Royal Commonwealth Society

{{Short description|Non-governmental organisation}} {{use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox organization |name = Royal Commonwealth Society |image = |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |abbreviation = RCS |founded = {{start date and age|1868}} |extinction = |type = [[Non-governmental organisation]] |status = |purpose = |founding_location = |headquarters = 65 Basinghall Street<br/>[[London]], United Kingdom |location = |region_served = [[Commonwealth of Nations]] |num_members = |language = English |leader_title = Patron |leader_name = [[King Charles III]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalcwsociety.org/post/his-majesty-the-king-announced-as-rcs-patron |title=His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society |publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society |access-date=19 December 2024}}</ref> |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = |num_staff = |num_volunteers = |budget = |website = {{url|royalcwsociety.org}} |remarks = |former_name = Colonial Society (1868–1869)<br/>Royal Colonial Society (1869–1870)<br/>{{nowrap|Royal Colonial Institute (1870–1928)}}<br/>Royal Empire Society (1928–1958) }}

The '''Royal Commonwealth Society''' ('''RCS''')<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100045854 |url-access= |title=Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=12 January 2025 |quote= |trans-quote= }}</ref> is a [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental organisation]] with a [[Mission-based organization|mission]] to promote the value of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and the [[Value (ethics)|value]]s upon which it is based.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=https://www.thercs.org/about-us/our-history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226012746/https://thercs.org/about-us/our-history/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 December 2013 |title=Our history |date=2017 |publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society |access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref> The Society upholds the values of the [[Charter of the Commonwealth|Commonwealth Charter]], promoting [[conflict resolution]], [[peacemaking|peace-making]] and [[Liberal democracy|democracy]] to improve the lives of citizens across the [[Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations|member states of the Commonwealth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thercs.org/support-the-rcs/legacy-giving/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319133520/https://thercs.org/support-the-rcs/legacy-giving/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=19 March 2015 |title=Legacy giving |date=2017 |publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society |access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref>

==History==

===1868–1958===

What is now the Royal Commonwealth Society was founded in 1868 as a non-political, [[Learned society|learned organisation]]. A [[royal charter]] was granted in 1869, and a [[Gentlemen's club|clubhouse]] opened in 1885. The Society's name slowly evolved – from '''The Colonial Society''' (1868–1869), to '''The Royal Colonial Society''' (1869–1870), to '''The Royal Colonial Institute''' (1870–1928), to '''The Royal Empire Society''' (1928–1958). The Royal Commonwealth Society was the name adopted in 1958.<ref name="times">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/beyond-the-league-of-gentlemen/404541.article#survey-answer |title=Beyond the league of gentlemen |date=4 December 2008 |magazine=[[Times Higher Education]] |first=Matthew |last=Reisz|access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref>

The Society may be seen from early on to have been [[Progressivism|progressive]] in its time towards [[Equality and diversity (United Kingdom)|equality and diversity]]. A woman was first invited by The Royal Colonial Institute to read a [[Academic journal|research paper]] in 1894, and The Royal Colonial Institute was one of the first learned organisations to admit women as full [[Fellow]]s, in 1922.<ref name="history"/> The Society's first Asian member was Ji ju Sanjo, son of the Japanese prime minister ([[Sanjo Sanetomi]]), in 1872. The first African member was [[Samuel Bannerman]], of the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]], in 1879.<ref name="review">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ex+libris%3A+the+destruction+of+a+great+commonwealth+treasure-a014249400 |title=Ex libris: the destruction of a great commonwealth treasure |date=1 October 1992 |first=Molly|last=Mortimer|magazine=[[The Contemporary Review]] |access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref>

The identity of the Society was for more than a hundred years bound up with its [[library]]. At a meeting on 26 June 1868, [[Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford|Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue]] recommended "the formation of a colonial library, to which all interested in the welfare of the colonies should have access," an aim affirmed by the Society's first elected chairman, [[William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle|Viscount Bury]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Cambridge University Library: The Great Collections |last=Fox |first=Peter |year=1998 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=0521626471 |page=168}}</ref> The Society's first librarian was appointed in 1869, and the first salaried librarian, Australian-born [[Joseph Sylvester O'Halloran]], in 1885. The person mainly responsible for the Library's remarkable development and international reputation was Evans Lewin, Master Librarian for thirty-six years, 1910–1946.<ref name="review"/>

The Society's first home was above a shirt shop at No. 15 [[Strand, London|The Strand]] in London, where it remained from 1870 until 1885. It was in this modest space that the organisation's Library collection began to be assembled.<ref name="library">{{cite journal |last=Craggs |first=Ruth |date=2008 |title=Situating the imperial archive: the Royal Empire Society Library 1868–1945 |url=https://www.academia.edu/300475 |journal=Journal of Historical Geography |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=48–67 |doi= 10.1016/j.jhg.2007.04.002|access-date=17 October 2017 }}</ref> The Society's Library quickly increased in size and reputation, and the organisation moved in 1885 to 18–21 [[Northumberland Avenue]] in London. The site was completely rebuilt in 1936 to the design of architect Sir [[Herbert Baker]], providing a greatly extended Library.<ref name="library"/> The expanded and renovated premises were formally opened on 12 November 1936 by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King [[George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]]).<ref name="history"/>

[[File:The Second World War 1939 - 1945- the Home Front HU1129.jpg|thumb|London during [[the Blitz]]]]

[[The Blitz]] had a devastating effect on the Society's Northumberland Avenue headquarters and Library. On the night of 16/17 April 1941, the building was struck by a two-ton bomb. Seventy-four people were present at the time; one member was killed and another injured, and two members of staff badly hurt. Fire ignited by the blast and the large quantity of water pumped in to extinguish it meant some unique collections were destroyed; examples, painstakingly assembled over more than seventy years, included: the Library of Overseas Law, the contents of the Newspaper Room, and sections covering the general [[British Empire]], foreign colonies, the [[World War I|First World War]], [[Malta]] and [[Gibraltar]]. The lost collections on the [[German colonial empire]], the [[French colonial empire]], the [[Dutch Empire]], the [[Italian Empire]], and [[Belgian overseas colonies]]{{snd}} mainly in foreign languages and published overseas{{snd}} were unique in the United Kingdom. Numerous early accounts of [[exploration]], voyages and [[travel]] were likewise destroyed. Out of a collection of 260,000, total losses were estimated at 35,000 books and 5,000 pamphlets.<ref name="cambridge">{{cite web |url=https://specialcollections.blog.lib.cam.ac.uk/?p=5147 |title=The Royal Commonwealth Society Library and the Blitz |date=2013 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Library]] |access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> On the night of 10/11 May 1941, the hardest night of the Blitz,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/history-of-the-battle-of-britain/the-blitz-the-hardest-night.aspx |title=The Blitz – The Hardest Night |date=2016 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force Museum London]] |access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> the Northumberland Avenue address was again severely damaged.

The Society persevered, adopting the "[[Business as usual (policy)|business as usual]]" motto characteristic of Britons targeted in the Blitz. The subsequent issue of the Society's journal ''United Empire'', May–June 1941, reported the resumption of activities including its Saturday afternoon dances for members of the Overseas Armed Forces. Determined attempts were made to replace the Library's losses, drawing helpful donations from institutions and individuals, and an award from the [[War Damage Commission]], but many items proved irreplaceable.<ref name="cambridge"/> Full restoration of the Society's Northumberland Avenue headquarters was completed in 1957; the building was officially re-opened by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], and a grand festival organised to celebrate the event. ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' of 14 April 1957 noted that the nose of the 16/17 April 1941 bomb was displayed in a prominent position, reflecting "the true spirit of British sportsmanship".<ref name="cambridge"/>

===1958–present===

"The Royal Commonwealth Society" name was adopted in 1958.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11293377 |title=Royal Empire Society: alteration of name to Royal Commonwealth Society |date=2006 |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|National Archives]] |access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> Enthusiasm may seem to have surrounded the Commonwealth in the 1950s, but political tides began to flow against the Society; for example, [[newsroom]] space was taken for the fledgling [[Voluntary Service Overseas]] (1961–1963), which began life under the wing of the Royal Commonwealth Society.<ref name="review"/>

The Library of the Society, despite the damage caused by the [[Germany|German]] bombing offensive during [[World War II]], grew to over half a million items. The Subject Index to the collection, published in the 1930s, is an invaluable guide to early publications.<ref>Subject Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Empire Society, formerly the Royal Colonial Institute, edited by E. Lewin. 1930–1937. London, UK: The Society. 4 volumes.</ref> ''[[The Contemporary Review]]'' described the collection as "the most comprehensive single source for the history of the world's greatest empire from its 16th century beginnings to its present fifty-nation Commonwealth".<ref name="review"/>

[[Cambridge University Library]] recognised the collection as a "treasure-trove" of information on the Commonwealth and Britain's former colonial territories, comprising over 300,000 printed items, about 800 archival collections (including manuscript diaries, correspondence, pictures, cine films, scrapbooks and newspaper cuttings) and over 120,000 photographs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/royal-commonwealth-society |title=Welcome to the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Library collections |date=2017 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Library]] |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> From 1956 to 1987 the society's librarian was Donald Simpson (1920–2002), who had joined the staff in 1945. He was in advance of other librarians of his time in recognising the importance of photographs and ensured that photographic collections were identified and catalogued. He was the author of ''Dark Companions'' (1975), a book about the indigenous associates of explorers.<ref>''The Guardian'' obituary; 28 October 2002</ref>

From the late 1960s, however, increasing financial problems, combined with severe [[Water damage|flood damage]], led to the conclusion that it was no longer viable for the Society to maintain its Library. Cambridge University Library acquired the Library's collection in 1993. There had been a sign of things to come when a notable chairman of the Library, Sir [[Alan Burns (governor)|Alan Burns]] (who in 1948 had published a study called ''Colour Prejudice'', a groundbreaking contribution to the subject), resigned from his post in protest at the Society's attempt to sell off Library books in order to supplement its income.<ref name="review"/>

[[File:Commonwealth Club 1.JPG|thumb|25 [[Northumberland Avenue]] in London, the Society's headquarters from 1994 until 2013]] Cambridge Library's intervention enabled the Society to clear its debts and, in 1994, to redevelop the grand clubhouse at 18–21 Northumberland Avenue (now [[Citadines]] Trafalgar Square) to the design of architect Linda Morey Smith.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.womanthology.co.uk/linda-morey-smith-founder-managing-director-morey-smith-looking-things-differently-encouraging-women-design-architecture-go-beyond-expected-find-success/ |title=Linda Morey Smith, Principal Director and Founder of MoreySmith |date=8 October 2014 |publisher=Womanthology |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> This building was sold and the Society purchased a former bank building next door at 25 Northumberland Avenue, but with no accommodation.

By 2012, financial pressures again presented a challenge. The Society found it necessary in 2013 to sell its headquarters at 25 Northumberland Avenue, and it moved in 2014 to a new London office on [[Pall Mall, London|Pall Mall]], with a view to focusing on its [[Charitable organization|charitable]] work.<ref name="history"/>

The Royal Commonwealth Society is now the centre of an international [[Business networking|network]] of more than 10,000 members, spread across 100 countries and territories, and linked by around seventy self-governing Society branches and Commonwealth societies, in forty-three countries and territories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110012585 |title=Royal Commonwealth Society. New South Wales Branch records, ca. 1865-ca. 1992 |date=2017 |publisher=[[State Library of New South Wales]] |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> Through its [[education]]al, [[Youth service|youth]] and [[outreach]] programmes, the Society aims to encourage young people to develop skills and, with an increased understanding of their role as [[Global citizenship|global citizen]]s, to engage with challenges facing the international community. It aims to bring alive the principles of the modern Commonwealth{{snd}} [[Toleration|tolerance]], [[Cultural diversity|diversity]], [[Political freedom|freedom]], [[Justice (virtue)|justice]], [[Liberal democracy|democracy]], [[International human rights law|human rights]], and [[sustainable development]]{{snd}} to a generation living in an increasingly interconnected world. Society projects aim to enable young people to engage with their counterparts across the Commonwealth in [[youth leadership]] programmes, and [[creative writing]] and [[Filmmaking|film-making]] projects. Through its charitable programmes and its international network, the Society's remit is to work towards the continued growth and resilience of Commonwealth [[civil society]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thercssa.com.au/our-story.html |title=Our story |date=2017 |publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society; South Australia Branch |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>

The Society is one of three bodies supporting The [[Queen's Commonwealth Canopy]], a project launched in 2015 to preserve and promote forested areas throughout the Commonwealth.<ref name=RT>{{cite news|work=Radio Times|date=16 April 2018|author=Terry Payne|title=How the Queen is putting politicians to shame with her Commonwealth Canopy project|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-04-16/the-queens-green-planet-itv-commonwealth-canopy-project/|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy|url=https://queenscommonwealthcanopy.org/|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref>

The Society's Hong Kong office was opened in 1983 and has existed outside of the Commonwealth realm since 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rcshk.com/about-us/rcs-background/|title=RCS Background {{!}} Royal Commonwealth Society in HK|website=rcshk.com|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref> The Hong Kong branch's cultural<ref>{{Cite news |title=How is the coronation being celebrated around the UK and Commonwealth? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/commonwealth-charles-iii-humza-yousaf-windsor-castle-westminster-abbey-b2332170.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517120458/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/commonwealth-charles-iii-humza-yousaf-windsor-castle-westminster-abbey-b2332170.html |archive-date=2023-05-17 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref> and charitable activities are of sufficient importance that its Chairmen are often recognised with appointment to the Order of the British Empire for their services to the Commonwealth community in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mrs Joan Campbell MBE {{!}} Royal Commonwealth Society in HK |url=https://rcshk.com/mrs-joan-campbell-mbe/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=rcshk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-30 |title=New Year Honours: Covid heroes and NHS key workers recognised by the Queen |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/30/new-year-honours-nhs-staff-and-pandemic-helpers-are-recognised-13826245/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chairman of RCS, HK Branch, Peter Mann, receives his MBE from HRH The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on 8 June 2022 {{!}} Royal Commonwealth Society in HK |url=https://rcshk.com/chairman-of-rcs-hk-branch-peter-mann-receives-his-mbe-from-hrh-the-prince-of-wales-at-windsor-castle-on-8-june-2022/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=rcshk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=rsbradbeer |date=2020-12-31 |title=Local Sai Kung resident awarded MBE in Queen’s New Year Honours |url=https://hongkongbuzz.hk/2020/12/local-sai-kung-resident-awarded-mbe-in-queens-new-year-honours |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=SAI KUNG BUZZ |language=en-GB}}</ref>

There is also a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society in the [[Republic of Ireland]], due to Ireland's history as part of both the British Empire and the Commonwealth until 18 April 1949 when the [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948]] came into effect.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.royalcwsociety.org/}} *[http://www.rcs.ca Royal Commonwealth Society of Canada website] *[http://www.thercssa.com.au/ Royal Commonwealth Society South Australia website] *[http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/rcs Royal Commonwealth Society Collection] in [[Cambridge Digital Library]] *[http://www.ampltd.co.uk/collections_az/EmpComm1/contents-of-reels.aspx Archives of the Royal Commonwealth Society from Cambridge University Library 1] *[http://www.ampltd.co.uk/collections_az/EmpComm2/contents-of-reels.aspx Archives of the Royal Commonwealth Society from Cambridge University Library 2] *[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UU1qv7eAaakRukb75ZdBrEeQ YouTube uploads from the Royal Commonwealth Society] *[http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/rcs_photo_project/history1.html Royal Commonwealth Society photography project website] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7931706.stm BBC News – Royal Commonwealth Society research (60th Anniversary – 2009)] *[http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/103674 1978 speech at the Royal Commonwealth Society ("The Ideals of an Open Society")] by Baroness [[Margaret Thatcher]] *[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/immigration-damian-greens-speech-to-the-royal-commonwealth-society 2010 speech to the Royal Commonwealth Society ("Immigration")] by [[Damian Green]] *[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081228/Plus/sundaytimesplus_09.html Dr Chris Nonis, First Lankan to be elected Deputy Chairman of Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS)]

[[Category:1868 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Charities based in London]] [[Category:Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Cultural organisations based in England]] [[Category:Cultural promotion organizations]] [[Category:Educational charities]] [[Category:Educational charities based in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:International charities]] [[Category:International cultural organizations]] [[Category:International educational charities]] [[Category:Organisations based in London with royal patronage]]