Online Archives Search

Discover just some of the amazing material held in the Archives.

The Online Archives Search is a limited search of the UNSW Archives' collection - please note that it does not cover everything held by the Archives.

UNSW staff can also search for archival records through the RAMS interface.

A small selection of the Archives' digital photographs are also available for searching and viewing via UNSW Digital Collections.

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    Archives Series
    Description
    This series consists of the booklet leaflet collection of the School of Economics. The material is typed and maintained in a manilla folder and includes booklets, leaflets, statements, reports and other material as released by the school and its departments, including program information.
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    Archives Series
    Description
    This series contains the prospectus / handbooks of the Faculty of Commerce / Faculty of Commerce & Economics. Each item is a typed, paper-bound volume, which were released on a yearly basis and contains information about the courses available in the faculty, including subject descriptions. In 1957 a prospectus was released, which was later replaced by more comprehensive handbooks. From 1976 copies of the handbook are also included in the bound versions of the university calendar. From 2002 this series of faculty handbooks were replaced by a new series of Undergraduate and Postgraduate handbooks.
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    On 1 September 1998 the Academic Board resolved to advise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & International) that the Board supports the establishment of a Centre for Tourism Policy Studies (resolution AB98/96). This was approved by the Vice-Chancellor on 19 October 1998. The main role of the Centre was to identify opportunities for research and funding from outside the university to encourage and assist staff across the university, and particularly within the Faculty of Commerce & Economics, to incorporate tourism related work into their research programs. The Centre was located in the Faculty of Commerce and Economics and Associate Professor Ray Spurr was the initial Acting Director (file 981376). On 30 January 2004 the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Economics advised the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) that the Centre would be closed on 13 February 2004 (file 981376). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 19/10/1998-13/02/2004
  • Start date
    Type
    Archives Series
    Description
    This series consists of the agendas, papers and notes of the Dean's Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Commerce / Commerce & Economics. The material is typed and arranged in manilla folders in chronological order. For each meeting, the agenda for that meeting normally appear first, followed by the notes and any other papers that were circulated to members along with the agenda prior to the meeting. The minutes indicate meeting date, time and place; those present and apologies; and matters discussed by the Committee. The agendas show the issues that were to be addressed, while the papers consist of reports or other submissions that were to be discussed by the Committee. The University Archives only holds items from this series for the years 1977 - 1994. This material is also incomplete, as notes for some meetings are missing, most notably for the whole of 1980 - 1981 and 1986.
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    Industrial and Labour Relations was first taught as a subject in 1955 as part of the industrial stream of the Bachelor of Applied Psychology. In June 1957 the Faculty of Commerce began teaching the Bachelor of Commerce degree and students could undertake Industrial and Labour Relations as an elective subject within the Economics major. In 1958 the Bachelor of Commerce (Applied Psychology) was introduced and in 1959 the Bachelor of Commerce (Industrial Relations) was taught for the first time. This was the first degree in the field offered by an Australian university. (V490 School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour Annual Report 1995: 1) The Department of Industrial Relations appears to have been formed within the School of Economics sometime during 1961, presumably as a result of a re-organisation that took place following Professor M. C. Kemp's appointment as Head of School. Initially the department seems to have been run by senior lecturer Dr J. Child. (UNSW Calendar 1962: 65) In 1974 Dr John Niland was appointed as Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Industrial Relations. (BRF - Niland, John) In July 1985 the Vice-Chancellor established a committee to review the faculties of Commerce and Professional Studies. One of the recommendations of the working party which was chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ronayne, was that a new School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour comprising the present Department of Industrial Relations and the Organisational Behaviour Unit be established. (Focus 13 May 1988: 10). At the Council meeting on 11 July 1988 major administrative changes were instituted including that certain departments within the existing schools within the faculty become schools in their own right. As a consequence, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Organisational Behaviour Unit were merged to become the newly formed School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour effective from 1 August 1988 (resolution 88/90). Subordinate agency: Industrial Relations Research Centre - 14/02/1980 - 31/07/1988 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - c. 01/01/1961-31/07/1988
  • Start date
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    The exact starting date of the Dean's Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Commerce is unknown, but it was certainly in place by 26th January, 1977, which is the first date for which the University Archives holds minutes. On 9th September, 1985, however, Council approved the establishment of a Dean's Advisory Committee in every faculty (resolution 85/96c-3) and as a result the responsibilities of these committees were clearly set out. In a letter from Vice-Chancellor Birt to all Deans in November, 1985 (file 851205) Birt indicated that the most important functions of the Advisory Committees were i) to advise and assist the Dean in planning for the academic development of the Faculty in the medium term...[and] ii) to ensure that there is a regular and widespread dissemination of information within the faculty and its schools. At the time, the Faculty of Commerce's Advisory Committee was made up of the Dean, the Chairman, all Heads of Schools and Departments and five elected members. As with all other Faculty Committees, the Advisory Committee changed its name as a result of Council's alteration of the Faculty's name from Commerce to Commerce & Economics at its meeting on 11th July, 1988 (resolution 88/90). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - by 26/01/1977-
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    On 8 July 1947 the NSW Government appointed a Developmental Council (under the chairmanship of the Minister for Education, the Hon R.J. Heffron, MLA) to establish the New South Wales Institute of Technology. The purpose of the Institute was to train scientists and technologists to meet the needs of the expanding economy. The Council met on 18 occasions between 27 August 1947 and 26 May 1949, during which time the name of the proposed body was changed to the New South Wales University of Technology. The major role of the Developmental Council had been preparation of a bill for an Act that passed though the parliamentary process in 1949. The Council had identified two unique features of the new University courses - some humanities component would be included, and practical industrial training would be a requirement. Premises of the Department of Technical Education were utilised until a site and buildings for the university were available. The first degree courses in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Mining Engineering commenced at Sydney Technical College in March 1948. (1) The Technical Education and University of Technology Act, 1949 (Act No 11, 1949) came into effect on 1 July 1949. It formally constituted the University as a body corporate, and consisting of the Council, the professors and other such classes of persons giving instruction within the University as may be prescribed and the graduate and under-graduate members thereof. (2) The objects of the University were (a) to provide facilities for higher specialised instruction and advanced training in the various branches of technology and science and in their application to industry and commerce; and (b) to aid by research and other suitable means the advancement, development and practical application of science to industry and commerce. (3) The University was managed by a Council of up to 30 members, (4) who were appointed by the Governor for periods of up to four years. The principal officers of the University were the President, Vice-President and Director. The Council was appointed on 5 July 1949 (5) and held its inaugural meeting the following day. The first by-laws were adopted on 12 September 1949, which included provision for the formation of the Professorial Board in the following year. (6) Building on the University's site at Kensington commenced in October 1949. (7) Finance was allocated for the building program by the New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act, 1951 (Act No. 35, 1951). The buildings authorised under the Act included a 3-4 storey permanent brick building to accommodate the schools of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mechanical Drawing and Design, Geology and Mineral Engineering together with administrative offices, lecture theatre and cafeteria and 13 steel clad aluminium buildings to accommodate the School of Chemical Engineering, furniture, equipment and services for these buildings, access roads and other necessary site works. (8) The first graduates of the University were awarded their degrees on 15 March 1952. Thirty-four degrees were presented to graduates at a ceremony held at Great Hall, University of Sydney. The structure of the Council was altered by the Technical Education and New South Wales University of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1955 (Act No. 8, 1955). The Council was increased to a maximum 39 members and the titles of President, Vice President and Director were replaced by those of Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. The University of New South Wales Act, 1958 (Act No. 24, 1958) altered the name of the University to the University of New South Wales and added a third object to that of the principal Act. ' c) to provide instruction and carry out research in the disciplines of humane studies and medicine and such other disciplines as the Council may from time to time determine.' (9) The University of New South Wales Act, 1961 (Act No 49, 1961) increased the Council to 40 members (10) and set in place an annual budget allocation from the NSW Government following the submission of a budget from the University. (11) Existing legislation was consolidated by the University of New South Wales Act, 1968 (No 37, 1968). Under the University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act, 1970 (No 75, 1970) the number of Council members was again enlarged to a total of 43. The University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Act No 170, 1978) added to the Council one member elected by the non-academic staff of the university. The University's Constitution was altered to transfer responsibilities to the Minister including making nominations to the Council and authorising disposal of real property. In 1984 and 1985 two University of New South Wales (Amendment) Acts (Act No. 15, 1984 & Act No. 81, 1985) were passed. The former regulated the type of investments that Council was permitted to undertake for the University, while the latter decreased the number of Council members to 29. In 1988 the Professorial Board was replaced with a reorganised Academic Board. This was followed in 1989 by a restructure of Council under the University of New South Wales Act, 1989 (No. 125, 1989), where the number of Council members was reduced to 21 and its terms of reference revised. The 1949 Act had given the Council the power to create colleges or branches elsewhere within New South Wales. The first of these was established at Newcastle in 1951. The Broken Hill Division was formed in 1959, while Wollongong University College was founded in 1962. On 1 January 1965, Newcastle was granted its autonomy and became the University of Newcastle. On 1 January 1975 Wollongong likewise attained the status of the University of Wollongong. In 1981 the termination of operations at Broken Hill was commenced, with the final graduation ceremony occurring in 1985. On 10 July 1967 an agreement was signed between the Department of the Army and the University to form the Faculty of Military Studies. The Faculty provided the opportunity for cadets at the Royal Military College at Duntroon to attain University degrees. On 7 May 1981 a new agreement was made between the Australian Government and the University to create a University College within the Australian Defence Force Academy. The College began operations on 1 January 1986. In 1969 the Australian Government created a Committee of Inquiry into Postgraduate Education for Management, under Dr Richard Cyert. In March 1970 the Committee recommended that a 'national graduate school of management be established at the University of New South Wales'. On 23 August 1973 the Government decided to initiate this proposal and the Australian Graduate School of Management was formed. Teaching began at the School in 1977. In 1998 the Australian Graduate School of Management merged with the University of Sydney's Graduate School of Business to form a joint university Australian Graduate School of Management. On 1 January 1990, as a consequence of the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act 1989, two sections of the Sydney College of Advanced Education - the City Art Institute and St George Institute of Education (both previously a part of Alexander Mackie College) - were integrated with the University. On 2 December 1996 the decision was made to close St George campus, with the premises being vacated by the University in January 1999. The Faculties of the University were formed in the following order: Engineering, Science, Architecture/Built Environment, Humanities & Social Sciences, Technology/Applied Science, Commerce/Commerce & Economics, Arts/Arts & Social Sciences, Medicine, Law, Military Studies, Biological Sciences/Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Professional Studies, College of Fine Arts, Life Sciences and Science & Technology. (1) New South Wales University of Technology First annual report of proceedings for the year ended 30 June 1950 p1. in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1950-51-52 vol. 1 p. 567 (2) The Technical Education and University of Technology Act, 1949 s.16 (3) Ibid. s. 18 (4) Ibid. s. 19 (5) NSW Government Gazette 8 July, 1949 p. 1923 (6) NSW Government Gazette 9 December, 1949 p. 3673 (7) New South Wales University of Technology First annual report Loc. Cit p 8 (8) New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act, 1951. Schedule (9) The University of New South Wales Act, 1958 s. 2 c) (10) The University of New South Wales Act, 1961 s. 2(b) (11) Ibid. s.2.c(1) Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/07/1949-
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    At the Council meeting on 11 July 1988 major administrative changes were instituted including that the name of the faculty be changed from the Faculty of Commerce to the Faculty of Commerce and Economics effective 1 August 1988 and that certain departments within the existing schools in the faculty become schools in their own right. As a consequence, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Organisational Behaviour Unit were merged to become the new School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour (resolution 88/90). The first head of school was Professor J. R. Niland. On 21 June 2004 Council resolved to disestablish the schools of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour and International Business within the Faculty of Commerce and Economics and established a new school, the School of Organisation and Management (resolution CL04/81). The School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour thus ceased to exist from this date. Subordinate agency: Industrial Relations Research Centre - 01/08/1988 - 21/06/2004 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/08/1988-21/06/2004
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    Archives Series
    Description
    This series incorporates correspondence, speeches, proposals and other papers of Professor Greg Whittred. The material is typed and contained in a manilla folder in chronological order. The papers cover not only Professor Whittred's time as President of UNSW Asia, but also some items from his time as Dean of the Faculty of Commerce & Economics.
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    Agencies Series
    Description
    On 12 February 1998 the Vice-Chancellor approved the establishment of the Australian Centre for International Business and on 3 March 1998 the Academic Board gave its support to the proposal (resolution AB98/20). The Centre was jointly formed within the Faculty of Commerce & Economics and the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Economics & Commerce. Professor Sidney Gray was appointed as the Centre's director at UNSW. On 26 May 2003 the Centre's Management Committee approved the closure of the Centre effective 1 June 2003 (file 980487). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 12/02/1998-01/06/2003