Royal Commonwealth Society

Fonds

Archives of the Royal Commonwealth Society

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/ARCS

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of the institutional records of the society. Major sections relate to its organisation and administration, charters and rules, membership, the construction and renovation of its headquarters in London, and the extension of branches within the United Kingdom and throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth. The archives also document the society’s many cultural, educational and philanthropic initiatives, often undertaken as collaborative projects with other...

Dates: 1868 - 1990

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Fonds

Colonial, Imperial and Commonwealth Conferences photograph collection

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/CC

Scope and Contents Collection of more than one thousand photographs, including negatives and colour transparencies with numerous duplicates, on meetings from the first Colonial Conference of 1887 to contemporary Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings.Origin of the collection:A miscellaneous collection which was built up over the years, with significant acquisitions from the Central Office of Information and elsewhere for use in ‘United Empire’ and its successors. Some images were given by...

Dates: 1887 - 1987

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Fonds

Commonwealth in Focus Slides

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3011GGG

Scope and Contents Collection of 35mm colour slides of countries of the Commonwealth. When the 'Commonwealth in Focus' exhibition was being prepared it was felt that the strong emphasis on the historical aspect, and the fact that the only section on the contemporary Commonwealth dealt with broad issues and organisations rather than individual countries, made some additional material on contemporary developments desirable. Accordingly it was decided to have a continuous slide projection of contemporary...

Dates: 1982

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Sub-Fonds

Correspondence of the Alexander Turnbull Library with the R.C.S., 1976-03-16 - 1982-06-21

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 278/56

Scope and Contents

Correspondence and memoranda regarding photographs made for the Turnbull Library of New Zealand items in the R.C.S. Library, 1976-1977; the sale of 'Native plants of New Zealand', 1981-1982; and the identification of the work of Martha King (in 'Native plants') and the Revd A.W. Hands.

Dates: 1976-03-16 - 1982-06-21

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Australasia miscellanea

Sub-Fonds

Correspondence regarding the North West Company of Canada, 1929 - 1962

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 240/9

Scope and Contents Correspondence between the R.C.S. and the Public Archives of Canada, the Hudson's Bay Company, the British Association for American Studies and Clark, Irwin & Company Ltd regarding documents held by the R.C.S. relating to the North West Company of Canada and individuals connected with the Company. There are also two letters regarding the supply of the publication 'United empire' to the Public Archives of Canada. The letters are accompanied by an undated description of RCMS 249-253,...

Dates: 1929 - 1962

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Americas miscellanea

Fonds

Life in New Zealand 1982

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3089AA

Scope and Contents Colour transparencies. When planning the exhibition 'Commonwealth in Focus,' the Royal Commonwealth Society Library requested material from Commonwealth Governments and these slides, with the photographs listed at Y308E, were sent in response. A continuous slide show was prepared to portray contemporary aspects of the countries of the Commonwealth and twelve of these slides were copied for inclusion.The list is that supplied with the slides which are filed in the order given. A...

Dates: 1982

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Fonds

Life in New Zealand 1982 (II)

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3089BB

Scope and Contents Coloured and black and white photographs. When planning the exhibition 'Commonwealth in Focus,' the Royal Commonwealth Society Library requested material from Commonwealth Governments and these photographs were sent in response. The majority of the photographs, all of which are of high quality, are by the National Publicity Studios, Wellington. They have been numbered consecutively and arranged in twelve groups: Agriculture; Forestry and Fisheries; Antarctica; Arts and Crafts; Cities and...

Dates: 1982

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Sub-Fonds

Memories of the Royal Commonwealth Society, 1968

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 22/6

Scope and Contents

An account of the R.C.S., 1937-1965, written for the Society's centenary.

Dates: 1968

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Commonwealth miscellanea

Fonds

Modern Commonwealth photograph collection

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/MC

Scope and Contents This broad heading has been used to cover a substantial collection of loose prints, dating chiefly from the period 1960-1982, but including a few of earlier date. The majority come from the files of the RCS journal known successfully as ‘United Empire,’ ‘Commonwealth Journal,’ and ‘Commonwealth,’ in which some were published, but there are also items obtained for inclusion in the exhibition ‘Commonwealth in Focus’ in 1982 and these are indicated by CIF and the catalogue number in the...

Dates: 1936 - 1980

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Fonds

Photographs of the Royal Commonwealth Society

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCS

Scope and Contents Collection of more than 2000 prints, transparencies, photocopies, and half-tone illustrations relating to the Royal Colonial Institute, Royal Empire Society, Royal Commonwealth Society and depicting individuals, buildings, and events. The number is inexact; some additional items have been inserted in the numerical sequences, a few single entries cover an album (e.g. VIII 1) or sheets of prints (e.g. V (e) 13-16) and new items are added from time to time. A guide to collections of...

Dates: 1882 - 1989

Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library

Sub-Fonds

Princess Margaret in East Africa, 1956, 1956

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 113/36

Scope and Contents

Ten pieces of typescript correspondence between the R.C.S. and its members in East Africa asking the latter for reports on the visit of Princess Margaret. There is also an edition of 'The month in Tanganyika', 30 October 1956 (7 pages), describing events in that country, and two photographs of Tanganyika and eight photographs of Mauritius relating to the visit.

Dates: 1956

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Africa miscellanea

Sub-Fonds

R.C.S. Biography catalogue acknowledgements, 1962

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 22/12

Scope and Contents

Nine letters personally signed by Commonwealth leaders and four letters from officials acknowledging the receipt of the R.C.S. 'Biography catalogue', with related papers.

Dates: 1962

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Commonwealth miscellanea

Sub-Fonds

R.C.S. Commonwealth anthology, 1968

Sub-Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 22/25

Scope and Contents

A working copy of the material used in the anthology, with notes on continuity.

Dates: 1968

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Commonwealth miscellanea

Sub-Series