Wartime registers containing the details of students dating back to World War I have been discovered in an unused storeroom at the College of North West London in Willesden.
The nine historic catalogues have the hand-written records of the name and occupation of the student’s father, the career that the student went into after leaving the college and their starting salary.
All the names are of students who went to the college’s predecessor institutions, including Willesden Polytechnic School and Kilburn Polytechnic.
Several of the individual records also contain notes relating to the war, such as those of several dozen students who were unable to complete courses due to evacuation during the Blitz of World War II.
Andy Cole, CNWL principal, said: “At a time when the college is making great plans for the future, it is a fascinating reminder of our past.
“The registers reflect the sacrifices that people had to make to study and show how the college has been a major part of life in the borough for more than100 years.”
The college has donated all nine registers to Brent Archives, which is based in George Furness House, Willesden.
They will be made available to local people and historians researching family information as well as the educational and economic history of the area.
Rosamund King from Brent Archives said: “Traditional documents such as these registers are an invaluable insight into the history of Brent and will prove very useful. “We are extremely grateful to the College for donating them to us.”
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