUB, 1948-1959; UCLU v FA Shenley grounds, 1963-1984; Jarrett report, 1984; rag carnival and processions, 1956-1959; alumni, 1983-1986; foundation oration, 1913-1914, 1917; President, 1948; Windeyer Project, 1990; Strategic planning, 1989-1990; Constitution Federation of Joint Women's and Men's Union, 1959; Athletics ground joint sub-committee meetings, 1909-1930; College and Hospital athletics ground balance sheet and correspondence, 1934-1940; University Athletic Club minutes, 1936-1939; University College and Hospital Athletic Ground Fund, 1942-1956.
Women's Debating Society minutes, 1878-1888, 1911-1920, 1924-1928.
Records of the Women's Union Society, comprising minutes, 1903-1922; minutes of general meetings, 1922-1935; Committee minutes, 1922-1946; minute book, cash and account books, 1923-1948; cash and account books, 1907-1928; Social sub-committee minutes, 1916-1939; Rules sub-committee minutes, 1914-1939; Rooms sub-committee minutes, 1922-1938; Co-ordinating Committee Bangor, 1941-1944; Garret-Anderson memorial fund minutes, 1919-1921; Trustees of the Womens Union Athletic Ground minutes, 1911-1950; Womens Union Society (WUS) Athletic Union General & Committee meetings, 1916-1923; Perivale Athletic Ground Trustees minutes, 1910-1953; Perivale sub-committee minutes, 1909-1928; Perivale Extension Appeal Fund minutes, 1920-1923; Trustees of the Athletic Ground Funds of WUS, CU & HU minutes, 1948-1954; Trustees of Womens Athletic Ground Fund cash book, 1940-1954; Fencing Club newscuttings and photographs, 1926-1931; photograph album, presidents, 1908-1935.
Old Students Association minute books, 1903-1921, 1945-1978.
Guild of Graduates minutes, 1915-1936.
Chemistry Department South Seas Club cash book, papers and photographs, 1921-1940.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Arranged under name of Union or Society.
Conditions governing access:
The records are divided between University College London Special Collections, which researchers should contact in the first instance, and University College London Records Office. A 30-year closure period is applied to administrative and committee papers.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Handlists are available for parts of the sub-fonds. A separate description of the London University Examiner (Ref: MS ANGL 8) is available online.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Some items were formerly part of University College London Special Collections MS ADD sequence: Roundhead Debating Society papers, 1853 (MS ADD 63); Gymnasium Society papers, 1857-1867 (MS ADD 99); Debating Society papers, 1856-1969, including Women's Union Debating Society minutes, 1911-1920 (MS ADD 78); Women's Debating Society minutes, 1878-1888, 1924-1928 (MS ADD 123); Old Students Association minutes, 1903-1978 (MS ADD 83); Guild of Graduates minutes, 1921-1936 (MS ADD 51).
Immediate source of acquisition:
Various: often transferred from the Societies.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Records of the University College Hospital Medical School Old Students Association and University College Hospital Union Society (Ref: UCL/MED/HMS, part) are also held.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Sources: James Bates and Carol Ibbetson The World of UCL Union 1893-1993 (University College London Union, London, 1994). Compiled by Annabel Dodds as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.
Date(s) of descriptions: Oct 2000