Reference code: GB-0033-CSU-D2
Title: University Catholic Federation of Great Britain Papers
Dates of creation: 1922-1962
Extent: 2 boxes
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: University Catholic Federation of Great Britain
Language:
English
The University Catholic Federation of Great Britain (originally the University Catholic Societies' Federation of Great Britain) was established in 1920 to bring together the various Catholic student societies existing in British and European
universities under one umbrella organisation. Its aims included providing assistance in the formation of opinions on matters of social, intellectual and political importance in relation to Catholic teaching, the promotion of intellectual and social
dialogue among its members, the organisation and representation of university Catholics, and co-operation with Pax Romana and other Catholic organisations overseas. The Federation was governed by a nationally elected council, with auxiliaries
organising events at the local level, including lecture programmes, discussion meetings and missionary circles, as well as disseminating information through occasional publications.
Following the establishment of the Newman Association in 1942, the Federation gradually declined in influence, although there is evidence of the continuation of its activities well into the 1960s.
Papers of the University Catholic Federation of Great Britain, mostly papers of its governing body, including constitutions, minutes of various committees and officers' papers. There is a very small collection of papers relating to the activities
of its local auxiliaries.
Donated by the Newman Association, December 2013. The Pax Romana Congress photographs were previously in the possession of Miss Mary Margaret (Mollie) Sweeney (1910-1987) and donated to Durham University by Helen-Bunder-Smith, November 2017.
The Federation's papers were originally part of the Newman Association Archive but, owing to their unique provenance, it was decided to create an entirely separate collection. The printed publications in this collection can be found on the Durham
University Library catalogue.
Stored at the Scottish Catholic Archives in Edinburgh until the transfer of the papers to Durham University in December 2013.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from pg.library@durham.ac.uk and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright
owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The arrangement is based on the original hierarchical structure of the organisation (where this is known):
1. Constitution Papers
2. Governing Commitees' Papers
3. Conferences and Events
4. Printed Material
The collection has been appraised. Information which is duplicated in other records, and clean duplicates, have generally been removed.
Further accruals are not expected
Newman Association Papers
Ref: D1
Francis Aylward,
“University Catholic Federation of Great Britain - a review of the Catholic student movement, 1920 - 1940”
1. Constitution PapersReference: D2/AD2/A/1 1928 - 1963
Papers relating to the constitution of the University Catholic Federation of Great Britain, mostly draft amendments
1 file
2. Governing Committees' PapersReference: D2/B(a) Meetings of Governing BodiesReference: D2/B/1D2/B/1/1 1922 - 1932
Minutes of Annual General meetings, Executive Committee meetings and General (Council) meetings, including loose-leaf secretary's reports and draft budgets
1 notebook
D2/B/1/2 1932 - 1942
Papers relating to the Annual General meetings, with associated papers and correspondence
1 file
D2/B/1/3 1934 - 1939; 1942 - 1948
Papers of the Executive Committee meetings, including minutes and associated papers
1 notebook and 1 file
D2/B/1/4 1934 - 1942; 1962 - 1964
Papers of General (Council) meetings, including minutes and associated papers
1 file
D2/B/1/5 1932 - 1949
Minutes of other meetings, including business meetings and local auxiliary councils
1 file
(b) Officers' PapersReference: D2/B/2(i) Presidents' PapersReference: D2/B/2/1D2/B/2/1/1 1940
Report by Dr Francis Aylward entitled
“University Catholic Federation of Great Britain - a review of the Catholic student movement, 1920 - 1940”
1 report
(ii) Treasurers' PapersReference: D2/B/2/2D2/B/2/2/1 1923/24 - 1941/42
Income and expenditure account book
1 volume
D2/B/2/2/2 1940 - 1942
Financial papers, mostly correspondence and invoices from various companies
1 file
(iii) Secretaries' PapersReference: D2/B/2/3D2/B/2/3/1 18 May 1939 - 2 March 1940
Letters from various bishops, including Francis Mostyn (archbishop of Cardiff), John Toner (bishop of Dunkeld), Joseph McCormack (bishop of Hexham and Newcastle), George Bennett (bishop of Aberdeen), William Brown (bishop of Pella), Richard
Downey (archbishop of Liverpool), Cardinal Hinsley (archbishop of Westminster), William Godfrey (apostolic delegate) to the secretary of the Federation, mostly testimonials on the good work of the organisation
10 letters
D2/B/2/3/2 May 1942 - 19 June 1948; 15 February 1962 - 28 June 1964
Secretaries’ correspondence file, mostly of the administration of the Federation and its constituent parts
1 file
3. Conferences and EventsReference: D2/CD2/C/1/1-5 1931-1936
Photographs of Pax Romana Congresses
18 BW prints and 1 invitation
D2/C/1/1 1931
Photographs of delegates entering the Tower Hall, Fribourg, for a funeral meeting
1 BW print
D2/C/1/2 1932
Photographs of delegates at the Pax Romana Congress in Bordeaux
4 BW prints
D2/C/1/3 1933
Photographs of delegates at the Pax Romana Congress in Luxembourg
6 BW prints
D2/C/1/4 1935
Photographs of delegates at the Pax Romana Congress in Prague and Bratislava
Two photographs with delegate's signatures
5 BW prints
D2/C/1/5 1936
Photographs of delegates at the Pax Romana Congress in Vienna and an invitation to a reception addressed to Miss Mollie Sweeney
2 BW prints & 1 invitation
D2/C/2 February 1954
Programme of the Joint Regional Conference,
“Catholics and the social services”, held at Sheffield, 12 - 14 February 1954
1 programme
D2/C/3 January 1955
Programme of the Joint Regional Conference,
“The liturgical review”, held at Loreto College, Manchester, 28 - 30 January 1955
1 programme
4. Printed MaterialReference: D2/D
The printed publications in this collection can be found on the Durham University Library catalogue
