About us
This catalogue brings together archival collections from the constituent colleges of the University of Roehampton, Whitelands, Southlands, Digby Stuart and Froebel, as well as other collections which form part of the Foyle Special Collections and Archives.
All four colleges have rich and distinctive histories related to women’s teacher training. Founded in 1841 by the Church of England, Whitelands is among the oldest higher education institutions in England. Southlands opened in 1872 as a Methodist training college, while Digby Stuart College was established in 1874 by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Froebel Educational Institute was formed in 1892 based on the progressive educational principles of Friedrich Froebel, who is regarded as the inventor of the Kindergarten.
Having started as independent institutions in the 19th century, the four colleges came together to form the Roehampton Institute for Higher Education in 1975, later becoming the University of Roehampton.
Access
The archives of the individual colleges are housed on different sites of the University of Roehampton, whilst the Foyle Special Collections and Archives also provides access to the Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies.
All can be viewed upon prior appointment. Please confirm access points and arrangements with the respective archivist.
You can find out more about access and the collection content on our Special Collections and Archives pages.
Foyle Special Collections and Archives, including the Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies
Roehampton Lane
London SW15 5SZ
02083923323
Southlands College Archive
Roehampton Lane
London SW15 5SL
Whitelands College Archive
London
SW15 4JD
020883928117
Statement on offensive language
We are committed to the principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in how we describe, interpret, and provide access to our collections. At the same time, we recognise our responsibility to preserve the historical integrity of records. This requires a careful balance between maintaining original context and addressing harmful language.
Archives and historical collections reflect the full complexity of past societies, including attitudes, beliefs, and language that may be offensive, harmful, or discriminatory by contemporary standards. As a result, users may encounter outdated or prejudicial terminology and imagery in both original materials and catalogue descriptions. This content reflects the attitudes of the time in which it was created and does not represent our current views.
We strive to use inclusive, respectful, and accurate language in all new and revised descriptions, in line with current professional standards and community-informed practices. Where harmful language has been introduced in past cataloguing, we work to review and revise it. However, original terms are retained when they form part of the historical record and may be accompanied by content warnings or explanatory notes.
Our catalogue is a living resource. We are committed to continuous improvement and encourage our users to help us identify and address problematic language. Please notify us if you encounter any description which you would like us to review.