Letters and papers re Fitzwilliam Museum, 1816 - 1834
Scope and Contents
Mainly correspondence, concerning: the controversies and legal wrangling between William Frere and Edward Christian, who petitioned against Frere's election as Master in 1812; vice-chancellorship; general. The letters are not generally about College or estate administration. Includes correspondence from Sir Busick Harwood. Cornwallis Hewett and William Wilkins.
Dates
- Creation: 1816 - 1834
Creator
- From the Fonds: Frere, William, 1775 - 1836 (Master of Downing College) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Some records series are subject to confidentiality restrictions with the following closure periods: 30 years from date of creation for general administration files, legal records and financial files; 50 years from date of creation for governmental records, including papers of the College Governing Body and College Council, and constituent committees; 100 years from date of creation for personal and personnel records, including tutorial files, staff and fellows files and appointment records, personal finance and pension records. In addition sensitive correspondence and papers concerning College affairs such as disputes and disciplinary matters are closed for 100 years. Restrictions apply on some personal and private papers.
Biographical / Historical
In 1816 the will of Lord Fitzwilliam directed a museum be built to house his bequest of the Fitzwilliam Collection to the University of Cambridge. While Vice-Chancellor Frere had to negotiate on behalf of Downing College with a syndicate set up to secure a site for the projected Fitzwilliam Museum. But negotiations for a piece of land on the north side of the Downing site came to nothing and eventually a site near to Peterhouse was chosen. In 1833 he would be part of the Fitzwilliam Syndicate appointed when the site purchased of Peterhouse was imminently out of lease.
Extent
14 item(s) : Paper
Language of Materials
English
Originator(s)
Frere, William
Finding aid date
2001-06-12 12:20:47+00:00
Repository Details
Part of the Downing College Repository
Downing College Archive
Downing College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 1DQ United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 762905
archivist@dow.cam.ac.uk