Minutes of the Society, Minutes of the Council and other committees relating to the governance of the organisation. The minutes are largely records of decisions taken on general policy and administration and the confirmation or rejection of reports from committees. Names of candidates for election as subscribing or corresponding members with addresses and proposers are given (up to 1900).\n\nFinance & General Purposes Committee Minutes were bound together with the Council Minutes between 1952 -1964, and so are catalogued with the Council minutes for this period. Thereafter they were bound separately, and the F&GP minutes can be found under RSA/AD/MA/400/12/02.
Printed matter including Charter and Bye Laws and Rules and Orders, miscellaneous reports, lists of Council members and officers, annual addresses to Members
The minutes, agendas and supporting papers are largely records of decisions taken on general policy and administration. \nThe Management Group are responsible for the internal administration of the RSA. The Director is the link between Trustees and Council and the Management Group. These files sometimes include minutes from the Section Heads Group meeting.
The Council was established in 1846 with first its Chairmen, Edward Speer and George Bailey. The Council assumed full responsibility for the management of the Society. Chairmen of Council generally serve a two-year term of office. \nRecords include correspondence of Charles Wentworth Dilke and Lyon Playfair as well as general late 20th century correspondence and papers. earlier material can be found within AD.MA/100.
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
As well as various standing committees (see individual entries for Mechanics Committee, Polite Arts Committee, Agriculture Committee, Committee of Colonies and Trade and Chemistry Committee) the Society regularly set up ad-hoc committees to discuss a broad range of topics concerned with the programme and administration of the Society. These include the Committee of Correspondence and Papers and the Committee of Miscellaneous Matters\n\nRecords include minutes of the diverse committees and correspondence to the members of the committees. Correspondence in this section is mainly administrative or on topics which could not be covered by the main subject committees.
The William Shipley Appeal was established to raise funds for the Society, in particular for the refurbishment of the Great Room, for the Society's programme, for regional development and for the Archive Project. This series includes photographs taken at the launch event in May 1996 which was attended by Prince Philip as president
The Journal was established in 1852 to disseminate information about the Society's activities and included transcriptions of lectures. Unlike the annual printed Transactions which preceded it, the Journal was initially published weekly.\nRecords include files and papers on the production of the Journal and other related promotional publications and press and publicity generally. Complete runs of the Journal are available for consultation in the Research Room at the RSA. Each volume is indexed and there are cumulative 10 year indexes for the Journal up to 1952.
This series includes information and images on works of art and other artefacts donated to the Society or purchased. An inventory of items is kept for insurance purposes\nThis series contains photographs and illustrations of objects and artefacts which have been donated to the Society or purchased by the Society as part of its collection.
Gifts produced by the Commercial Director for sale, includes calendars, jigsaws, ties and scarves. Christmas cards and postcards appear in a different series, PR.GE/109
The Society's premises were designed and build by Robert and James Adam. The building has been extended and altered over the years. \nRecords concerned with the Society's building in John Adam Street from its design and construction by the Adam Brothers and including correspondence papers, notes, leases and other legal documents, administration, management, alteration and repair of the building
This series comprises copy photographs of early prints and engravings of the interior of the Society's House including the Great Room and former Library room. Twentieth century photographs show alterations to the property and additions and extensions including the Vaults redevelopment of 1990
This series comprises copy photographs of early views of the exterior of the Society's House from 1772 and of other premises occupied by the Society before this date. It also includes 20th century original images of the House, including the front and Strand elevations
The Society's house was built as part of the Adelphi scheme by the Adam brothers. Items relating to the area have been collected by the Society, including engravings, drawings and photographs
Various House Committees were set up at different times to look at the building, its use, function, administration and management.\nRecords include minutes of House committees and correspondence and papers. Later material can be found with AD.MA/300