Kelvin Grove Forty Years: 1942-1981: from Teachers' College to C.A.E. - A short history of transition

This is a brief history of an institution which, during its life of forty years, went through a remarkable range of titles - • 1942 Teachers' Training College (or sometimes Queensland Teachers' Training College); • 1944 Senior Teachers' Training College; • 1950 Queensland Teachers' College; • 1961 Kelvin Grove Teachers College; • 1974 Kelvin Grove College of Teacher Education; • 1976 Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education; • Its seventh form arrives at the beginning of 1982 when it becomes the Kelvin Grove Campus of Brisbane College of Advanced Education. As a record of its life as a separate institution, the retiring Council of Kelvin Grove C.A. E. commissioned this history. It does not pretend to be a scholarly dissertation. There is not a single footnote, there are only a few quotations, and there are only two appendices. It is hoped that its relatively simple structure will find favour with readers of many kinds, and that some of the trials, hopes, and achievements of Kelvin Grove C.A.E. will survive the absorption of the College into a larger institution.

In writing this history, I have kept in mind questions, the answers to which seem historically important. Some of these are - • What functions was the College expected to carry out? • What facilities were available to carry them out? • What people combined in pursuit of the functions - what kind of student body, what kind of staff, and what changes in either? • Who, if anyone, should be noted for particular mention?

Clearly, it would be impossible to take each question and try to answer it before going on to another; the interrelations are at least as important as the individual questions. At times, therefore, some search may be needed, but I hope it will not be prolonged.

This work had to be done quickly, which meant that I was obliged to call on many people for help. This was always given freely and with good humour, as were the services I had to seek. It is impossible to do more here than thank people as groups - as the Army says, no names, no pack drill! Thanks are therefore extended to - • the Editorial Committee which offered much valuable advice and criticism at our meetings; • very many staff members of the College, past and present, whom I bombarded with questions.in and out of season; • the Historical Section of the Education Department; • the State Archives; • the Oxley Library; • Queensland Newspapers for permission to print pictures from their files; • and finally, my wife for proof-reading, criticism, and encouragement during what has been an intensely interesting but also quite exacting task.

I am most grateful for all the help, encouragement, and advice I have received, which have contributed greatly to what is good in this history. For what is less good, I must accept the blame.

Norman Anderson December 1981.