The Society was more closely connected with the management of this exhibition than with that of 1851. In both cases the initial organisation was due to the Society, and in both cases the early preparations were made by and at the risk of the Society. However, the 1862 Exhibition was managed by a Commission appointed by the Society, while in 1851 the Managing Commission had been entirely independent. Although 1851 was a profitable exhibition, receipts in 1862 were insufficient to cover expenses. \nThis series includes general correspondence to the Society about plans for the exhibition and about funding, as well as a series of images of the exhibition. There are no details of exhibits. These are included in the exhibition catalogues at SC/EX/1.\n\nRecords include general administrative correspondence to the Society, press cuttings and copy photographs of illustrations
The Society's Council was appointed Commissioners to the British Section of this exhibition which was arranged originally to commemorate Columbus's sailing to the new world. \n\nRecords include general correspondence, letter books (copies of letters sent), various ledgers and account books, minutes of the organising committees, printed material and catalogues and photographs of the Exhibition grounds and displays
The campaign for the preservation of ancient cottages began at a special meeting in May 1926 when Sir Frank Baines read a paper entitled 'The Preservation of Ancient Cottages', during which he announced that the Society had undertaken 'to initiate and endeavour to organise a movement, directed towards the final preservation of the cottage architecture of this country' and that the Society would 'call to a conference all those anxious to help and devise a scheme to accomplish our aims'. This conference was held on January 26, 1927 with the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin in the chair. He proposed a resolution approving the action of the Society and signifying the intention of the meeting 'to assist in the establishment of a substantial fund for application on the broadest national lines in furtherance of this movement'.\nBy July 1927 the amount received had reached just over £4,500 and eventually reached £15,000. In the early days of the campaign the Society was successful in saving the three Thomas a Becket cottages near Worthing and it purchased and reconditioned the group of cottages known as Arlington Row at Bilbury, Gloucestershire, among others.\nIn 1929 the Society purchased in its entirety the village of West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which was then about to be put up for sale in 60 lots. In 1934, after extensive repairs, the Society handed over the village to the National Trust for permanent preservation. \nThe Society took no further important action in this campaign until 1953 when it decided to expend the balance of the fund, over £1000. It approached the National Trust and was responsible for the overhaul and repair of the roofs of the famous group of cottages at Chiddingstone in Kent.\n\nSeries includes minutes of a committee, printed material and images
The scheme began in 1924 as the Competition of Industrial Design; this later became the Industrial Art Bursaries Competition (1946), the Design Bursaries Competition (1977), the Student Design Awards (1989/90), Design Directions (2003) and back to the Student Design AwardS in (2010). This is a project based award scheme for students of design which is judged by leaders in design and business. Its aims to bring promising students to the attention of the industry, to help students near the end of their education to sharpen their ability to contribute within a commercial setting, to influence design education by directing the attention of students to areas not necessarily covered in their course, and to give winning students the opportunity of industrial work experience or travel to further their design careers.\n\nIn addition to the travel and attachment awards given under each separate section of the competition, there were a number of special awards given to recognise winning students either for a particular feature of their winning entry, or some other criteria allied to the special award. These awards ran at different stages of the competition and each award ran for a different length of time. The special awards offered in a particular year were usually recorded in the project book and review/ report for that year. The winners of these awards were normally announced at a later date than the main competition results and therefore winners were only occasionally mentioned in the annual review/ report books. Where it is known that an additional award was won by a student, this is recorded on the individual's record. \n\nThese prizes included (this list is not complete):\n' Associateship of the RSA (winners of travel or attachment awards were also entitled to a year's free Fellowhsip of the RSA if they were over 25, and a year's free Associateship if they were under 25)\n' The Jacobs Memorial Award Certificate (for the student who submitted the best study tour report both in terms of content and presentation) \n' Alyson Leslie Award (this was first offered in 1992/93 and was awarded to the writer of the report which, in the view of Alyson Leslie, communicated to the reader most effectively how they used the award, what benefits they derived from it and how it would influence their future career)\n' Sir Frank Warner Memorial Medal (this medal commemorated the initiation of the original Competition of Industrial Design by Frank Warner. It was awarded for the best individual textile design. This medal was linked to the Sir Ernest Goodale Memorial Award) \n' Sir Ernest Goodale Memorial Award (this award was established by The Worshipful Company of Weavers in memory of Sir Ernest Goodale who was chairman of the RSA Design Committee. The award was given to the winner of the Sir Frank Memorial Medal to enable them to travel further afield)\n\n' The Whittington Award (this award was sponsored by the Mercers' Company and given to the entry that best demonstrated an understanding and appropriateness in their design on the theme, 'Design for Export')\n' The Master's Medal (this medal was presented by the Master of the RDI Faculty to the student who, in the opinion of the Master, solved the problem set out in any brief in the most practical, elegant and commercially viable manner)\n' The Chartered Society of Designers Student Medal (beginning in 1988/89, a silver medal was awarded to an outstanding student in each of the Chartered Society's design disciplines)\n' Wally Olins Opportunity Award (started in 2001/02 this award was for the student who most eloquently made a case for the use of the money to add value to the design business as a whole) \n' British Airways Flight Awards (a certain number of point to point flights within Europe were given to students who won travel awards)\n' The BIB Design Consultants Attachment and European Travel Award (the winner of this award was selected from short-listed students entering any of the industrial/ product design sections)\n' The BIB Travel Award to the United States (started in 1988/89, the winner of this award was selected from short-listed students entering any of the industrial/ product design sections who would most benefit from visiting the USA)\n' Deryck Healey International Colour Bursary Award (this was awarded to the student who demonstrated the impact of colour in a way which was exceptionally appropriate to consumer needs)\n' Formica Award (Formica Limited offered money for a well-planned study tour for the candidate who made the most appropriate and imaginative use of Formica Products in their solution to a project within the Student Design Awards)\n' The Kodak Photographic Award (this was given to students in specified sections of the competition who answered the brief in predominantly photographic terms.\n\n\nRecords include administrative files and correspondence, minutes of various committees, printed material including annual reports, publicity material and photographs of a small selection of winning designs.
The Society has only recently established a personnel department. Staff matters and pensions were dealt with by senior managers and accounts staff. It includes some personal reminiscences of some longer-serving staff members. \n\nThis series of twentieth century material relates mainly to general policy on staffing although it does include a small amount of information relating to individuals which may be sensitive. The RSA reserves the right to restrict access to this series of records.
A general meeting of the Society was specially convened on 21st March 1862 to discuss suitable memorials to Prince Albert, President of the Society for eighteen years (1843-1861). At this meeting the Council put forward their resolution 'that a gold medal, to be called the Albert medal, be provided by the Society, to be awarded by the Council not oftener than once a year, for distinguished merit in promoting Arts, Manufactures or Commerce'. (A commemorative bust was also decided upon at this meeting).\n\nLeonard Wyon produced the design of the Medal showing the head of Albert in later life on the obverse. Other artists were commissioned for designs from which the reverse might be selected, such designs to be illustrative of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. The first award was made in 1864 to Sir Rowland Hill for his reforms to the postal system, the benefits of which extended over the civilised world.\n\n'The list of recipients forms a record of the greatest of those who have laboured to benefit mankind, and whose service lends lustre to the reputation of the sagacious and benevolent Prince in whose memory it was founded'.\n\nWinners of the Albert Medal are offered Honorary Fellowship of the RSA.\n\nIncludes files and working papers on the selection of candidates, arrangements for ceremonies and general administration, as well as photographs of medal presentation ceremonies
The distinction of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) was created by the RSA in 1936 to enhance the status of designers in industry and encourage a high standard of industrial design. The distinction is conferred upon 'citizens of the United Kingdom, who have attained eminence in creative design for industry'. Only 100 designers are able to hold the distinction at any one time and it is regarded as the highest honour to be obtained in the United Kingdom in the fields of industrial design. In addition, the RSA confers upon a limited number of distinguished international industrial designers the award of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (HonRDI).\nThe Faculty of Royal Designer's for Industry was formed in 1938 as the association of RDI's with the object of furthering the excellence of design and its application to industrial purposes. The Faculty's affairs are presided over by a Master who serves for two years, he is assisted by a Deputy Master who is Master Elect.\nNew appointments are made after consideration by the Faculty and a Joint Panel (comprised of the Faculty and the RSA's Council). Appointments are then ratified by the RSA's full Council.\n\nRecords include administrative correspondence and files including some information on members, minutes of committee meetings, printed items and publicity material and photographs\n
The Art Education Committee which was appointed in November 1941 to consider the place and purpose of art and design in the post-war system of education. The RSA's main concern was that while skilful manufacture had developed in every direction thre was a lack of display of artistic sense in industrial life and manufactures. The Society suggested that to hold a rightful place in the world's industry a high standard of art and design as well as craftmanship had to be achieved. This would not be possible unless the education system balanced its stress on developing intellectual powers with that of awakening of the senses.\n\nThe Committee held a series of interviews with the headmasters of art schools, industrialists and manufacturers the conculsions of which were compiled in a report of 28 May 1943 and forwarded to the President of the Board of Education. Oswald P. Milne was the Chairman of this Committee.
The Society's commitment to the Commonwealth dates back to colonial development premiums from 1754. The Indian Section was formed in 1869 and merged with the Foreign and Colonial Section to deliver lectures on topics of interest in this area. This had become the Commonwealth Section by 1951. The Commonwealth Section Committee continued to contribute to the lecture programme until 1987 when the Committee was disbanded in favour of two of the members joining the Lecture Programme Committee to enable them to give direct advice to the Lecture Programme Committee as full members of that committee.\nRecords comprise administrative correspondence and papers and photographs. Minutes of the committee have been filed with miscellaneous 20th century committees
The War Memorials Advisory Council was established under the auspices of the Society in September 1944 after it had organised a conference on 27 April 1944 on the subject of war memorials. (Jnl, vol. 42, pp322-340)\n\nSpeakers included Sir Fabian Ware, the Dean of Westminster, Sir Noel Curtis Bennet, Admiral of the Fleet the Rt. Hon. Lord Chatfield and others. The major concern was that the memorials of the Second World War should show an improvement on those of the First. Lord Chatfield was nominated as President of the Advisory Council and Mr A.R.N. Roberts the Honorary Secretary; they remained in office for the duration. \n\nAs many as fifty leading societies connected with the arts and social welfare, together with a similar number of distinguished individuals from all parties and walks of life (the arts, industry, education, the church, letters) placed their resources and experience at the disposal of the Advisory Council. \n\nThe function of the Advisory Council was to act as a clearing house of general information for the guidance of local groups; the Council itself was not able to undertake consultative work. The Advisory Council also hoped to act as consultants to the Service departments and Government when service memorials and a national memorial came under discussion. \n\nThe Council was disbanded in 1948 due to a lack of public interest and of funds. As recognition for the service performed the Royal Society of Arts awarded Lord Chatfield the silver gilt medal and Mr A.R.N. Roberts the silver medal.\n\nRecords include correspondence and files
The President is the titular head of the Society. Past Presidents include Viscount Folkestone 1755-1761,Lord Romney 1761-1793,Duke of Norfolk 1794-1815, HRH The Duke of Sussex 1816-1843,HRH Albert, Prince Consort 1843-1861, William Tooke 1862, HRH The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) 1863-1901, Sir Frederick Bramwell 1901, HRH The Prince of Wales (later King George V) 1901-1910, Lord Alverstone 1910, HRH The Duke of Connaught 1911-1942, Sir Edward Crowe 1942-1943, E F Armstrong 1943-1945, Viscount Bennett 1945-1947, HRH The Princess Elizabeth 1947-1952, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 1952-2011\n\nRecords comprise correspondence and papers from 1947 with the President and Royal Household staff about administrative arrangements. Other items of correspondence can be found within AD/MA/100
Awarded to annually to speakers deemed to have given the most interesting lecture over the preceding year. The medal was re-designed in 1948 by Percy Metcalf RDI
In his lecture 'Humour in Art' given to the Society in February 1949, H M Bateman had proposed a permanent National Gallery of Humorous Art, in which to display the many original drawings of published comic art, which currently languished in back offices, or in corners of studios, and never seen by the public. \nAs a tentative beginning the Society, at the suggestion of its Chairman of Council, Sir Harry Lindsay KCIE, CBE, organised a temporary exhibition of 162 drawings of the work of more than fifty artists, ranging from Rowlandson and Gillray, to Osbert Lancaster and E H Shepard, Emett and Giles. With the help of Kenneth Bird, the editor of Punch, H M Bateman and Anna Zinkeisen, RDI, the Society was able to arrange an interesting display in the Society's Library (located at this time in what is now the Benjamin Franklin Room), which was open to the public free of charge.\nEncouraged by the steady flow of visitors, by the end of the second week 7,091 people had visited the exhibition, including HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (President, RSA 1952-2011) and The Duchess of Kent. The Council decided to postpone the closing day until Saturday 13 August, and to extend the daily opening hours to 6.30pm on weekdays, including Saturdays and the August Bank Holiday. 14,000 people had passed through the doors by the end of the exhibition, and as there was still a great public interest, the Society was able to arrange for the exhibition to travel round the country from October 1949 to April 1950, showing at Hove, Coventry, Salford, Preston, Liverpool, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Lincoln, Hull and Leicester. It has been estimated that a further 40,000 people saw it in the course of this tour. The exhibition also received press coverage worldwide in newspapers and magazines such as Picture Post, Illustrated London News, The Spectator and two pages in the BBC Arabic News. Coverage also featured in television and cinema newsreels. But in spite of all this interest Bateman's original idea for a National Gallery of Humorous Art never came to life.\n\nRecords include correspondence and papers about arrangements for the exhibition, a catalogue and printed material and photographs
In 1949 the Society began to produce a Christmas card to sell to Fellows. Various artists were commissioned to design a card annually. The subject usually related to the Society's history. Postcards of some of the Society's works of art were also published as postcards at various times.The series includes sample of cards produced and photographs used in their production.
Corresponding members were first elected in 1755. Benjamin Franklin being one of the earliest.
In the immediate post war period the Society organised a number of small exhibitions at the House. The principal exhibition was the 'Exhibition of Exhibitions', the Society's contribution to the commemoration of the 1851 Great Exhibition. Opened on 1st May 1951 by HRH The Princess Elizabeth, President of the Society. it was associated with the Festival of Britain. \nIncludes files and papers on arrangements for the exhibitions, publicity material and catalogues as well as photographs of exhibits and of the opening ceremonies