Records of the Vernacular Architecture Group

Scope and Content

Administrative papers of the VAG including: rules 1955-2005; President’s file 1969-198;, committee minutes 1958-2010; annual general meeting minutes and papers 1952-2009; annual accounts 1969-1977; account book 1970-1978, reports to the committee 1971-1985; membership lists, 1953-2009; correspondence 1965-2011; papers and photographs relating to the Group’s annual conference 1958-62, 1974-1979, 2004; material relating to VAG publications including circulars 1953-1981, offprint and manuscript library lists, 1967-2008, correspondence concerning the Cruck catalogue, 1969-1991, correspondence concerning the Bibliography of Vernacular Architecture, the Vernacular Architecture Journal, and Period Home Journal 1963-1991; photograph and digital field guide relating to the VAG tour of North America Sept 2004; material concerning related organisations including papers and correspondence of the Manchester Vernacular Architecture Research Group 1965-1974, newsletter of the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Vernacular Buildings Study Group 1974, correspondence concerning the Historic Farm Buildings Group 1984-1984, newsletter of the Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group 2006.
Additional deposits not yet added to catalogue
Accession 2021/117: VAG Spring Conference handbooks, 1970, 2003-2017; copy of Report on Vernacular Architecture Group Tour of North America, 2004
Accession 2021/116: Papers of member Victoria Houghton, comprising VAG Spring Conference notes, supplemented with additional photographs, postcards, annotations and related papers, 1975-2012; and guidebooks, papers and photographs from VAG study trips in the UK and abroad, 1980s-1990s

Administrative / Biographical History

The Vernacular Architecture Group was formed in 1952 to further the study of traditional buildings, originally those of the British Isles but more recently from around the world. The Group’s inaugural meeting was held in London in 1954 and membership is by annual subscription.
In 1971 the Group began publishing an annual journal, ‘Vernacular Architecture,’ and in 1972 they published their first 'Bibliography on Vernacular Architecture' edited by Sir Robert de Zouche Hall, founding Secretary of the Group and President from 1972-1973.
Today the Group holds annual Spring and Winter conferences and continues to publish ‘Vernacular Architecture’ and to periodically update its Bibliography with volume 6 expected in 2015.

Access Information

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

Acquisition Information

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute by the Vernacular Architecture Group in 1989. Further additions were made to the archive in 1990, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2017.

Note

The Vernacular Architecture Group was formed in 1952 to further the study of traditional buildings, originally those of the British Isles but more recently from around the world. The Group’s inaugural meeting was held in London in 1954 and membership is by annual subscription.
In 1971 the Group began publishing an annual journal, ‘Vernacular Architecture,’ and in 1972 they published their first 'Bibliography on Vernacular Architecture' edited by Sir Robert de Zouche Hall, founding Secretary of the Group and President from 1972-1973.
Today the Group holds annual Spring and Winter conferences and continues to publish ‘Vernacular Architecture’ and to periodically update its Bibliography with volume 6 expected in 2015.

Other Finding Aids

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This includes all material received up to and including 2006.

Archivist's Note

Created by S. A. Shearn, 07.05.15. Revised and updated to incorporate the 2017 accession on 11.09.2017. Scope and content and extent and medium revised to update accessions 2021/116 and2021/117 on 25.06.2021.

Conditions Governing Use

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

Additional Information

Published

GB 193