TitleCommonwealth Library Centre, 1950
Reference codeICS68
Date1950 January-September
Creator
- Royal Empire SocietyMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
The Royal Commonwealth Society was founded in 1868 as the Colonial Society. It was renamed the Royal Colonial Institute in 1870 and the Royal Empire Society in 1928. It adopted its current name in 1958. It is a pan-Commonwealth Non-Governmental Organisation, supported by a world-wide membership, working to inform and educate about the Commonwealth. The RCS Library contains about 300,000 printed items and over 70,000 photographs. At the beginning of the 1990s, it appeared that the Society would be forced to break up and sell the collection. A £3 million appeal launched in 1992, saved the Library for the nation and enabled it to be moved to Cambridge University Library, where it remains on permanent deposit.
- Institute of Commonwealth StudiesMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies was founded in 1949 as part of the University of London to promote advanced study of the Commonwealth. It became part of the School of Advance Study in 1994. The Institute offers opportunities for graduate study, houses several research projects and offers a full conference and seminar programme.
Scope and ContentCorrespondence and papers on discussions between the Royal Empire Society and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University on the proposed creation of a Commonwealth Library Centre.
Conditions governing accessAt least 24 hours notice before a research visit. Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the library. However, access to individual items in the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library archival collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act.
Extent1 file
System of ArrangementChronological
Finding aidsHandlist available in the Special Collections reading room
Level of descriptionfonds