Archives and School History
The School Archive - Documents - Photographs - Artefacts
Archivist - Mrs. Pauline Baum. A.C.I.L.I.P.
Aims
To conserve, catalogue and augment the collection of photographs, documents and artefacts and to promote interest in the history of the school and its site with regular exhibitions and possibly publications
Background
King's has a fascinating past, so it seemed a shame not to a capture it. In 1998 the King's School Archive was set up by Caroline Roslington, gathering together and cataloguing as many photographs, books and 'memorabilia' as we could find. The Archive now has thousands of items including photographs, books, canes, school caps and colours, uniform, and a few dinner plates from The Hostel, as well as documents of all kinds. Items are constantly in the process of being added to our multi-user database, available within the School Archive.
We are always collectiong for the future, as well as the past. If you have or know of any old King's photographs, books and items that you would like to donate, or lend, please bring them in. They'll be looked after well and we will return them if and when you need them back. Memories are important as well, to add to the Oral Archive - see below.
Link to a short history of the school >>
Pupil Archivists
There has been a team of Sixth Form Archivists for many years. They are volunteers and enthusiasts who meet during lunchtimes and after school. They assist with the running of the Archive, particularly with the accession of new items and setting up displays. We hope to recruit a team of lower school pupils in September 2011.
Oral History from OVs
Research
Amongst our main sources are:
• Copies of The Vigornian magazine from 1880 - over 250 issues now in digital (searchable pdf) format. These can be purchased on four CDs from the Foundation Development Office
• School registers from 1832
• The OV Club registers and minutes from 1904
• The Penal Drill book for 1955-56
• Half the punishment book for School House, from the 1950s
• The recollections of W.E.Bolland, Headmaster, 1879-96 and W.H.Chappel, Headmaster, 1896-1919
• Various financial reports
• Alec Macdonald's very readable history published in 1930 (Does anyone have a copy no longer needed?)
• Michael Craze's invaluable and very detailed history of 1970
We answer queries from researchers and members of the public worldwide on all sorts of topics, but are mainly concerned with family history and studies on the First World War. You can contact us by email at
or by phone 01905 721798.