Proposed University College for Sussex Committee, 1911-1934; Brighton and Sussex Students' Library and Educational Foundation, 1934-1960

In December 1911 the Mayor of Brighton convened a public meeting which launched a committee to carry forward the proposal to establish a college of university rank in the County of Sussex. In the following year the committee submitted a memorandum to the Royal Commission on the University of London - into which it was proposed that the Sussex college should be incorporated. The Royal Commission recommended in April 1913 that the area for the recognition of Schools of the University of London should include the County of Sussex. The committee thereupon appealed for funds. By the outbreak of the First World War, only 2800 had been received of 8000 promised towards the estimated required endowment of 50,000.

In 1921 the 1911-13 proposal was acknowledged to be no longer viable, and some of the funds collected were put towards an annual public lecture (the first in 1924). In 1925, nevertheless, fundraising resumed, but with little success, and in 1934 the remaining funds were vested in trustees of The Brighton and Sussex Students' Library and Educational Foundation, of which the objects were to form a library for the use of local students (which was housed in Brighton Technical College) and to promote lectures and research work.

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