| Description | Meeting Papers and correspondence for the British Psychological Society BPS Centenary Sub-Committee, and also the Final Report, 2001.
4 January 2001: BPS Centenary Sub-Committee Minutes and papers. Discussion includes—that for the remainder of the year, Steve Newstead would Chair the Centenary Sub-Committee, in his role as Centenary Vice President. Science Museum [from matters arising of meeting notes, November 2000]: that the book ‘Psychology in Britain: Historical Essays and Personal Reflections’ had now been published, and that a mini launch was held at the Society’s London Conference in December [2000]; the exhibition was in the final stages of organisation and the Eysenck case installed; two launch events for the exhibition and the book, on 18 and 19 January; that a publisher still sought for ‘The Human Factor’ [Geoff Bunn's monograph]; that Geoff Bunn’s contract with the Science Museum is being extended for a year, his title will be Associate Curator of Psychology; that Geoff Bunn will write a briefing document about the exhibition, including the Eysenck case and controversial aspects of the exhibition; Webcam link up between Science Museum with celebrations in Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland will go ahead, borrowing a webcam from the Science Museum, ‘on the understanding that all the equipment would be tested by the Museum’s technicians in advance’; Visual Projects: that the National Portrait Gallery exhibition is going ahead; it was noted that the picture of [William] McDougall will not be part of the final exhibition, ‘for aesthetic and academic as well as moral reasons’. It was also noted, ‘that one member of the committee felt some level of unease with this decision as the felt that if applied too rigorously, the moral criteria could exclude most psychologists from early last century, who were working in a very different moral climate from today’; Book of Presidential Lectures: as not progressed further; Sponsorship from Blackwell’s - what it be used for; ALSISS [Association of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences] lecture: Allan Baddeley invited to give a lecture on 17 December 2001; British Academy Lecture: That Vicki Bruce would confirm a date with the British Academy, preferably in November; Centenary Schedule: revised schedule noted; David Clark-Carter’s schedule of Centenary articles in The Psychologist; Film at the Phoenix Theatre: two films have been requested—Regenaration, Memento; Exhibition in Parliament: that the bid had been unsuccessful; Psychology-A Science for Society [January conference]—that 150 people had said they would attend – concern that some would not come; Centenary Banner on Finnieston Crane: that Tommy MacKay was negotiating on price; Presidents from other international societies invited: Roger Woodward, President of the Irish Society accepted; Tuomo Tikkainen of EFPPA had declined; Centenary Gifts: stationary produced; Barry Brooking to produce a Centenary wall shield available to VIPs; Other: that Careers Fair would take place at the SECC [Scottish Event Campus Centre]; Awaiting confirmation from Glasgow City Council for the location of the psychology bus; the slogan for the bus would be the centenary slogan: ‘Bringing Psychology to Society’.
Programme for the conference, ‘Psychology- A Science for Society; 5 January 2001, the Royal Society.
Text by Geoff Bunn on Hans Eysenk and the exhibition at the Science Museum.
Publicity leaflet for the National Portrait Gallery, ‘Portraits in Mind: 100 Years of British Psychology’, 9 May-27 August 2001, advertising the exhibition and the associated lecture series held at the National Portrait Gallery
9 May 2001: BPS Centenary Sub-Committee Minutes and papers. Discussion includes: Birthday Reception—that the Board of Directors be kept fully informed to ensure no-one left out of the invitation list, arrangements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland noted, including specifics of webcams and videoing receptions. That costs for videoing the Science Museum celebration would be obtained. That a representative of the Board of Directors should be at each regional celebration and they should read out a message. The invitation list for the London celebration should include psychologists and non-psychologists, roughly, 100 ‘great and the good’, 100 board and centenary sub-committee nominees; 100 general psychologists—the list include certain specified elements; that Vicki Bruce would informally approach key members of ‘the Establishment’ such as Tessa Blackstone and Bob May. Regarding matters arising from the meeting on the 4th January: That the Science Museum exhibition launch was a success, and psychology trail leaflet noted. That psychology ‘has become a flagship subject at the Science Museum and that the Association of Teachers of Psychology are sending out psychology trail leaflets’. Visual Projects: that the exhibition at the National Gallery had been launched, together with the series of lectures. The committee thanked Halla Belloff for her work. That the Book of Presidential lectures had not made progress, but the addresses needed to be 'properly archived on the Society’s website'. Sponsorship: Blackwell’s sponsorship paid for the banners and screen at the Annual Conference, which were very successful, and it was hoped the banners could be used again at the European Congress and London Conference. ALSISS Lecture: Alan Baddeley had now declined the invitation, Marie Johnston had now been invited and accepted; British Academy lecture: would be given by Annette Karmiloff- Smith on 5 November. That on the Centenary schedule, mention of the Scottish Branch conference be deleted, reference to the webcam be deleted; dates of the European Health Conference on 5-8 September be added; Regarding Film at the Phoenix Theatre: that the two films planned, Regeneration and Memento, had now been scheduled for 5 October and 2 November respectively. Regarding the proposed Exhibition in Parliament: that the society was putting in again for the ballot to hold a small exhibition, that they should aim to put in for the ballot three times in order to be successful, however the ability to do this may be curtailed by the General Election; Psychology—A Science for Society [the day conference on 5 January 2001] had gone well, although in terms of external audience attendance, a little disappointing; Centenary Banner—that it had hung from Finnieston Crane throughout most of the Annual Conference but was taken down on the Friday by order of Glasgow City Council, despite having been given permission for it to be hung. It was agreed the banner had worked well.
Regarding Presidents of international societies, Presidents of the Australian, New Zealand, South African, IUPsyS (past President) and Serbian Societies attended the Annual Conference; Regarding Centenary gifts, the report noted, and thanks from staff for their mugs; Regarding the Careers Fair, 250 people attended the Careers fair and it went well; Centenary Bus was in place during the conference; Centenary President’s thanks were noted to all those organising events so far, and for efforts by volunteers and staff in difficult circumstances; Report on unveiling of commemorative plaque; Request for money received from Wessex and Wight Branch—clarification given that the Sub-Committee offered to co-ordinate dates, not subsidise events. Regarding Public Lectures: Alan Cowey’s lecture at the Royal Society successful; that Tommy MacKay’s public lecture at Annual Conference was successful; Vicki Bruce’s public lecture at the Royal Society of Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh International Science Festival had been successful and a sell-out; That Geoff Bunn and Rory O’Connor would provisionally give lectures at the 2002 Edinburgh Science Festival; That Mike Burton would give a lecture at the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in the New Walk Museum, Leicester; that there would be six public lectures at the National Portrait Gallery; that a letter should be written to the Publications and Communications Board in conjunction with Stephen White requesting that there should be a series of psychology public lectures that go beyond this year, e.g. at the Royal Society. Other business: that the Science Museum had responded to one negative visitor response that the Science Museum Exhibition did not live up to expectations; that the psychology trail leaflet emphasises other psychology in the exhibition, and that the committee hoped the leaflet would be available at the exhibition; that the South West Branch stand at the Royal Cornwall show will now be in September because of food and mouth disease; that the Society might soon have a Parliamentary Officer who could help with any exhibition in Parliament., and may be able to put down an Early Day Motion; Ongoing communication about the birthday reception between relevant parties.
2001: the Centenary Year report: Two bound drafts (one of which has annotations and amendments in Stephen White’s handwriting), one copy that appears to be final, unbound, one copy, final, bound, with page numbers. The report includes a summary of the year’s activity by Stephen Newstead, chair of the centenary sub-committee. Events covered include: Centenary activity list; Reports on activities including: Centenary gifts, Psychology-a science for society conference; ‘Mind your head?’ Science Museum exhibition and ‘Psychology in Britain’ book launch; Alan Cowey’s lecture at the Royal Society-‘Functional localisation of the brain-from ancient to modern’; Annual Conference; Banner; The future Belongs to Psychology-Tommy Mackay’s public lecture; Psychology bus; Commemorative plaque and cake cutting; ‘Any Questions?’, 30 March 2001; Careers fair; ‘Identifying Faces-A psychological investigation,’ Vicki Bruce’s public lecture at the Royal Society of Edinburgh; the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, ‘Portraits in Mind’, Council Reception, European Congress of Psychology, AIDS Impact Conference; Royal Cornwall Show, ‘Face Recognition in the Lab and on the Street’—a lecture in Leicester; Parliamentary Events; Centenary Reception (including Regional Receptions); Centenary ‘Staff’ Reception; Times 2 Supplement; Phoenix Theatre Films; ‘Elementary, my dear Watson, the clue is in the genes… or is it?’—Annette Karmiloff-Smith at the British Academy; Mind Annual Conference; ‘Thought, Action, Health’—Professor Marie Johnston at Local Government House, Smith Square, London; London Lectures; Centenary events at the Science Museum; The Psychologist publication; Journals; Centenary Budget. Appendices include: Centenary Media Releases; Centenary Annual Conference Report; Media Coverage of the Annual Conference; European Congress Press Office Report. |
| 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. |