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An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond
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An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond

Thu 4 Mar · 14:00

Sherfield Building, South Kensington Campus

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About This Event

An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond will run on 4 March 2027 at the Sherfield Building on the South Kensington Campus. The talk is free to attend and features various speakers discussing the contributions of Alfred and Otto Beit.

The German-Jewish brothers Alfred and Otto Beit rank among the most important donors to Imperial College London, and to several other institutions in Britain and overseas. Yet their fortune was made from diamond and gold mining in South Africa, while their active support for British imperialism has raised questions over their eponymous presence in university halls, libraries and fellowships to this day. This illustrated presentation will trace the involvement of the Beit brothers and other German Jews with British imperialism, asking why academia has largely remained silent on the issue until recent years. It will examine the motivations and the meaning behind their cultural patronage and philanthropic giving, in the postcolonial context and in their own time. John Hilary is an honorary professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham. His most recent book, Magnates and Masterpieces: The German-Jewish Collectors of Edwardian Britain, was published by Yale University Press in November 2025.

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Frequently asked questions

An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond takes place on Thursday, 4 March 2027 at 14:00.

An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond is held at Sherfield Building, South Kensington Campus in London (ASL S303A, (Access via Sherfield Level 3), Sherfield Building, SW7 2AZ).

Entry to An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond is free.

Yes — hotels within walking distance of Sherfield Building, South Kensington Campus can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.

Tickets for An Imperial Legacy: The Beit Contribution to Higher Education in Britain, and Beyond can be booked via imperial.ac.uk using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

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