Petition to Privy Council of the Royal College of Nursing

Papers relating to petitions for and against the Charter;briefing for the Privy Council; extraordinary general meetings.

At the 1926 AGM members voted unanimously to apply for a Royal Charter. A petition was prepared based on the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The preamble of the charter petition stated...the incorporation under (our) Royal Charter of the proposed corporation will be for the public advantage and will tend to the advancement of the science and art of nursing and further to improve the education of nurses in the said science and art.

Council had presented its case stressing the educational programme of the College and its record in this field, namely the establishment of post graduate courses for nurses, participation in the Diploma in Nursing with the University of London, granting scholarships and recognition as a training centre for health visitors.

The original Charter picks up the threads of the memorandum and reforms the work of the College around these main objectives under Article II part B:

a) To promote the science and art of nursing and the better education and training of nurses and their efficiency in the profession of nursing

b) To promote the advance of nursing as a profession in all or any of its branches

c) To assist nurses who by reason of adversity, ill-health or otherwise are in need of assistance of any nature

Unlike the Articles of Association, the charter gave power to grant diplomas as well as certificates. Queen Mary became the first patron of the College and membership was restricted to nurses on the General Part of the State Register. As a chartered society the council could make or obtain loans without sanction of a General Meeting. Members of the council had a personal responsibility if they acted outside the charter.

The draft charter and petition were approved by the membership at an EGM in December 1926. In January 1927 the petition was forwarded to the Privy Council who approved the grant of the Charter on the 13 June 1928. The membership authorised the council to accept the charter at the AGM on 28 June 1928. The charter was granted and sealed by His Majesty George V on 28 July 1928. The final General Meeting of the College of Nursing Ltd was held on 19 June 1929 and the new Royal College took over all its business from then.

[RCN Archives, FB 2012]

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact the RCN Archives in advance of their first visit.

Most recent online Royal College of Nursing Archives Catalogue is available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/library_and_heritage_services.

Royal College of Nursing