University of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Special Collections : Archives Catalogues & Resources

A 'Scottish School of Educational Research', 1925-1950

Sir Godfrey H Thomson

In January 2006 Special Collections became involved in an ESRC-funded project which aimed to construct an intellectual history of education and the intelligence concept, technology and practice in Scotland between 1925 and 1950, and demonstrate the profound and enduring influences of this Scottish School on world educational and psychological research. The focus of the study was on the specific locations and cultural contexts of scientific research; the exchange in international networks of ideas, methods and results; the intellectual history of key individuals, especially Professor Sir Godfrey Thomson, Principal of Moray House College of Education and Bell Professor of Education in the University of Edinburgh (pictured, right); the relation between statistics and text, and between scientific advance and the governing of education systems.

The researchers on the project are experts in the history of education (Professor Martin Lawn, School of Education, University of Edinburgh), in intelligence testing (Professor Ian Deary, Psychology, University of Edinburgh), and the statistics of mental tests (Professor David Bartholomew, London School of Economics).

The researchers were utilising archival materials recently located within the University to help reconstruct the Scottish School. Recognising the vital need to permanently preserve these materials and ensure they are accessible into the future, project funds enabled the Special Collection's Project Archivist to be seconded to the project. The Project Archivist's role was to survey the material; oversee transfer to Special Collections; assess and then process the material accordingly. This included basic preservation measures, fonds and subfonds level cataloguing, and creation of detailed handlists. Relevant collections and materials already deposited with Special Collections have also received preservation and descriptive treatment as part of the project. Finally, funds also allowed for professional conservation of the most vulnerable material.

We continue to work with our academic collegues, building on the success of this project, identifying further archival material of relevance and working towards a follow-up project.

Manuscripts & Archives Involved

Related Printed Items

In addition to the above archives and manuscripts material, Special Collections also contains a number of works in its printed books collection which are relevant to the project. These include works published in association with the International Examinations Inquiry.

Please search the main Library Catalogue for more information about each item

Title: Enquetes sur le baccalauréat : recherches statistiques sur les origines scolaires et
sociales des candidats au baccalaureat dans l’Académie de Paris.
Published: Paris : Hachette, 1935.
Other Authors: International Institute Examinations Inquiry. French Committee.
Shelfmark: SD 8918

Author: Commission francaise pour l’enquête Carnegie, sur les examens et concours en France.
Title: Atlas de l’enseignement en France / comité; M. Desclos ... [et al.].
Published: [Paris : s.n., 1933]
Notes: At head of title: International examination inquiry. Commission française pour l’enquête Carnegie, sur les examens et concours en France.
Shelfmark: SCF 1086

Author: Commission francaise pour l’enquête Carnegie, sur les examens et concours en France.
Title: La correction des épreuves écrites dans les examens : enquête expérimentale sur le baccalauréat.
Published: Paris : La Maison du livre, c1936.
Shelfmark: SCF 1082

Author: Laugier, Henri, 1888-1973.
Title: Recherches sur la solidarité et l’indépendance des aptitude intellectuelles d’après les notes des examens écrits du baccalauréat / par Henri Laugier et D. Weinberg.
Published: Paris : Imprimerie Chantenay, 1938.
Notes: International institute examinations inquiry. Commission française pour l’enquête Carnegie sur les exmens et concours en France.
Shelfmark: SCF 1085

Author: Bovet, Pierre, 1878-1944.
Title: Les examens de recrues dans l’armée suisse, 1854-1913. enquête internationale sur les examens
Published: Neuchâtel ; Paris : Delachaux & Niestlé s, [1935]
Shelfmark: SD 8917

Author: Hartog, Philip, Sir, 1864-1947.
Title: The marks of examiners : being a comparison of marks allotted to examination scripts by independent examiners and boards of examiners, together with a section on a viva voce examination / by Sir Philip Hartog and E.C. Rhodes ; with a memorandum by Cyril Burt.
Published: London, Eng. : Macmillan, 1936.
Other Authors: International examinations enquiry. English committee.
Shelfmark: SD 8888

Author: Hartog, Philip, Sir, 1864-1947.
Title: A conspectus of examinations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland / by Sir Philip Hartog ; with the assistance of Gladys Roberts.
Published: London : Macmillan and Co., 1937.
At head of title: International Institute Examinations Enquiry.
Shelfmark: SD 8892

Author: Hartog, Philip, Sir, 1864-1947.
Title: An examination of examinations : being a summary of investigations on the comparison of marks allotted to examination scripts by independent examiners and boards of examiners, together with a section on a viva voce examination / by Sir Philip Hartog and E.C. Rhodes.
Published: London : Macmillan and Co., 1936.
Notes: At head of title: International Institute Examinations Enquiry.
Shelfmark: SD 8891

Author: International Institute Examinations Enquiry.
Title: Essays on examinations / by Sir Michael Sadler ... [and others].
Published: London : Macmillan, 1936.
Shelfmark: SD 8893

Title: The school and examination system of Finland with some investigations into the secondary school / by the Finland Examinations Enquiry.
Published: Helsinki : International Institute Examinations Enquiry, 1939.
Notes: International Institute Examinations Enquiry.
Shelfmark: SD 8922

Author: Wigforss, Frits, 1866-
Title: The entrance examination in view of later school performances
Published: Stockholm : P.A. Norstedt & Söners, 1937.
Shelfmark: SD 8920

Author: Orrgard, Stellan.
Title: High school entrance-tests and the work of the primary-school : a Swedish nationwide investigation in 1936
Published: Stockholm : P.A. Norstedt & Söners, 1937
Shelfmark: SD 8921