| Collecting Strand | University Archive Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | BA |
| Title | Records of Battersea Polytechnic and Battersea College of Technology |
| Date | 1882-late 20th century |
| Extent | 45 boxes of catalogued material |
| Name of Creator | Battersea Polytechnic; 1891-1957 |
| Battersea College of Technology; 1957-1966 |
| Description | This archive encompasses records relating to the foundation of Battersea Polytechnic and records created and accumulated by Battersea Polytechnic and Battersea College of Technology.
Records include those relating to governance and regulatory activities, external regulatory bodies, finance, property, relations with external bodies, marketing and publicity, student activities and teaching and academic activities. There is a small amount of material relating to staff and students as well as a collection of photographs.
Work is currently underway to catalogue the archives of Battersea Polytechnic and the University of Surrey. Whilst this is happening, catalogue records for Battersea Polytechnic can be found in both the University Archives catalogue (ref: UA) and the Battersea Polytechnic catalogue (ref: BA) and the records for the University of Surrey can be found in both the University Archives catalogue (ref: UA) and the University of Surrey catalogue (ref: US). In addition, there is a quantity of material still to be catalogued. Catalogue records will become available as they are completed. If you require further information, please email archives@surrey.ac.uk.
Please note: the extent field refers to material within this catalogue and does not include Battersea Polytechnic/College of Technology material which has been catalogued in the University Archives (ref UA) catalogue. |
| Arrangement | Material has been arranged according to function. The original order and exact origin of these records is, in most cases, unknown. Previous catalogue structures made use of thematic and subject based classifications: these have now been dismantled, with the reference numbers recorded as alternative references where relevant in order to enable continued identification of material.
Previous cataloguing approaches grouped Battersea and University of Surrey material together. This is now being disbanded and records of the University of Surrey and the records of Battersea Polytechnic/College of Technology have been catalogued as separate archival fonds. |
| Administrative History | Battersea Polytechnic was the founding institution of the University of Surrey. It was founded in 1891 under the City of London Parochial Charities Act (1883) scheme to establish Polytechnic Institutes throughout London. Situated in Battersea Park Road, the Institute was the second of three proposed Polytechnics for South London and was formally opened in 1894 with six main departments: Mechanical Engineering and Building Trades; Electrical Engineering and Physics; Chemistry; Women's Subjects; Art and Music.
During the years 1927 to 1939 the Polytechnic consolidated with a growing emphasis on science and engineering and the addition of metallurgy and the closure of the Art Department. Postwar expansion was curtailed by the site at Battersea. In 1956 the Polytechnic was designated a College of Advanced Technology and the name was changed the following year to Battersea College of Technology.
In the 1960s, Battersea College of Technology began the process of looking for a new site and of becoming a University. In 1966 it was given its charter and became the University of Surrey, moving to Guildford over the course of the academic years 1968-1969, 1969-1970 and 1970-1971. |
| Language | English |
| Related Material | See also the following, held by the University of Surrey:
- Battersea Polytechnic and Battersea College of Technology records catalogued in the University Archives catalogue, archive ref UA
- Records of the University of Surrey, catalogued in the University of Surrey catalogue, archive ref US, and the University Archives catalogue, archive ref UA.
- Material given to the archives by former staff and students is held in the University of Surrey and Battersea Polytechnic alumni collections, archive ref ASD.
- The Remembering Battersea Oral History Project, archive ref RMB, comprises interviews with Battersea alumni focussing on memories of life at Battersea Polytechnic and Battersea College of Technology.
- Records of the University of Surrey Students' Union, archive ref SU. |
| Custodial History | Records generated and retained by Battersea Polytechnic and Battersea College of Technology, and subsequently held by the University of Surrey as a successor body. |