| Description | Meeting Papers and correspondence for the British Psychological Society BPS Centenary Working Party (CWP), 1998.
6 January 1998: Invitation to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to attend the Society’s Centenary birthday reception on the 24 October 2001, as Guest of Honour.
29 January 1998: Response from 10 Downing Street that they will be considering the Prime Minister’s 2001 calendar in the autumn of 2000, and that BPS may wish to write again then, however, this does not guarantee securing the Prime Minister’s attendance.
9 March 1998: BPS Centenary Working Party Minutes and papers. Includes discussion of the Science Museum exhibition, that the Society’s Fellow at the museum, Geoff Bunn, started on the 1 February 1998; Development of the book projects, that regarding publication of a selection of Presidential Addresses, Chris Cullen and Ingrid Lunt would meet with Joyce Collins, Manager BPS Books, and afterwards that the CWP would decide on the basis of the proposal. Regarding the edited history of British Psychology, it was agreed an advisory board be formed; in relation to the Visual Archive and Dr Halla Belloff, that criteria for featuring psychologists should be set; Regarding the Centenary schedule: the January 'Milestones' conference [later called ‘Psychology-A Science for Society’] the matter of sponsorship - that Stephen White would prepare a document detailing options for Sponsorship and the CWP should liaise with the SCC Standing Conference Committee; correspondence with the Prime Minister about attending the reception; that the Centenary schedule document should be updated in a way to help sub-systems; that John Groeger would talk to sub-systems about their meeting with SCC at Annual Conference, suggestions of keynote addresses at Annual Conference celebrating famous psychologists; that the CWP might arrange an event for Council and Board members at the time of their May meeting; that the Council had rejected the idea for a centenary fund; however, it was suggested the Society should still try to find some way of making sure a proper archive was established, that sponsorship might be a way of financing this; that the Council had approved a slogan for the centenary, of “Bringing Psychology to Society” [submitted by psychologist and BPS member Michael Davis]; the matter of staffing would be brought to the next Strategic Plan implementation meeting; that the Press Committee will be discussing media activity in connection with the Centenary at the next meeting; that a letter from SAB (Scientific Affairs Board) was noted and Sue Cavill and Alastair Ager would report on plans for the centenary at the next SAB meeting; communication with the North West of England branch regarding exhibitions and potential support for local Centenary Branch activity.
11 March 1998 Report on Sponsorship from Stephen White to CWP.
25 June 1998: BPS Centenary Working Party Minutes and papers: Includes discussion of Centenary Staffing, that the F&GP (Finance & General Purposes Committee) had received recommendations from the CWP; that there had been discussion at F&GP about the election of the Centenary Presidency and how it was elected; Regarding the Science Museum and the edited History of Psychology book, that a committee had been formed including staff from the Science Museum, BPS Science Museum Fellow Geoff Bunn, as well as John Groeger, Sandy Lovie, Steve Newstead, and Graham Richards. The book would have two themes: the history of psychology in general, and personal contributions from eminent psychologists; It was noted that Presidential Addresses had been collated and a book proposal for them sent to BSPG (Books and Special Projects Group); Halla Belloff reported to the meeting: noted there are 300-700 still images in the Society’s visual archive; that the society would have two rooms on the Ground floor of the National Portrait Gallery for the exhibition. She also reported on the progress of an archive of video recordings; Updates on the January 2001 'Milestones' conference- that the SCC will not be involved in this conference; Update on Sponsorship, regarding which events might be sponsored, and agreement that the EFPPA (European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Associations) Congress should not be included in sponsorship bids as it is not a Society-specific event; Notes on the Centenary Schedule-Royal Society of Edinburgh should be invited to organise a 'discussion meeting', a suggestion that all guests at the birthday party should recieve a commemorative certificate; the centenary slogan winner noted; and Centenary Media Activity- Press Committee are looking at specific media activity during centenary year - newspaper editors may be invited to do a 'psychology week'; A report on the SAB (Scientific Affairs Board) meeting-not keen on displays at the Ideal Home Exhibition or the Motor Show; Note on commemorative Royal Mail stamps – that a psychologist/artist Nick Wade would be invited to produce some possible designs; that regarding future operation, the CWP would report directly to the Council; Note on initiation of Centenary Web Pages; Note on 'Psychlab' – that it should be referred to as an 'study' not an 'experiment' and that it should conform to the BPS Code of Practice; A discussion on Psychology and Arts in the Centenary Year, including the possibility of a season of films at the National Film Theatre, and literary lunches at news organisations; Sub-systems organising events the Annual Conference in the Centenary Year; and regional events during the year in Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as England and Scotland.
July-October 1998: Correspondence between the CWP Advisors Stephen White and Sue Cavill with various individuals on: Centenary webpages, the video archive coordinated by Halla Belloff; The nomination/election of the Centenary President; Centenary Sponsorship; NHS Confederation Conference & Exhibition 1-3 July 1998; Public Lectures; the Centenary Schedule; a Broadcast Article Summary for Radio 4’s programme 'All in the Mind' featuring Geoff Bunn on Emotions and the History of Psychology; Psychlab, publicity copy; Centenary Financial planning.
29 October 1998: BPS Centenary Working Party Minutes and papers. Includes discussion of the structure of the committee - three members approved by Council who would serve until the end of the Centenary Year; activity around the Science Museum exhibition including including advertising on London Underground, a 'Black Magic' exhibition around the idea of psychologists helping in chocolate factories, including the development of Rowntree's Black Magic, a Collecting Committee being organised; that the Science Museum fellow (Geoff Bunn) would liaise with the editor of The Psychologist with a view to preparing short historical items for the magazine during the Centenary year; the progress of History of Psychology book. That the British Journal of Psychology Centenary Issue reprint of an article on the first 40 years of the society by Beatrice Edgell (1947) and a series of newly solicited articles; Steve Newstead noted expenditure so far; Presidential Addresses book approved in principle, figures will be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval; Centenary staffing budget; Sponsorship – that, to clarify previous minutes, the EFPPA congress budget was “ring-fenced” and was not being organised by the Centenary Working Party, also that the committee for the EFPPA congress felt it would be unsatisfactory to be competing for sponsorship with other centenary events; that Allan Sakne will remain as a consultant after retirement, with a special remit for the centenary; Designs for stamps were noted; that an advertisement for Psychlab had gone into the October and November issues of The Psychologist, no response as yet; regarding Psychology and the Arts - that John Groeger has contacted the National Film Theatre, that the science editor at The Times is interested in the idea of a literary lunch and also suggested a series of features in The Times; regarding branch activity, a possible exhibition in Northern Ireland was noted.
October-December: Various correspondence of the CWP Advisors Stephen White and Sue Cavill with individuals on Centenary activity, including, 12 November 1998, sample designs for postage stamps.
4 December 1998: BPS Centenary Working Party Minutes and papers. Discussion includes the Structure of the CWP committee, regarding changes to representatives and terms of reference; regarding the Science Museum activity, that a meeting of the Joint Collecting Committee occurred, and possibilities raised for touring the exhibition; that the editors of the multi-author edited History of Psychology are drawing up a formal book proposal in conjunction with BPS books, that Geoff Bunn suggest six key historical psychologists for whom blue plaques for London buildings could be requested. Expenditure noted, that a document would be produced for Council with projected costs, as well as including details of the additional work needed to undertake. Regarding Sponsorship, including the possibility of working with CASIL [Conference Associates and Services International Limited - an external conference firm] to fundraise; regarding Nick Wade’s stamp designs, that they had been submitted to the Royal Mail but not yet received a reply; the Standing Conference Committee’s meeting for sub-systems - it was agreed feedback would be requested about how sub-systems would like to be informed; an article by David Canter was received, and noting he should submit to The Psychologist around the time of the centenary; a response to a request by Michael Davis, not committed to.
8 December 1998: Report to the Board of Directors regarding Budget (Staffing and Sponsorship). |
| AdminHistory | The Psychological Society was founded on 24 October 1901 at University College London. Its aim was 'to advance scientific psychological research, and to further the co-operation of investigators in the various branches of Psychology.' It changed its name to 'The British Psychological Society' in 1906, to avoid confusion with another society.
In August 1991, ten years before the centenary of BPS in 2001, Stephen White [BPS Director of Information], initiated activity among BPS staff to support the celebration centenary.
A working party was founded in August 1991 following a meeting of Stephen White, Allan Sakne [BPS Business Manager], Amanda Briggs [BPS Conference and Events Manager] and David Bird [BPS Assistant Executive Secretary].
The working party was later to be established as a formal Sub-Committee under the Finance & General Purposes Committee in 1996.
This file contains the first notes and correspondence of the Working Party formed in 1991. The activity of the working party appears to have largely dropped until it was picked up again in 1994-1995, when the first official minuted meeting of the working party was held 19 December 1995.
Varied ideas for centenary activity from the committee were generated from the start.
This was supplemented by a call out for ideas to the membership in the September 1995 issue of The Psychologist, ['News, p. 387, The Psychologist, Vol 8 No 9, September 1995, p387] |