Commonwealth Library Centre, 1950

Correspondence and papers on discussions between the Royal Empire Society and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University on the proposed creation of a Commonwealth Library Centre, Jan-Sep 1950.

The Royal Commonwealth Society was founded in 1868 as the Colonial Society. It was renamed the Royal Colonial Institute in 1870 and the Royal Empire Society in 1928. It adopted its current name in 1958. It is a pan-Commonwealth Non-Governmental Organisation, supported by a world-wide membership, working to inform and educate about the Commonwealth.The RCS Library contains about 300,000 printed items and over 70,000 photographs. At the beginning of the 1990's, it appeared that the Society would be forced to break up and sell the collection. A £3 million appeal launched in 1992, saved the Library for the nation and enabled it to be moved to Cambridge University Library, where it remains on permanent deposit.
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, was founded in 1949 to promote advanced study of the Commonwealth.

Chronological

Open although advance notice should be given.

The source of acquisition by ICS is not known.

See link to repository catalogue

Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the ICS Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or quote from original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager.