"Frankness without offence."

This whole thing is absolutely gorgeous. Ida being described as "beastly", her demand for equal representation, prestige and recognition, the perceived bias towards the Royal Manchester College of Music's teaching priorities as opposed to the Northern School of Music of which Ida was principal.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Picked up on in these documents about creating a new school of music in Manchester (RNCM) is the worry that no provision is made for the training of music teachers, and that the new school would focus on mainly training performers. It also highlights the continued worry about what would happen with the NSM's Speech and Drama Course as that isn't mentioned in new proposals either.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The unofficial personal reactions of Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) on the proposed options for creating a new school of music (later to be the RNCM). Worries of the roots of any new school being totally dismissed make it clear that the legacy and work of the Northern School of Music is vital to Ida. She feels that the ideas presented by the local authority are dangerous and fears that the conversations are more like "buying and selling a shop" and not working with one of only few institutions in the country with their capabilities and purpose.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ever sold a house before your new house has been built? The local authority has given the new college 5 years to be built and has allowed the NSM to remain in its Oxford Rd premises until that has happened. Typically, it took another 5 years on top of that for the new building to actually open!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The site is finally agreed upon for the new RNCM! And the issue of a royal charter for the new college remains a sticking point. The Royal Manchester College of Music is reluctant to give theirs up but it cannot be carried over to the new college as it is a new institution.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

All the gossip on the early chat led by the Manchester local authority on the reasons for creating a single school of musical training in Manchester. And all the initial objections from the Northern School of Music.
The main reason: the local authority is financially supporting two institutions that they believe could work together so they only needed sponsor one organisation.
The main objection: that the NSM was its own institution and would not be swallowed up by the bigger RMCM and thereby losing its identity and ethic.

Ref; NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

So much info on the Northern School of Music! This report about student capacity and activity is incredibly detailed and sings the praises of staff and student groups alike. It even came with a heavily annotated copy full of scribbles and and edits - a very archive-y thing indeed!

Brief notes full of info for the Northern School of Music council. In 1961, their premises on Oxford Road was valued at £4,400. I can't imagine what it would be worth now!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Some details from the Northern School of Music meeting with the steering committee for the future RNCM. The idea of electronic music provision was considered but since University of Salford had a similar course the new college would not need one. An interesting point is that the proposed site (where the RNCM now stands) was due to have Booth Street West expanded to the 4 lanes that it is now to connect the two areas of Hulme and Brunswick etc. The steering committee were worried about the amount of noise this would create. If only they could hear the buses thundering and rattling down Oxford Rd now!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music putting their feelings to paper in no uncertain terms as talks of becoming one school partnered with the Royal Manchester College of Music start up. They wish to retain their own identity and activities in perpetuity.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

More notes on another unhappy meeting. This time in 1967 and regarding the dismissal of the Northern School of Music's problems with the proposed merger. A neutral principal must be found for the new college so that both the NSM and the Royal Manchester College of Music are on equal footing, the Speech and Drama Department should not be passed off to a school outside of Manchester and provision for part time and junior students should be made to carry on the Northern School of Music's operations in that field.
Ida Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) pulls no punches in expressing how "deplorable" she feels this is.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Oh dear. A "most unhappy" meeting in the early days of talks between the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music. Nearly 20 years later, the RNCM was built but it's clear from this short note that the journey was not going to be a comfortable one.
Expecting to be asked to give up their identity, have their management and staff questioned and feeling like they're being sold like a mill, the Northern School of Music would but its foot down many times over the coming years to ensure a fair deal.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

NSM notes on early days of designing the RNCM. The desire for a Royal Charter does not overpower the Northern School of Music's desire to be treated and seen as equal - being absorbed by the Royal Manchester College of Music is unacceptable!
They can't quite agree where it should be built but would like the new college to be ready in 1965 - they were sorely disappointed! The building was officially opened in 1973!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

(holding)

This speech was given by Ida Gertrude Carroll to new and returning staff and students at the start of the school year in September 1959. Like the majority of her speeches this one begins with a prayer and hymns. In her prayer Ida Gertrude Carroll shows her great appreciation for both music and the Northern College of Music’s Founder Hilda Collens, for example in her prayer she states that “we are met together at this time to offer our thanks for his gifts of music and literature” before she goes on to ask that the school remember Hilda Collens “Who planted in fertile soil the seed of music and dedicated her life’s work to god and the furtherance of her art.” Following the prayers and hymns Ida Gertrude Carroll gives details on the schools activities, such as the schools sponsoring of a boy from Barnardo’s, and the need to elect a student committee. However she also makes sure to reassure students that no two people are alike and that each individual must set their own level of achievement, and that no matter what issue they have, big or small, she is always there for them to talk to.

Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1959
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This is a speech given by Ida Gertrude Carroll at the start of the spring term January 1959, beginning with the hymn Jerusalem and a prayer. She talks about the upcoming visit of Alan Wicks who is giving a series of lectures, at the time he was at Manchester Cathedral but he then became the organist for Canterbury Cathedral in 1961, a role he would continue for nearly 30 years. She also discusses her hopes of arranging a visit from Dr Annie Warburton, who wrote some of the music textbooks used in the school, and her plans to throw an 80th birthday celebration for Mr Read who had come to assist the teaching staff. She ends her speech by asking students to remain where they are after the assembly as she wanted to take a few minutes to talk to each pupil individually.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1959
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Like most of Ida Gertrude Carroll’s speeches to her students this one begins with a religious reading, hymn, and prayer. She says that we all make mistakes in life but that the important thing is we learn from them, before taking about a few instances in the previous term when pupils fought with each other. She says these instances of “grievous words” cannot be repeated under any circumstances and that pupils who are having difficulty should come to her before resorting to “squabbling” amongst themselves. Ida Gertrude Carroll then goes on to say that the key to happiness is to open your heart to the service of the Lord and others and discusses how we all have fears but that we must not let that fear turn to jealousy. She finishes by assuring her students that no two people are alike and that they should simply be themselves as life is short and they need to make the most of it.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this speech Ida Gertrude Carroll focuses on informing students about careers in music, she discusses the options students have to continue their education at the Northern School of Music or to take up a variety of roles including teaching and performing. The speech gives insight not just into the Northern School of Music but also into the careers students could have chosen. Ida Gertrude Carroll discusses how much graduate teachers can expect to be paid, including the fact that male graduate teachers received an annual rise of £25, whilst female graduate teachers would only receive £20. She then goes on to discuss some off the schools previous graduates, such as Dorothy Pilling and Dr Annie Warburton, and the successful careers they’ve had in music.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this speech Ida Gertrude Carroll gives a religious reading followed by a prayer, she then follows this with hymn and a second prayer, one written in Samoa by Robert Louis Stevenson. This speech gives no information on the school itself, but it does show Ida Gertrude Carroll’s strong religious beliefs.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1958
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) leading the very polite charge against misleading branding of the newly formed Royal Northern College of Music. Ensuring that the "Royal" prefix is known as a new accolade of the new college (which includes the efforts of the Northern School of Music) and not just a continuation of the title awarded to the Royal Manchester College of Music.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This conversation between lawyers and accountants dealing with the merger of the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music reveals some interesting last minute sticking points of the NSM. It refuses to go into voluntary liquidation before the Royal Manchester does and it requires guarantees as to the provision of diplomas to current NSM students. It references a company seal that must be maintained in order to give out diplomas so cannot go into liquidation before other diplomas can be authenticated. It also mentions that it's unlikely that any capital will transfer to the new RNCM as the NSM runs on minimal budget as it is.
Formal gossip galore!

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music putting into writing its preferences for the kind of person that they foresee becoming the new principal of the Royal Northern College of Music. What do you think of their stipulations? A rather precise set of requirements, and all within a specified age range!

RNCM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In planning the Royal Northern College of Music, the Northern School of Music had to evidence their financial forecasting. How much it took to run the school and therefore how much staff at the new school would be expecting to earn. One of biggest disparities between the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Northern School of Music was the finances, it was a sticking point for the NSM that it ran its school on much less money. Getting a fair deal in finance was therefore a big issue when designing the new RNCM.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music) here making sure that part-time and junior music students of the Northern School of Music as well as students of Speech and Drama Course at the school be considered when the forthcoming RNCM is being designed. Hundreds of students need providing for. The RNCM continued the Junior School on Saturdays and does to this day. The Speech and Drama students however could not be provided for in the end, and this became eventually part of Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Theatre.

Ref: NSM/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.