| Sortcode | BC/19 |
| Ref | BC AS/120-199 |
| Level | SubSection |
| Title | Bedford College Student Associations, 1894-1984 |
| Extent | 37 boxes and 1 volume or 0.38m3 |
| Description | Papers relating to Bedford College Union Society, 1894-1984, including the Senior Student's Book, 1894-1923; Minutes of the Executive Council of the Bedford College Student's Association, later BCUS, 1894-1983; BCUS general correspondence with College Secretary, 1919-1966; minutes of BCUS General Meetings, 1942-1984; minutes of the Finance Committee of BCUS, 1960-1983; printed draft Constitution of the BCUS, 1966; copies of BCUS publications concerning student activities, [1970-1985]; copies of the Bedford College Student's Handbook, 1966-1982; student ephemera, including sports shields, cups and badges. Papers of the Bedford College Old Student's Association, 1906-1986, including minutes, agendas and papers of the BCOSA, 1911-1974; correspondence and papers of the BCOSA, 1906-1968, and the Bedford College Association, 1969-1974; BCOSA Cash Books, 1920-1951; bound copies of Bedford College Old Student's Reports, 1922-1986, containing reports of meetings and information on former students; BCA Calendars, 1975-1984. |
| Date | 1894-1984 |
| Access_Conditions | All records are open subject to the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All records containing personal information about individuals are subject to the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. |
| Admin_History | Bedford College Student's Association was founded in 1894 to represent both past and present students. The post of Senior Student was created by the Principal in 1894 to act as liaison between the Principal and the pupils, though the latter had no role in choosing their representative. By 1908, the workload of the Senior Student was so heavy that three aide de camps (one each for Arts, Science and the Training Department) were added, and to this group fell the responsibility for the good conduct of the students and the general organisation of student affairs. Following the creation in 1913 of the Bedford College Union Society, the office of Senior Student was retained and supplemented by a Treasurer, Secretary and a Committee of four members. The Senior Student was then elected by the whole body of members, with the Principal having a veto and the ability to put forward nominees. In 1922 the Senior Student assumed the title of President of the BCUS. By 1923 the present students were adequately represented by the Union, so the Bedford College Students' Association became responsible for former students only, becoming the Bedford College Old Students' Association. In 1963, its name was again changed, to the Bedford College Association. The Union, meanwhile, was responsible for all College Societies (except the Athletic Union and religious societies). Initially, not all students became members of the Union, until the problem of Union fees was solved by merging them with the fees for tuition, at which point membership became compulsory. By 1973, there was student representation on Bedford College Council |