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University of Edinburgh. Court (governing body)

 Organization

Biography

The Court of the University of Edinburgh was formed at the end of 1859, after the passing of the Universities ( Scotland) Act, 1858. It consisted of the Lord Rector, his assessor, the Chancellor's assessor, Principal, Lord Provost, Town Council's assessor, University Council's assessor and an assessor elected by the Senatus Academicus. The Court functions at this time were to revise, on appeal, the acts of the Senatus, to sanction the expenditure by the Senatus of University funds and generally to take a supervision of the professors. The Commissioners of the 1858 Act performed many of these functions until their dispersal.

By the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889, the University Court became a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal; and all the property belonging to the University at the passing of the Act was now vested in that body. The present powers of the Court, which include among others, the amendment of the composition, powers and functions of the bodies in the University, and the creation of new bodies, the administration and management of the whole revenue and property of the University, internal arrangements of the University, appointments, review of decisions of the Senatus, and, on recommendation of the Senatus, the regulation of degrees and administration and discipline of students, are defined in the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1966.

The Court now also includes three assessors elected by the General Council, four Senatus assessors, one assesor elected by members of the non-teaching staff, two fully-matriculated students nominated by the Students' Representative Council and eight co-opted members. The Rector is the President of the Court. The Vice-Chairman of the Court is elected triennially by the Court from among its members. Meetings are normally held seven times a year.

Found in 22 Collections and/or Records:

Academic Staff Appointments, 1893-1974

 Series
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV/CRT/STF
Scope and Contents

Bound records giving basic details on appointments:


  1. Lectureships (1906-1924)
  2. University Assistants (1907-1922)
  3. Staff record cards (bound): Assistants, Lecturers, Readers (1926-1938)
  4. Additional Examiners (1893-1957)
  5. Preliminary Examiners (1951-1963)
  6. External Examiners (1965-1973)
Dates: 1893-1974

Annual Reports, 1991-2002

 Series — Box EUA-A-420
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV/CRT/ANR
Scope and Contents

Annual Report and Financial Statements covering the period year ending July 1991 - July 2002 (July 1995 wanting)

Dates: 1991-2002

Copy of a letter to Sir William [Turner] from James Cossar Ewart, 10 May 1912

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/9/18/28
Scope and Contents

Ewart asks Turner whether the University Court would consider appointing a committee to investigate the question of providing facilities for animal breeding experiments along the lines of the work being carried out by Darbishire. He provides annual costings for the experiments at Fairslacks, and mentions that the Farm Committee of the East of Scotland College of Agriculture has asked Ewart on what terms he should be prepared to hand over the farm to them for a year.

Dates: 10 May 1912

File Series 'A', 1833-1987

 Series
Identifier: EUA IN1/ADS/SEC/A
Scope and Contents Files in 13 subseries: Faculty of Arts (1872-1977) Bequests (1912-1987) Faculty of Divinity (1927-1984) Faculty of Law (1919-1958) Lectures (1885-1965) Faculty of Medicine (1833-1971) Miscellaneous (1884-1981) Faculty of Music (1891-1954) Faculty of Science...
Dates: 1833-1987

First page of first volume of University Court minutes (draft)

 Digital Record
Identifier: ADO-2017-0006
Dates: 12 December 1859

Legal basis of the University, 1644-1893

 Series
Identifier: EUA IN1/GOV/CRT/Da.21
Scope and Contents

Printed and handwritten copies of legal and similar documents relating to the University of Edinburgh, providing the historical legal context.

Dates: 1644-1893

Letter from W.A Fleming, University Secretary, to Ewart regarding Ewart's resignation, 19 July 1927

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/2/23
Scope and Contents

In the letter, Fleming expresses the University Court's 'deep regret' at Ewart's resignation but also their appreciation of 'the eminent services which you have long rendered to the University during your long and distinguished tenure of the Chair to which you were appointed in 1882.'

Dates: 19 July 1927

Letter to Ewart from the University Court of the University of Edinburgh recognising Ewart as a teacher of Medicine (Practical Anatomy) in Edinburgh, 21 December 1878

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/2/10
Scope and Contents

This letter pertains to Ewart's time teaching at the Extra-Mural School of Medicine in Edinburgh, shortly before taking up his position as Regius Professor of Natural History at the University of Aberdeen. The letter also states that the University Court recommended a deferral of recognition of Ewart as a lecturer in Anatomy until such a time as he could demonstrate 'sufficient appliances for illustrating a course of lectures.'.

Dates: 21 December 1878

Letter to Ewart from the University of Edinburgh Museums Committee requesting an estimate, 04 July 1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-14/3/2
Scope and Contents

The letter requests an estimate of the value of the 'private collection of Diagrams, Apparatus, or other material used for purposes of teaching or research in [Ewart's] Department', should the University Court wish to purchase it. An estimate of £500-£600 is written on the letter.

Dates: 04 July 1893