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Correspondence re bursarship dispute, 1825 - 1826

 Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0269/DCPP/FRE/1b/5

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

The papers here are those which have come to the archives separate from other of Frere's papers and records of college administration, or which have been stored separately. Some of his College bursarial and financial papers survived as part of the official College Archive and are listed as part of this elsewhere. The fact they were stored separately suggests that they were considered by Frere to be his private papers. There is no proof of this and they may have been sorted out after his death. Annotations on letters suggest they may have been kept by Thomas Worsley after his succession as Master. Many of the papers do concern Downing College business.
Also included here are photocopied and transcribed Frere family letters, the originals of which seem to have had a different custodial history again.

Dates

  • Creation: 1825 - 1826

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Management Group:

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

Like Francis Annesley, William Frere, when he became Master in 1812, kept College administration very much in his own hands. Financial administrative records, in his handwriting, and stored according to his systems, are a reflection of this, and thus there are no formal accounting ledgers for the whole of the College's accounts for the first years of his Mastership and functional bursarship. His records evolve from ledgers containing loose bills and receipts to volumes with written accounts in about 1821. In 1826 it appears that the need to obtain the Governing Body's consent to transactions was emphasised at an Audit Meeting on Jan 2. This push for greater transparency, accountability and involvement by the other Fellows meant that from 1826 there are formal 'Bursar's Accounts' signed by the Fellows. In 1827, Frere appointed Richard Dawes, his chief critic, as the official Bursar.

Extent

1 archive box(es) (Box) : Paper

Language of Materials

English

Former / Other Reference

D/B

Related Materials

See also See DCAR/1/6/01b, plus correspondence in DCPP/FRE/1b/4 and statements by Frere in DCPP/FRE/8. See DCPP/FRE/1b/5/3 for original bond to exercise office of bursar.

Finding aid date

2001-11-05 11:16:06+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Downing College Repository

Contact:
Downing College Archive
Downing College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 1DQ United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 762905