University of Edinburgh (Scottish University)
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 987 Collections and/or Records:
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: development plans, c1960-1970
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture, 1954-1955
3 copy architectural plans (73cm x 135cm) by Reiach and Cowan showing the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture at the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. The plans show drainage, elevations and a teaching block at 1/16" to 1' scale and 1/8" to 1 ' scale.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: Edinburgh College of Agriculture workshop extension, 1969-1974
4 copy plans (61cm x 97cm) for a workshop extension at the College of Agriculture, King's Buildings University of Edinburgh. The architect is Reiach and Hall Ltd. There are 3 floor plans and an elevation at either 1:50 or 1:100 scale. The plans are hand coloured.
There is also 1 copy of a plan (61cm x 96cm) showing the internal circulation for phased blocks at King's Buildings - University of Edinburgh. The plan is by Reiach and Hall Ltd at 1:500 scale.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: engineering growth plans, 1973
2 copy architectural plans (59cm x 85cm) by the architects Kneale and Russell showing expected growth of the Engineering Building at the University of Edinburgh Kings Buildings. The plans include a layout plan and elevations at 1:500 scale. Some dimensions are overwritten in red on the plan.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: engineering laboratories extension, 1957
2 copy architectural plans (73cm x 107cm) by the architect Robert Joseph Gardner-Medwin and Kingham Knight Associates for an extension to the engineering laboratories at the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. There is a topographic site plan at 1/32" to 1' scale and a "Layout study showing botany and natural resources in relation to engineering extensions".
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: engineering laboratories extension II, 1964-1965
5 copy plans (41cm x 59cm) by the architect Robert Joseph Gardner-Medwin with Kingham Knight Associates showing a planned extension for the engineering laboratories at the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. The plans include 2 copies of a layout plan at 1:500 scale, one overdrawn in felt-tip pen with alternative possible buildings. A layout of the extensions is at 1/32" to 1' scale. There are also floor plans, elevations and sections at 1/8" to 1' scale.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: epigenetics research laboratory, 1963-1964
3 copy architectural plans (60cm x 84cm) by the architect Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall showing the proposed epigenetics research laboratory for the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. The pans consist of elevations, floor plans and site plans at 1/8" to 1' scale.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: experimental petrology unit, 1966
6 copy architectural plans (61cm x 91cm) for an experimental petrology unit at the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. The plans are by Reiach and Hall Ltd. They consist of a block plan at 1:500 scale, a road and car-park plan at 1/32" to 1' scale and plans, elevations and sections at 1/8" to 1' scale.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: general photographs, c1978
A set of 16 35mm photographic negatives of the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings. They are accompanied by a 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map indicating the position from which the photographs were taken and the direction the camera was pointing.
University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings Development: KB Centre site plan, 1969
Ordnance Survey plan centred on the University of Edinburgh King's Buildings (76cm x 86cm), at 1:1250 scale with the sites of the King's Buildings Centre phases 1 and 2 overdrawn.