Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1868-1911 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent
2 boxes, 3 volumes
Scope and content
Records, 1868-1911, of King's College School, including annual lists of pupils and amounts paid for books, 1868-1896, and indexes of books in use [late 19th century] (Ref: KS/LI); papers on the removal of the School to Wimbledon, 1897; cash accounts for Trustees meetings, 1897-1900; correspondence on raising funds for the School, 1902-1903; correspondence on the financial consequences of severance of the School from King's College London, 1905-1906; applications for the headmastership, 1906; correspondence on a proposal for a pupils' boarding house in Wimbledon, 1909-1910; correspondence and papers on School affairs including transfer of the School from King's College London, financial affairs, the new governing body, and applications for the headmastership, 1909-1911 (Ref: KS/F).
System of arrangement
Arranged in two series.
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
King's College School was created as the Junior Department to King's College London, instituted by Royal Charter in 1829. Both College and School opened in 1831. Although students were not limited to members of the Church of England, its influence was strong. Boys were expected to transfer from the School to the College at the age of 16. The School's premises were in the basement of the King's College site east of Somerset House, between the Strand and the Thames. Rapid growth in pupil numbers and limited capital caused difficulties of accommodation. In the early years of their existence, the School was numerically greater than the College and the financial support which arose from its success was instrumental in the College's survival, although by mid-century competition from an increasing number of rival schools caused numbers to decline. Many rivals had more spacious premises and open space on suburban sites with which the Strand premises could not compete. In 1897 the School moved to Wimbledon and pupil numbers began to grow. New buildings were opened in 1899. The King's College London Transfer Act (1908) incorporated a new body of governors for the School and, although the transfer was delayed by the heavy debts of the School, the new governing body inherited control from the council of King's College in 1911. See also Frank Miles and Graeme Cranch, Kings College School: the First 150 Years (King's College School, 1979); F J C Hearnshaw, The Centenary History of King's College London 1828-1928 (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 1929).
Repository
Archival history
A majority of records relating specifically to the School prior to its move to Wimbledon were transferred to the School from King's College London Archives in the 1970s. Other records were destroyed in a fire in 1918.
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
Script of material
Finding aids
List available in reading room at King's College London Archives.
Related materials
Alternative identifier(s)
Subjects
- Accounting
- Economics of education
- Educational administrators
- Educational buildings
- Educational finance
- Educational management
- Educational personnel
- Finance
- Financial administration
- Indexes
- Information/library economics
- Information/library finance
- Information/library planning
- Libraries
- Personnel management
- Recruitment
- School buildings
- Schoolchildren
- School libraries
- Schools
- Secondary documents
- Students
- Educational institutions
- Organization and administration
- Personnel
- People by occupation
- Health services administration
- People
- Public administration
- Government
People and Organisations
- King's College School, 1831-1897, Strand (Subject)
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
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: list at King's College London Archives; Frank Miles and Graeme Cranch, Kings College School: the First 150 Years (King's College School, 1979); F J C Hearnshaw, The Centenary History of King's College London 1828-1928 (George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 1929); AIM25 description for King's College London Archives, KAS/AD2.