Among the many gems in the school’s archives are records of student groups. One of the oldest sets of records is from the St Paul’s School Union, founded in 1853. The Union was a student-led debating society that met weekly to discuss big ideas and record their debates (as well as matters of internal governance, both petty and weighty) in exquisite detail. Their minutes are a treasure trove for scholars interested in how Paulines interacted with one another and how they thought about a broad array of issues. A group of student researchers from the Archive Society meets weekly to unpack the stories.
The Archive Society was formed by Teacher of History, Charles Irons in 2023. The society gives students the chance to handle archival material, engage with the school’s past and learn how historians study primary sources.
Find out more about other St Paul’s Talks and Masterclasses here.