Papers of David Medd (1917-2009) and Mary Medd (1907-2005)

This material is held atInstitute of Education Library and Archives, University College London

Scope and Content

Extensive collection relating to educational architecture and interior design including project files; architectural plans and drawings; published and unpublished papers; models of classroom furniture; photographs and slides; reports, pamphlets and publications; press cuttings; and lecture notes.

Administrative / Biographical History

David Medd OBE (1917-2009) studied with the Architectural Association and qualified as an architect in 1941. He worked for Hertfordshire County Council Architect's Department from 1946 to 1949 and then went to work for the newly formed Architects and Building Branch of the Ministry of Education. In 1949 he married the architect Mary Crowley (1907-2005), with whom he worked in both Hertfordshire and at the Ministry. They were responsible for designing some notable educational buildings and for furniture and equipment design, and were influential in shaping the philosophy of the Architects and Building Branch at the Ministry. Both held strong views on child-centred learning. David and Mary Medd lectured and wrote numerous articles on architecture and educational buildings. They also travelled widely, undertaking consultancy work abroad and reporting on school buildings in many different countries.

Access Information

Open

Open, subject to signature of Reader Application Form. Notice will be needed for access.

Acquisition Information

The bulk of these papers were transferred from the National Primary Education Archive at Bishop Grossteste College, Lincoln in June 1998.

Further deposits have been received from Mr. Medd, 2000-2008.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Material held on digital storage media have been removed from the body of the collection and placed in the Digital Physical Media Storage Area (Jessica Womack, March 2014)

Conditions Governing Use

A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission

from the Archivist or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.

Custodial History

The bulk of this collection was given to the National Primary Education Archive at Bishop Grossteste College, Lincoln by David Medd over a period of years.

NPEA Accession Nos.92/9; 92/10; 93/2; 93/6; 93/7; 93/14; 94/1; 94/3; 94/5; 94/6; 94/7; 94/8; 94/9; 94/10; 94/11; 94/12; 94/13; 94/14; 94/18; 94/20; 95/5;

95/6; 95/8; 95/10; 95/11; 95/12; 96/1; 96/2; 96/3; 96/5; 96/8; 96/11; 96/12; 96/13; 96/16; 96/17; 96/18; 96/19; 96/20; 97/5; 97/8; 97/9; 97/10; 98/1; 98/2.

Related Material

See also MA and ABB.

The library holds the following item:

Principles of primary school design : towards a common vocabulary of practice [electronic resource] :six short stories on film / directed by Audrey Destandau;

photography and edit by Jun Keung Cheung

Publication info:

[London] : SCABAL, 2010

Physical descrip:

1 DVD (42 min.) : sd., col. + book