Papers of Sir Robert Birley

Scope and Content

Personal papers, circa 1959-1982. Political and research papers, papers relating to the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, lectures, speeches and interviews, Hansards, press cuttings, and miscellaneous correspondence, 1940-982. Most material relates to South Africa.
Items relating to southern Africa include: Control of Book, 1940,1945, 1972, 1973 and 1978; press cuttings, letters and articles, 1965-66; Birley's Lecture Notes; letters to Birley, 1962-76; Student Union papers on the Confidential Enquiry of the University of Rhodesia, and Nyasaland; speeches in South Africa and East Africa, 1971; speeches, letters, notes, 1964+; South Africa - laws, Hansards and Birley's notes 1950+; various pamphlets and press cuttings, 1960's-1970's.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sir Robert was an English educationalist who was Head Master of Charterhouse School and, from 1949-63, Eton College. A leading anti-apartheid campaigner, he was also a visiting Professor of Education at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1964-1967. Arising from the disturbances that occurred at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in March 1966, Birley was appointed as a Commissioner of Enquiry to investigate and report on the events and to make recommendations for the improvement of machinery for staff and student administration. The 'Birley Report' was published later in April 1966 and presented to the College Council.

Access Information

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

Note

Sir Robert was an English educationalist who was Head Master of Charterhouse School and, from 1949-63, Eton College. A leading anti-apartheid campaigner, he was also a visiting Professor of Education at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1964-1967. Arising from the disturbances that occurred at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in March 1966, Birley was appointed as a Commissioner of Enquiry to investigate and report on the events and to make recommendations for the improvement of machinery for staff and student administration. The 'Birley Report' was published later in April 1966 and presented to the College Council.

Conditions Governing Use

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Accruals

Further accruals are not expected.

Related Material

* Further records concerning Sir Robert Birley can be found in the Educational Interchange Council Archive, see EIC/3/6/1.
* More papers of Sir Robert Birley are held at City University (GB 2107 Birley).

Bibliography

University College of Rhodesia: Report by Dr Robert Birley. April 1966 ( Salisbury , 1966 )

Additional Information

Published

GB 193

Geographical Names