Records of Lord James of Rusholme

Speeches, lectures and scripts (principally relating to educational themes) from James's time at Manchester Grammar School (1944-1961), the University of York (1962-1973) and after his retirement from York (1973-1987). Papers relating to foreign visits and travel while at Manchester Grammar (1957-1961) and the University of York (1964-1974). Personal and University correspondence, 1960-1989. Published and unpublished articles relating to James and York, 1960-1989. Correspondence and papers relating to the Teacher Training Enquiry which Lord James chaired on behalf of the Ministry for Education, 1970-1972. Correspondence relating to James and the House of Lords, c.1961-1979.

Eric John Francis James was born in 1909 in Derbyshire. He studied at Queen's College at the University of Oxford and graduated with first class honors in chemistry in 1931. James was a teacher at Winchester College for twelve years before he became High Master of Manchester Grammar School in 1945. As head of Manchester Grammar, James demanded the highest standards from his staff and pupils. James believed that the purpose of the school was to take pupils from all echelons of society and give them the platform to reach the highest places in the land. James was also known for his contribution to discussions on the importance of education.
He was a member of the University Grants Committee from 1949 to 1959, part of the BBC's Brain's Trust, and also on the Central Advisory Council for Education from 1957 to 1961. James's contribution to education was recognized when he was knighted in 1956 and in 1959 he was made a life peer, becoming Baron James of Rusholme.
In 1962 he was invited to become the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly founded University of York, which was formally opened in October 1963. As Vice-Chancellor at the University of York, James helped created one of the best post-war higher education institutions. James played a major role in the architectural plans designed for the University and his input was responsible for the University operating a collegiate system - James wanting the students of the University to feel as though they part of a small close-knit community.
He was Chairman of the Headmaster's Conference and was asked to conduct the 1971 report on the Education and Training of Teachers, which concluded that teaching should become a graduate profession. James was also a member of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, from 1973 to 1976, and its Chairman, from 1976 to 1979. James died in May 1992.
Lord James of Rusholme in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

* Origins
The idea for a university at York is first recorded in 1641 when a petition was drafted for Parliament's consideration but, owing to the outbreak of Civil War, it was not sent. York's city fathers sent another in 1647, but Parliament refused to grant their request. The proposal was again mooted in the nineteenth century, but it was only in 1947, when a deputation from the city met with the University Grants Committee that a more concerted attempt, driven by Oliver Sheldon, was made to establish a university at York. Following slender encouragement from the UGC, and sponsored principally by the York Civic Trust and its chairman, John Bowes Morrell, an Academic Development Committee of the Civic Trust was formed in order to establish further York's academic credentials should the opportunity to petition for a university later arise. Consequently, in 1953, the Committee founded the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies to support a prospective application for a university. In March 1956 the Civic Trust's Academic Development Committee was officially incorporated as an independently constituted charitable institution, becoming the York Academic Trust.
In September 1958 the University Grants Committee report 'University Development 1952-1957' predicted a substantial increase in the national demand for university places. York Academic Trust approached York City Council and, in October 1959, it was decided that a widely representative sponsoring body be set up to make a new approach to the UGC for the establishment of a University of York. The York University Promotion Committee (UOY/F/YUPC) was established the following month. Its purpose was to prepare and present a case for a University of York and, subsequently, it was to plan for and implement the initial stages of the University's establishment. In 1960 the Committee appointed an Academic Planning Board (UOY/F/APB) whose remit was: to consider arrangements for the maintenance of academic standards and the awarding of degrees; to consider the range of subjects offered and length and character of undergraduate courses; to prepare a petition for a royal charter for a university and to establish its governing body; and to select the first Vice-Chancellor. Chaired by the Rt. Hon. Lord Robbins (Professor of Economics at the University of London), the Board considered the general character of the University, proposed subjects of study and the collegiate system, made key staff appointments (such as the Vice-Chancellor) and outlined the University's system of governance.
* Foundation
The University was incorporated by Royal Charter on 1 October 1963. The Promotion Committee's Trustees transferred all the properties held by the Committee to the new University and the University Council (UOY/M/C) succeeded the Promotions Committee and assumed overall responsibility for the administration and management of the University’s property and affairs. The University opened its doors to the first intake of students on 10 October 1963. The number of academic and administrative staff numbered just 28. There were 216 undergraduates and 14 postgraduate students.
* Development
Lord James had three principles for the structural development of the fledgling University: that is should be a collegiate University, that it should aim to limit the range of subjects taught, and that much of the teaching should be conducted in tutorial and seminars. The University grew throughout the 1960s, ending the decade with 2,500 students. The first colleges to be completed were Derwent and Langwith, formally opened by HM the Queen in 1965. They were soon to be followed by Vanbrugh (1967), Goodricke (1968), Alcuin (1969), Wentworth (1972), James (1992), Halifax (2003), Constantine (2014) and Anne Lister (2021).
* Early collegiate system
An underlying assumption behind the development of the University was that it would be collegiate: that the total University population would be divided into smaller college units which would, to a certain extent, develop their own sense of community at a social level, while academic organisation would, for reasons of efficiency, remain at University level. The colleges were originally to combine under one roof the core activities of living, learning (except for laboratory-based subjects) and recreation. They were to be equal in status but varied in size. The colleges at York differ from those at older-established collegiate universities in that they have no academic or financial independence. They are not responsible for determining who should be admitted to the University, do not have private endowments and have only limited financial autonomy. They are equal in status and are open rather than closed societies. There are no elections to fellowships and all members of the University, including administrative staff, can be a member of one of the colleges.
James College contains accommodation for students. All the other colleges, except Halifax, as well as providing accommodation, house teaching facilities for a number of different departments. All full-time undergraduate and graduate students are automatically members of one of the colleges. The role of the colleges is to support the student throughout their career at York in terms of informal welfare, discipline, and personal development by the creation of self-regulating communities within which all students can feel at home and acquire confidence to make a success of their student experience personally and academically.
The University is currently home to more than 18,000 students from over 150 countries. It has ~4,000 staff and 30 academic departments and research centres.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The archive was donated to the University of York by Lady James in the 1990s, and deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 1997. Further additions were made to the archive in 2000 and 2005.

Eric John Francis James was born in 1909 in Derbyshire. He studied at Queen's College at the University of Oxford and graduated with first class honors in chemistry in 1931. James was a teacher at Winchester College for twelve years before he became High Master of Manchester Grammar School in 1945. As head of Manchester Grammar, James demanded the highest standards from his staff and pupils. James believed that the purpose of the school was to take pupils from all echelons of society and give them the platform to reach the highest places in the land. James was also known for his contribution to discussions on the importance of education.
He was a member of the University Grants Committee from 1949 to 1959, part of the BBC's Brain's Trust, and also on the Central Advisory Council for Education from 1957 to 1961. James's contribution to education was recognized when he was knighted in 1956 and in 1959 he was made a life peer, becoming Baron James of Rusholme.
In 1962 he was invited to become the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly founded University of York, which was formally opened in October 1963. As Vice-Chancellor at the University of York, James helped created one of the best post-war higher education institutions. James played a major role in the architectural plans designed for the University and his input was responsible for the University operating a collegiate system - James wanting the students of the University to feel as though they part of a small close-knit community.
He was Chairman of the Headmaster's Conference and was asked to conduct the 1971 report on the Education and Training of Teachers, which concluded that teaching should become a graduate profession. James was also a member of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, from 1973 to 1976, and its Chairman, from 1976 to 1979. James died in May 1992.
Lord James of Rusholme in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

* Origins
The idea for a university at York is first recorded in 1641 when a petition was drafted for Parliament's consideration but, owing to the outbreak of Civil War, it was not sent. York's city fathers sent another in 1647, but Parliament refused to grant their request. The proposal was again mooted in the nineteenth century, but it was only in 1947, when a deputation from the city met with the University Grants Committee that a more concerted attempt, driven by Oliver Sheldon, was made to establish a university at York. Following slender encouragement from the UGC, and sponsored principally by the York Civic Trust and its chairman, John Bowes Morrell, an Academic Development Committee of the Civic Trust was formed in order to establish further York's academic credentials should the opportunity to petition for a university later arise. Consequently, in 1953, the Committee founded the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies to support a prospective application for a university. In March 1956 the Civic Trust's Academic Development Committee was officially incorporated as an independently constituted charitable institution, becoming the York Academic Trust.
In September 1958 the University Grants Committee report 'University Development 1952-1957' predicted a substantial increase in the national demand for university places. York Academic Trust approached York City Council and, in October 1959, it was decided that a widely representative sponsoring body be set up to make a new approach to the UGC for the establishment of a University of York. The York University Promotion Committee (UOY/F/YUPC) was established the following month. Its purpose was to prepare and present a case for a University of York and, subsequently, it was to plan for and implement the initial stages of the University's establishment. In 1960 the Committee appointed an Academic Planning Board (UOY/F/APB) whose remit was: to consider arrangements for the maintenance of academic standards and the awarding of degrees; to consider the range of subjects offered and length and character of undergraduate courses; to prepare a petition for a royal charter for a university and to establish its governing body; and to select the first Vice-Chancellor. Chaired by the Rt. Hon. Lord Robbins (Professor of Economics at the University of London), the Board considered the general character of the University, proposed subjects of study and the collegiate system, made key staff appointments (such as the Vice-Chancellor) and outlined the University's system of governance.
* Foundation
The University was incorporated by Royal Charter on 1 October 1963. The Promotion Committee's Trustees transferred all the properties held by the Committee to the new University and the University Council (UOY/M/C) succeeded the Promotions Committee and assumed overall responsibility for the administration and management of the University’s property and affairs. The University opened its doors to the first intake of students on 10 October 1963. The number of academic and administrative staff numbered just 28. There were 216 undergraduates and 14 postgraduate students.
* Development
Lord James had three principles for the structural development of the fledgling University: that is should be a collegiate University, that it should aim to limit the range of subjects taught, and that much of the teaching should be conducted in tutorial and seminars. The University grew throughout the 1960s, ending the decade with 2,500 students. The first colleges to be completed were Derwent and Langwith, formally opened by HM the Queen in 1965. They were soon to be followed by Vanbrugh (1967), Goodricke (1968), Alcuin (1969), Wentworth (1972), James (1992), Halifax (2003), Constantine (2014) and Anne Lister (2021).
* Early collegiate system
An underlying assumption behind the development of the University was that it would be collegiate: that the total University population would be divided into smaller college units which would, to a certain extent, develop their own sense of community at a social level, while academic organisation would, for reasons of efficiency, remain at University level. The colleges were originally to combine under one roof the core activities of living, learning (except for laboratory-based subjects) and recreation. They were to be equal in status but varied in size. The colleges at York differ from those at older-established collegiate universities in that they have no academic or financial independence. They are not responsible for determining who should be admitted to the University, do not have private endowments and have only limited financial autonomy. They are equal in status and are open rather than closed societies. There are no elections to fellowships and all members of the University, including administrative staff, can be a member of one of the colleges.
James College contains accommodation for students. All the other colleges, except Halifax, as well as providing accommodation, house teaching facilities for a number of different departments. All full-time undergraduate and graduate students are automatically members of one of the colleges. The role of the colleges is to support the student throughout their career at York in terms of informal welfare, discipline, and personal development by the creation of self-regulating communities within which all students can feel at home and acquire confidence to make a success of their student experience personally and academically.
The University is currently home to more than 18,000 students from over 150 countries. It has ~4,000 staff and 30 academic departments and research centres.

A typescript catalogue, to file level, is available for consultation in the Borthwick Institute's searchrooms and at the National Register of Archives, London.

Description compiled by Karamdeep Sahota on 27 October 2007.

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute, University of York, 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.

Further accruals are not expected.

* Reports of the Vice-Chancellor, 1963-1973 (GB 193 UOY/UP/1).

* Warren, Allen. Eric James and the founding of the University of York. Borthwick Paper, no. 126. York : Borthwick Publications, 2017.
* Smith, David. 'Eric James and the “Utopianist” Campus: Biography, Policy and the Building of a New University during the 1960s', History of Education 37, no. 1 (2008).

Published

JAM

GB193