University College, London: Guild of Graduates Minute Book

Minute books recording the minutes of General Meetings of the Guild of Graduates and of the meetings of the Court of the Guild. Two books covering the years 1921 to 1936, with a number of loose papers, including voting forms (for admittance to the Guild and for the election of Guild officers), accounts, agendas, printed and manuscript reports, rules, invitations, news cuttings and correspondence. Also a letter from L A Wigglesworth, dated 5 Aug 1939, presenting the papers to the Library.

Student bodies existed at University College London (before 1836 known as the University of London) from its inception in 1828. The Men's Union Society was formed in 1893 to promote 'social intercourse and ... the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the financial success of students' clubs'. The Society was unusual amongst early student unions in that it was formed both for the athletic clubs and for social activities - the first of its kind in Britain.The oldest society of University College London is the Medical Society formed in 1828, which later became part of the Union. However, in 1907 it became detached from the Union due to the separation of the University College London Hospital Medical School from the University. In order to facilitate the Medical Society's continued use of and input into the running of the sports ground, a joint finance committee was formed. The Debating Society, originally named the Literary and Philosophical Society, was started in 1829. On the founding of the Union Society in 1893 the Debating Society subscribed to the Union and in 1909 was incorporated into the Union Society. The Women's Debating Society was formed in 1878 and was absorbed by the Women's Union Society in 1897. The Old Students Association of University College London was founded in 1890. The Guild of Graduates was a section of the Old Students' Association.

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Presented by L A Wigglesworth in August 1939, when the Guild was dissolved.