Official records of the Northern School of Music covering its history from incorporation to amalgamation with the Royal Manchester College of Music to form the Royal Northern College of Music. Records include Council minutes, some financial materials, prospectuses and annual reports (incomplete series), student records, and photographs. The archive unfortunately lacks comprehensive records: in particular, annual reports, programmes, and the school magazines (published annually from 1937) are missing. Student records earlier than 1947 are not extant.
Level: Series / Extent: approx. 75 ff. (unfoliated)
Dates: 2 Nov 1943-13 Apr 1976
Description: Minutes of the Council of the Northern School of Music, and of Annual General Meetings of the Company. Meetings were held roughly quarterly. The Council was appointed in 1943 as per clause 29 of the Articles of Association. Ida Carroll was the secretary, and the minutes are (almost entirely) in her hand. The first meeting conducted such official business as the agreement of assignation of the Matthay School to the Association, opening of a bank account, arrangements for the first annual general meeting, and honorary officers. Thereafter business included: regulations and funds for scholarships; financial matters including investments, grants from bodies including the Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire Education Commitees, rates and pensions; election of Council members; premises and instruments; affiliation with the University of Manchester, and approval and inspections by the Ministry of Education; institution of the NSM Diploma; arrangements for the annual Distribution of Awards; award of Graduate Status by the authorities' panel of the Burnham committee (July 1952); possible amalgamation with the RMCM (Feb 1956-), relations with the Manchester Education Committee (Nov 1956-) and proposed scheme for support by the local educational authorities; hire of halls for performances; elections to Fellowship; regular reports on the progress of negotiations with the RMCM towards the foundation of the proposed New College of Music; staff; the interim governing body of the new College; the speech and drama department, including exploration with Granada Television over co-operation in an Art Centre; voluntary liquidation (passed Apr 13 1976). Some important letters were copied into the minutes, along with notes of other meetings.
Description: Prospectuses (some are proofs), most undated. Include a short history, list of professors, general information, rules, curriculum for ordinary and special courses including teachers course; junior school; awards; alumni association.
Description: Syllabi for courses including the special course in elocution (c.1930); associate diploma of music education in schools; graduate diplomas. None are dated.
Description: Combined publicity brochure and syllabus for the annual summer courses of the NSM. Brochures are extant for the following years: 1923, 1955-1963 (inclusive), 1965-1969 (inclusive), 1971. With related correspondence for years 1956, 1959 and 1971 only.
Description: Index cards recording name, address, dates of birth, subjects of primary and secondary study, qualifications, dates of attendance and fees. Other information may also be noted. Some cards also have correspondence, photographs, and copy invoices attached. Where a student received LEA funding, the name of the funding authority is recorded. Women are filed by married name (where applicable during the course of their study). Student records for the period 1920-47 are apparently not extant.
Description: Index cards recording name, address, dates of birth, subjects of primary and secondary study, qualifications, dates of attendance and fees. Other information may also be noted. Some cards also have correspondence, photographs, and copy invoices attached. Women are filed by married name (where applicable during the course of their study). Student records for the period 1920-47 are apparently not extant.
Description: Index cards recording name, address, dates of birth, subjects of primary and secondary study, qualifications, dates of attendance and fees. Other information may also be noted. Women are filed by married name (where applicable during the course of their study). Student records for the period 1920-47 are apparently not extant.
Description: Record of students names and dates under various examinations: GNSM, ANSM, LRAM, ARCM, MusB, FNSM, Associated Board, ARCO. The volume is indexed.
Description: Notices of students results in annual examinations. Lists names and marks, by subject. Notices are missing for 1935-6, 1938, 1940-1, 1944-5, 1948-9, 1951-2, 1959. The notices for 1932-4, 1937 and 1939 have reports of school inspections (usually held in December and June/July, by Stewart Macpherson). 1935-6 and 1938 have inspection reports, but no examination notices.
Description: The programme records the visitor who spoke and distributed the prizes, the repertoire performed by individual students, and the names of prizewinners and those who had passed examinations (other than lower grades of Associated Board examinations). For the following years a programme and the text of the Principal's report is extant: 1931-4, 1941, 1946, 1948-9, 1952-3, 1955-8, 1960-7, 1969-72. For the following years the text of the Principal's report (only) is extant: 1929, 1930, 1935, 1938, 1942-5, 1947, 1951, 1959. For the following years a programme (only) is extant: 1950, 1968 There is no programme or report for the years 1936-7, 1939-40, 1954. For some years (particularly the later ones), a seating plan for the platform and invitation cards may also be found. For 1970 there is a copy of the school's Golden Jubilee year celebratory programme.
Description: Letters of testimonial from Ida Carroll for former students. Most in answer to requests for references from potential employers - chiefly County Councils and schools.
Description: Black & white photographs (mainly) of NSM students and staff. Including photographs of productions, outings, and large group photographs. Some appear to have been annotated and given by Dorothy Pilling.
Description: Correspondence and papers relating to the future of the Northern School of Music, and particularly to the details of the amalgamation with the RMCM under the joint committee. Correspondents include Lancashire County Council; William Griffiths MP; Kathleen Ollerenshaw; John Manduell. Includes constitional matters including representation on the interim governing body; memoranda concerning aims, syllabus etc; reports to NSM Council; list of staff with salaries, experience and pension rights (c.1970); schedules for new College building; proposed specification for organ; approval of courses by the DES; the status of the GNSM; chaplaincy for the new College; staff and pension scheme; acquisition of Hartley Hall; survey of bows and instruments at the RMCM, NSM and Wilbraham Public Library; voluntary liquidation of NSM; The papers are in some disorder, and do not represent consistent keeping of copies of minutes, letters etc - it appears that Ida Carroll may have kept apart items which record decisions which she thought of particular importance or interest.
Description: The books record amounts paid for each week of the three terms to members of staff. Names of their students are listed. Earlier records are apparently not extant.
Description: An appreciation of Hilda Collens, ?1956; order of service for Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Service and dedication of the window to the memory of Hilda Collens, with black & white photograph of the window (in St Ann's Church); programme for "The Pilgrim's Progress" May 1970.
Description: Original pencil drawing of the Northern School of Music from All Saints Park {picture used in fore/end papers of J Robert-Blunn "Northern Accent..." (Altrincham: John Sherratt & Son Ltd, 1972). Mounted on card/boards. Photostat of a pencil drawing of the NSM from across Oxford Road, May 1971. Photostat of a pencil drawing of the NSM from the Mancunian way. All drawings by Bruce L Douglas.
Description: Programmes for orchestral concerts, recitals, operas and other events. From the 1960s the programmes are apparently complete. Some with reviews and other clippings. Also includes a few programmes of concerts given by other bodies (possibly with the involvement of students and/or staff of the school).
Description: Later Northern School of Music Magazine. Numbers 5 (Jul 1941); 10 (Jul 1946); 13 (Jul 1949) 18 (Jul 1954); 23 (Jul 1959); 25 (Jun 1961); 27 (Jun 1963); 29 (Jun 1965); 30 (Jun 1966); 31 (Jun 1968); 33 (Jun 1969); 35 (Jun 1971); 36 (Jun 1972). Numbers 16 (Jul 1952); 20 (Jul 1956); 19 (Jul 1955); 26 (Jul 1962); 28 (Jun 1964); 32 (Jun 1968); 34 (Jun 1970). Includes reports on the year's activities, and news of old members, appointments and other biographical information including births, marriages and deaths. Such information was supplied by old members, so is not comprehensive. The Old Students' Association of the Northern College of Music. Numbers continue from the Northern School of Music Magazine: 37 (Jun 1973); 38 (Jun 1974); 39 (Jun 1975); 40 (Jun 1976); 42 (Jun 1978)
Description: Files of cuttings from local and national newspapers concerning student concerts, graduation and award ceremonies, recitals, personal news etc. Many are undated but some are arranged into bundles as if by year.
Description: Mildred Moon Rosebowl (presented 1932) - in 2 parts (base and rosebowl); Cup for the Singing of Oratorio (presented 1963); Cup for Organ Playing (presented 1969); A E Chadwick Cup (presented 1933). With green sash.
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