Back in 1956, before the Trust began, the Architectural Review - the pre-eminent achitectural journal at the time - dedicated a major article to the preservation of the Oxford college barges, noting that their history was undocumented and that their architectural quality had never previously been recognised.
Several of the supporters of the Trust were or had been involved with the Architectural Review, including Sir Hugh Casson, Sir Osbert Lancaster and Sir John Betjeman, all to be seen on a list of trustees and sponsors on this 1980s fundraising pamphlet.
Point of interest: Sir Osbert Lancaster was commissioned to do a series of panels for The Randolph Hotel, including two depictions of the barges. They are still to be found there today, despite the change of owner (and decor!)