| Description | Minutes of a committee which was initially established in 1951 to examine proposals for the establishment of a Shakespeare Institute. Membership of this committee consisted of the Pro-Chancllor, Treasurer, Vice-Chancellor, Professor H. F. Humphreys,. Professor Allardyce Nicoll, Professor H. F. D. Sparks, and Sir Barry Jackson. At its first meeting the committee discussed the leader of Mason Croft, the agreement with the British Council, estimates of expenditure, and the launch of an appeal for funds, and the opening of the Institute. Minutes include copies of the memorandum of agreement between the British Council and the University of Birmingham and the draft lease of Mason Croft between the British Council and the University of Birmingham
The committee met again in 1951 and then each year. It was described as a sub-committee in its early years. No minutes survive between 1954 and 1959 and by that date it was called the Shakespeare Institute Committee and reported to Council.
Membership consisted of the Vice-Chancellor, Vice-Principal, Treasurer, Director of the Shakespeare Institute, and other University officers. It discussed the annual report and accounts of the Director and any matters arising out of them. The committee sometimes met to discuss matters arising separate to the report, including the move of the Institute from Mason Croft to Westmere in the 1963-1964 academic session. Minutes include copies of the annual report and accounts, which give information about the number of students at the Institute, research work and publications, appointments, and the Institute's summer schools. The minutes also include a copy of the programme for the Eleventh International Shakespeare Conference held at the Shakespeare Institute 30 August to 4 September 1964, the Twelfth International Shakespeare Conference held at the Shakespeare Institute 4-9 September 1966, the Thirteenth International Shakespeare Conference held at the Shakespeare Institute 1-6 September 1968 and a copy of the report of this conference, and a copy of the programme for the Fourteenth International Shakespeare Conference held at the Shakespeare Institute 30 August to 4 September 1970 and a copy of the report of this conference
There is a note with the minutes stating that funds for the Shakespeare Institute were to be provided from Faculty of Arts funds from the beginning of the quinquennium 1972-1977 and, as financial responsibility was no longer in the committee's hands, further meetings were not necessary |