The Master and Fellows together form the corporate body of the College. The Master is the head of the College and its administrative governor. He/She is an ex officio member of all College committees and is responsible for the general supervision of the College and enforcement of its laws. He/She also represents the College in its dealings with the University and other external bodies.
The Master's office, also served as the Registrary's office until 1996. A number of files reflect this dual function, particularly the personnel files for fellows and the general administrative files.
(See J. Venn et al., Gonville and Caius College Biographical History, 8 volumes (Cambridge, 1898 - 1998) and C. N. L. Brooke, A History of Gonville and Caius College (Boydell Press, 1996) for lists of the Masters of the College and histories of individual masterships)