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Branch Archives, 1913 - 1988

 Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/ARCS/8/12

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

By the end of the nineteenth century, the society had established a large non-resident membership in the overseas empire and within the United Kingdom among those not living in the London area. At first a network of honorary corresponding secretaries was formed to manage the society's affairs outside London. In 1910 it authorised the establishment of local branches to increase membership and extend the scope of its activities. The first UK branch was formed in Bristol in 1913 and the first overseas branch in Christchurch, New Zealand during the same year. Several began as local committees. The branches expanded in number and independence following the Second World War.

These archives document the branches' foundation, relations with the London headquarters and the wide range of social, cultural and educational initiatives they sponsored. Not all branches were successful or of long duration, and many did not regularly transmit accounts of their activities to headquarters, so individual branch records are often fragmentary. The society's journals 'United Empire' and 'Journal of the Royal Commonwealth Society' often printed reports of branch activities however.

Dates

  • Creation: 1913 - 1988

Creator

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).

Language of Materials

English

Finding aid date

2012-11-13 11:24:28+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom