North London Collegiate School Archive
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The Archive at North London Collegiate School covers the history of the school from its establishment in 1850 to date and contains many books, letters, journals, photographs, admisison records, prize lists, personal papers and reminiscences. There is information on each headmistress, on the buildings the school has occupied both in Camden and in Stanmore, and on eminent Old North Londoners (ONLs). Administrative records such as minutes of governors' meetings and pupils' admissions records add detail to the wealth of fascinating glimpses of school life over the years.
There are also many items of local history, including the history of Canons and its owners from the 17th century onwards. The house reached its heyday in the 18th century when James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos and his second wife Cassandra built a huge palace in Edgware. His grand lifestyle, famous throughout England, was described by Daniel Defoe and satirised by Alexander Pope, and the composers Handel and Pepusch were among the many artists who fell under Brydges' patronage at Cannons, as it was then known. A database (available within school) makes the wide range of material within these two main collections accessible. It brings to life a wide range of subjects, not least the growth of girls' secondary and higher education, which started with the vision of Frances Mary Buss and was continued by Dr Sophie Bryant, who was one of a number of NLCS women involved in the cause of suffrage. Some school publications are available in digital form, including the school magazine from its inception in 1875. For access via the website, please contact library staff at nlcslib@nlcs.org.uk |
Access to the archive is by appointment on weekdays during term time.
Please contact the Head Librarian/Archivist, Mrs Bartlett. 
You may download a booklet detailing further aspects of the school archive and the history of the school here.
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Founder's Day 2018
Founder's Day is upon us once again, celebrating the achievements of ONLs, and there are some beautiful displays around the school. Year 7 spent time in their library lessons researching and learning about their forebears, and creating wonderful literature and art work. There are 'panels' for various ONLs in the library, as well as other displays in the Old House and the PAC. Please do drop in to see the results of their hard work if you are visiting us on Founder's Day.
Founder's Day is upon us once again, celebrating the achievements of ONLs, and there are some beautiful displays around the school. Year 7 spent time in their library lessons researching and learning about their forebears, and creating wonderful literature and art work. There are 'panels' for various ONLs in the library, as well as other displays in the Old House and the PAC. Please do drop in to see the results of their hard work if you are visiting us on Founder's Day.
Archive News
The school was delighted to give a home to two stained glass windows by William de Morgan that had been stored in pieces in St Lawrence Church. Depicting the saints Cecilia and Esther, the panels were part of Victorian renovations to the church and removed over a century later when on the advice of the Georgian Society the church was restored to its original baroque interior. See here for more information.
James Russell has used our archive to assist in his research for his forthcoming exhibition on the life and works of Peggy Angus who was a pupil at NLCS from 1919-1922. Read his blog for more information.
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Researchers preparing a book on Chemistry within girls' schools have been using our extensive archive to find out all about the history of science teaching here at North London Collegiate. This picture was taken in 1890 in Sandall Road, Miss Buss' school being the first to have a science lab. |
ONL Stella Gibbons is best known for her novel Cold Comfort Farm, yet recently two unpublished novels have come to light. Pure Juliet (named An Alpha by Gibbons) and The Yellow Houses are published by Vintage. Disillusioned with the world of publishing, Gibbons hid the manuscripts for decades, but her estate and relatives have now agreed to allow the works to be published.
Poet Lucy London has been researching ONL Jessie Pope in relation to her exhibition and blog on female poets of WWI. Wilfred Owen originally dedicated his poem 'Dulce et Decorum est' to her, his gritty realist poem being a contrast to her morale boosting verse.
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