Anniversary Appeal Committee

The Senate appointed a committee to consider the question of making an appeal to graduates and friends of the University on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary in 1927. That committee met on 1 December 1926 (in attendance , The Vice-Chancellor, Judge Backhouse, Prof Sir Henry Barraclough, Dr Bradfield, Dr Constance D'Arcy Mr EM Mitchell and Prof JB Paren). It was resolved that Senate appoint a committee to “consider the drawing up of the appeal as well as the other steps that must be taken in the organisation and launching of the movement”.

The following appointed to the committee on 13 December 1926 were The Chancellor, the Deputy Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor; Judge Backhouse, Mr EM Mitchell, Mr AM Eedy, Mr CB Fletcher, Prof Sir Henry Barraclough, Prof JB Peden, Mr J Nangle, Dr C D'arcy and Prof Woodhouse. The committee was to raise funding for the University through publicity and to oversee the appeal and ensure that it was conducted correctly. The money was required to clear a deficit of 8000 pounds amassed by the University, also to meet urgent capital expenditure of a non-recurring nature and to provide an endowment to increase revenue for general expenditure. The appeal was to reach all elements of society, but particularly business and the appeals were made via personal influence, public meetings, press statements, exhibitions and a short film.

There are four meetings of the 75th Anniversary Appeal Committee appointed by Senate. These meetings were held on: 18 March 1927 (reported in Senate Minutes 4 April 1927), 28 April 1927 (reported in Senate Minutes 2 May 1927), Third report with no date (reported in Senate Minutes 13 June 1927)and, 1 July 1927 (reported in Senate Minutes 4 July 1927).

The Vice-Chancellor reports in the 1 July 1927 Committee meeting that his experience over the past few weeks convinced him that that it was impossible for him, as well as the Registrar to give the organising secretary for the 75th Anniversary Appeal all the assistance that Mr Campbell should have, and in his opinion it was necessary that a Director, who would consult the Vice-Chancellor and take over responsibility and detail work of the public appeal should be appointed by Senate. The Committee unanimously resolved to the Senate that Professor ER Holme be appointed Director of the 75th Anniversary Appeal. The Executive Committee is first mentioned in the Senate Minutes 8 August 1927 following its first meeting 15 July 1927, and is made up of the Vice-Chancellor; Sir Mungo MacCallum and various members of the University staff and supporters of the University.