Records of the Secretary and Treasurer

In letters 1904-1944

Copy out letters 1873-1944

Letters to Department of Science and Art and Scottish Education Department 1882-1925

Letters from Scottish Education Department 1900-1925

Miscellaneous papers relating to Department of Science and Art, subject files c1910-1994

Financial records 1897-1969

Papers relating to funds, trusts and scholarships 1896-1955

Un-catalogued material includes correspondence and admin relating to Education Endowments, Gifts to School, Leases of let property, receipt books, copyright and insurance. There is also general department correspondence and working papers of Frank W. Kean (Secretary and Treasurer 1968/69 - 1992/93)

Committee papers held within this department - Evaluation Committee, Financial Control Committee, Refectory Committee/Refectory Users' Advisory Committee, Students' Material Store Committee.

The post of Secretary and Treasurer was established in 1873 with the appointment of Edward R Catterns . The post took over some of the duties of the school janitor namely looking after correspondence, keeping the student registers and other similar work. The Secretary and Treasurer was also responsible for all aspects of the administration of the school, including financial, personnel, legal, estates and student matters. The Secretary and Treasurer also acted as the secretary to the Board of Governors. As the School developed and the workload of the Secretary and Treasurer increased, new posts were created to relieve him of some of his duties. In 1943 , the post of Assistant Registrar was created to relieve him of those of his duties relating to arranging the admission, matriculation and graduation of students, in 1975 the post of Assistant Secretary (Finance) was created to deal with financial matters and at around this time the post of Personnel Officer was created to deal with personnel matters. In 1993 , the then Secretary and Treasurer retired and the office of Secretary and Treasurer was replaced by the office of Assistant Director (Resources), which inherited the legal duties of the Secretary and Treasurer.

The material is arranged in series in the order outlined in the description above. Additional material is awaiting arrangement.

Most records which are over 30 years old are available for public consultation. Records which are less than 30 years old can be accessed with the permission of the head of the relevant department of the school.

A fully searchable series level list is available via the Gateway to Scottish Higher Education (GASHE) web site at http://www.gashe.ac.uk

This material has been appraised in line with Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections standard procedures.

A series of general ledgers 1870-1993 and a series of general cash books 1870-1993 are listed under the records of the Finance Officer (Ref: GB 1694 GSAA FIN). Both series were created by the Secretary and Treasurer and continued by the Finance Officer on the creation of the post in 1975. Records relating to the admission, matriculation and graduation of students are listed under the records of the Registrar (Ref: GB 1694 GSAA REG). These were series created by the Secretary and Treasurer and continued by the Registrar on the creation of the post in 1943. See also GSAA/CSE, Records of the Assistant Director and Company Secretary.