Catalogue description Records of the Science and Art Department and predecessors

In 1852, the Department of Practical Art was formed under the Board of Trade. Prior to this, government encouragement of science and art had begun with the establishment of a central School of Design in 1837, under the superintendence of the Board of Trade. In 1841 steps were taken to assist the formation and maintenance of schools of design in manufacturing districts. At first the organisation was controlled on behalf to the Board by a council of royal academicians and others, but in 1852 this was abolished and the Department of Practical Art substituted for it.

In 1853 the Department was enlarged to embrace both science and art and a Science Division was added. The Department's title was changed to the Department of Science and Art. On 1 April of the same year, the Geological Survey and Museum were transferred to the Department from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. The Department was also united with the Government School of Mines and Science, the Museum of Practical Geology, the Museum of Irish Industry, and the Royal Dublin Society.

In 1856 the Science and Art Department was transferred from the Board of Trade to the Education Department. It continued to lead a distinct existence in separate buildings and with a different constitution. It was headed by the Lord President of the Council and the salaried vice-president of the Education Department assisted by a committee of executive officers and the Permanent Secretary of the Education Department. In 1884 a separate secretary to the Science and Art Department was appointed. Full integration only took place with the establishment of the Board of Education in 1899, when the functions of the Science and Art Department for the most part passed to the Technical Branch and the South Kensington museums.

In addition to administering grant aid in respect of art schools, schools of design and technical institutions, the Department was responsible for the administration of the Royal College of Art and the Royal College of Science (later successively the Imperial College of Science and the Imperial College of Science and Technology, and, since 1900, a part of the University of London), the Royal School of Mines, the South Kensington, Bethnal Green and Geological Museums, the Geological Survey and the Solar Physics Committee as well as various scholarships established for scientific and technical education. The Department retained its responsibilities in Scotland until 1897 and in Ireland until 1900.