| Description | Mainly records relating to the administration of estates, presumably transferred to the Aberdeen Endowments Trust in 1909 when it took over the College's endowments under the terms of the 1909 order.
AET/RGC/1 Clerk's out Letter Books, 1904 - 1910
AET/RGC/2 Cartularies, 1777 - 1919
AET/RGC/3 Feus Book, c. 1900s
AET/RGC/4 Governance records: minute book relating to Ministers' representation on the College's/AET's board, and copy of 1881 provisional order
AET/RGC/5 News Cuttings, 1906 - 1908
AET/RGC/6 Papers relating to the 1909 Provisional Order
AET/RGC/7 Miscellaneous items
Additional material relating to Robert Gordon's administration of the estates of Barrack and Crichie (AET/5/2), Dumbreck and Orchardtown (AET/5/3), Haremoss (AET/5/5) and Towie Barclay (AET/5/8) are in the estates sub fonds. Records relating to the bursaries and foundations at the College are in series AET/6/1 and AET/6/2. |
| Administrative History | Aberdeen merchant Robert Gordon (1668 - 1731) left his fortune to establish a Hospital for the accommodation and education of boys. The 'Auld Hoose', on Schoolhill, was completed in 1732 with the Hospital first opening for pupils in 1750. In 1881, the Hospital was reconstituted as a day school under the name of ‘Robert Gordon’s College’.
Following proposals that the College establish a technical college in Aberdeen in 1905, discussions commenced between the College's governors, the Aberdeen Educational Trust, the Aberdeen School Board and the Town Council. A draft Provisional Order reforming the administration of Robert Gordon's College and the Aberdeen Educational Trust, and incorporate technical education into the College's work, was published in April 1909. An inquiry chaired by Lord Belhaven following that August to finalise arrangements for the adminstration of a new Technical College, cumulating in the Robert Gordon's Technical College and Aberdeen Endowments Trust Order Confirmation Act 1909.
The order came into effect on the 1 January 1910, and set up a new Robert Gordon's Technical College, governed by a board of 30 Governors. Robert Gordon's retained the buildings of the Robert Gordon's College and Gray's School of Art, the feu duties of College properties in Schoolhill, Blackfriars Street and Woolmanhill, and land and property in Blackfriars Street, but the new Aberdeen Endowments Trust inherited the properties and functions of the Educational Trust, Robert Gordon's Trust and all other property, funds and estates belonging to Robert Gordon's College (i.e. the estates of Barrack and Crichie, Dumbreck and Orchardtown and Towie Barclay). The AET were also responsible for providing foundation's and bursaries at the College.
The relationship between the College and the AET was further amended in 1923 and 1934. In 1982 Robert Gordon's College and Robert Gordon's Technical College (by then Robert Gordon's Technical Institute) were separated, and the latter was granted university status in 1992, becoming Robert Gordon's University. |