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University of Edinburgh (Scottish University)

 Organization

Biography

The University of Edinburgh was established by Royal Charter in 1582. It was originally called Tounis College, when part of a legacy left by Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney in 1558 had established a college of which the Town Council had gained control to establish a College of Law on the South side of Edinburgh. The inception of the University took place in 1583. In 1617 when King James VI of Scotland (I of England) visited the College it was decreed that the College should change its name to King James' College, although the College continued to use the older title. The first change in the corporate body of the University was not until 1935 when the first merger took place. This was between the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh and New College. This was due to the re-union of the Church of Scotland in 1932.The next merger was in 1951 when the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School was reconstituted as part of the University of Edinburgh. The Royal (Dick) Veterinary School achieved full faculty status in 1964. In 1998 Moray House Institute of Education became the Faculty of Education.

The first classes of the university were held in Hamilton House known as the Duke's Lodge. In 1582 a site that included St Mary in the Fields was acquired. Many new buildings and extensions were made to the site of Hamilton House after 1616. Two prominent stages of building for the University were those undertaken by Robert Adam and William Playfair. In 1869 the site next to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary was acquired. Building on this project was completed by the end of the 19th century. The University today is situated around these areas in the centre of Edinburgh and Kings Buildings and there are also campuses at Holyrood and elsewhere.

Teaching began in 1583 under Robert Rollock, with a four year course in arts to gain a masters of arts. When Rollock was appointed as the first principal of the University, there were four Philosophy regents and one regent of Humanity, whilst Rollock specialized in Divinity. Until the beginning of the 18th century the University remained essentially an Arts College, with a Divinity School attached. Throughout the 17th century the Chairs of Divinity, Oriental Languages, Ecclesiastical History and Mathematics had been created. By the end of the 17th century there was also regular teaching in Medicine, and sporadic teaching in Law. The University was at the centre of European Enlightenment in the 18th century. By 1722 a Faculty of Law had been established. The first medical Chair had been established in 1685 and was closely followed in the first half of the 18th century by six more. Four more medical Chairs were created in the 19th century. New Chairs in other Faculties were not established after 1760 until the latter half of the 19th century when they followed in rapid succession, continuing in the 20th century, which include those produced by the mergers with New College, the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School and Moray House Institute of Education.

The University was governed by the town council until the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858, when it received self governing status. The archaic teaching and management system of regents was abolished in 1708. The 1858 act dramatically changed the constitution of the University. A University Court and General Council were introduced which decided on matters and management pertaining to the whole University. The Senatus Academicus was already in place before 1858and this managed academic matters, but answered to the Court and Council. This system is still used.

The University of Edinburgh provides validation for a Master of Fine Arts that has run jointly with Edinburgh College of Art since 1943. A joint chair, the Hood Chair of Mining Engineering was established in 1923 with Heriot-Watt College which became Heriot-Watt University.

In 2002, the structure of the university was altered substantially, with the abolition of Faculties and the creation of the College of Humanities & Social Science, the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine and the College of Science & Engineering. Departments were replaced by Schools within each Faculty.

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Correspondence, 1965-1986

 Series
Identifier: EUA IN1/ACU/M1/6
Scope and Contents

General and specific correspondence between the Department of Molecular Biology, individuals and departments within the Faculty of Science and the wider University of Edinburgh as well as with external individuals and organisations, touching on subjects including finance, administration and research.

Dates: 1965-1986

Correspondence: from Duncan M Irvine to Alfred John Jukes-Browne, 1865-1899

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Coll-74/12/7
Scope and Contents

The Correspondence: from Duncan M Irvine to Alfred John Jukes-Browne sub-series consists of:


  1. 44 letters, alphabetically arranged (1865-1899)
Dates: 1865-1899

Godfrey Thomson Unit for Educational Research, 1896-1979

 Sub-subfonds
Identifier: EUA IN1/ACU/G1
Scope and Contents Material regarding the Moray House Tests, c1920s-1970s; Northumberland Mental Tests, c1920s; Sample tests, 1920-1987; Testing Samples, United States, c1920s-1950s; Publications, 1896-c1978; Godfrey Thomson, c1930s-1947; Correspondence...
Dates: 1896-1979

Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, 1990-1993

 undefined
Identifier: EUA IN1/ACU/C1
Scope and Contents
  1. 'SPACE'
  2. Planning Executive Committee
  3. School of Biology: Planning and Policy Group and Steering Committee
  4. Division of Biological Sciences Working and Advisory Group
Dates: 1990-1993

Letter to James Cossar Ewart from Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, 23 November 1926

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/9/32/9
Scope and Contents Le Souef writes that he hopes the Australian Prime Minister will find the time to see the research work in progress at Edinburgh and Aberdeen. He advises Ewart to emphasise the necessity of 'bridging the gap between the universities and the pastoralists so that the benefits of research can be put into practice.' Le Souef will be extending his proposed trip to North Australia in order to visit a large fresh water lake near Alice Springs to look up a large carnivorous animal which is at...
Dates: 23 November 1926

Letter to James Cossar Ewart from Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, 30 November 1926

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/9/32/11
Scope and Contents Le Souef writes that McDougall, the Australian representative on the Empire Marketing Board, would be happy to get in touch with the Animal Breeding Department of Edinburgh University. McDougall claims that the Board has a good deal of money to spend on research and are now interested in the Empire Soil Survey being carried out at the University of Aberdeen. Le Souef recommends that Ewart send McDougall information concerning the work of the Department, draft a line of practical research...
Dates: 30 November 1926

Plans of Chambers Street development, Edinburgh, 1925-1973

 Sub-Series
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/B/7
Scope and Contents

Chambers Street development consists of:


  1. plans: National Library of Scotland feasibility studies, (c1971-1973)
  2. plans: Proposals for the new Museum of Scotland, (1925-1973)
  3. report on the Argyle Brewery Site, (1973)
Dates: 1925-1973

University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: buildings plans, 1951-1978

 Sub-Series
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/D/5
Scope and Contents The University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: buildings plans consists of: plans: proposed car park plans, (1971 plans: College of Agriculture, (1954-1974) plans: King's Buildings Centre, (1964-1973) plans: Maths / Physics Institute, (1965-1975) plans: zoology building, (1959-1973 plans: department of animal...
Dates: 1951-1978

University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: new animal accommodation - poultry research centre, 1965-1966

 File
Identifier: PJM/PJMA/EUD/D/5.11
Scope and Contents

9 copy plans (59cm x 85cm) by the architects Moira & Moira, showing the proposed new Poultry Research Centre for the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. The plans consist of floor plans and elevations at 1/8" to 1' scale and a site plan at 1:500 scale.

Dates: 1965-1966