| Level | Fonds |
| Finding Number (Click this to use the hierarchy browser to access the full catalogue) | US38 |
| Title | University of Birmingham Staff Papers: Papers of Sir Raymond Edward Priestley |
| Extent | 6 boxes |
| Date | 1920-1960 |
| Description | Compilations of papers, lectures and essays, 1920-1960; printed texts of various papers and speeches relating to universities and university education, 1930-1950s; microfilms of diaries and other records, including diary of a visit to the West Indies, 1953-1955; manuscript of book reviews on Arctic Manuals .
The following items are contained:
- Miscellaneous papers by Raymond Priestley 1920-1960 (bound 1962) includes wedding photographs
- Miscellaneous papers by Raymond Priestley: polar and other lectures and essays; includes articles on scientific research and education for 'Outlook' and 'The Fortnightly Review: Scott Polar Research Institute 47th Annual Report
- 'Lady Clare Magazine' 1922 with a report on Priestley's election as fellow
- Copy of a speech on the ocsasion of Priestley being admitted to the degree of Doctor of Science 'Honoris causa'
- Copy of Local Government and Central Control by the West Midland Group on Post-War Reconstruction and Planning
- Cartoon of Priestley
- Press cuttings concerning R.E Priestley during his Vice-Chancellorship
- Reports concerning the appointment of Priestley as Assistant Registrar (1929-33)
- Correspondence concerning Priestley's appointment as Deputy Lieutenant to the County of Warwick
- Souvenir programme Priestley on Scott's Antarctic Expedition, Thursday, Jan 8th 1914
- Pictures from 'Punch' (Priestley's own copy) vol. II donated? to Guild of Undergraduates Union Library
- The English Civic Universities, paper by Sir Raymond Priestley
- Microfilm of Priestley diaries 1938-1955
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| Access Conditions | Open. Access to all registered researchers. |
| Copyright | Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Language | English |
| Finding Aids | The collection is uncatalogued |
| Access Status | Open |
| Administrative History | Sir Raymond Edward Priestley , 1886-1974; Geologist, Antarctic explorer, university teacher and administrator. After an academic and administrative career at Cambridge University (interrupted between 1907 and 1913 by Antarctic expeditions with Shackelton and Scott, and then by war service), Sir Raymond Priestley became the first salaried Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University. His main concern there was to re-establish adequate funding and community support for the university. Frustrated in his attempts, he accepted the Vice-Chancellorship of University of Birmingham, 1938-1953.
Reference: Deposit information.
For further reading about the University of Birmingham see: Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980 An Introductory History ( The University of University of Birmingham Press. 2000 ). |
| Custodial History | Priestley's typescript diaries were presented to Special Collections by his grandson in 2007, but it is evident that Priestley intended them to be deposited with the university archives. The 1938-1939 diary contains a cutting from the University of Birmingham Gazette dated 18 October 1968 consisting of an article about the development of a university archive collection which appeals for departments or members of staff to deposit material. Priestley has added a handwritten note reading 'these diaries should go when I die' |
| Related Material | Official correspondence of Priestley, as Vice- Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, 1938-1953 is also held in the archives of the University of Birmingham in the Special Collections Department.
University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department also holds the archives of the University of Birmingham and archives of other former staff, officials and students.
Other papers relating to Priestley are held at the University of the West Indies. These consist of the diary that Priestley kept during his visit as a member of the Committee on Higher Education in the West Indies, which made recommendations concerning the establishment of the University College of the West Indies, entitled West Indian Journey, 17 February-10 June 1944 |
| Associated Materials | Other papers relating to Priestley are held at the University of Melbourne Archives, Australia. The papers consist of diaries giving detailed accounts of developments at the University during Priestley 's Vice-Chancellorship; study tours; correspondence; |