SOURCES IN BRITISH POLITICAL HISTORY 1900-1951 Volume 4
Also by Chris Cook The Age of Alignment: Electoral Politics in Britain, 1922-29 A Short History of the Liberal Party, 1900-76 By-Elections in British Politics (ed. with John Ramsden) European Political Facts, 1918-73 (with John Paxton) The Politics of Reappraisal, 1918-39 (ed. with Gillian Peele) English Historical Facts, 1485-1603 (with Kenneth Powell) The Decade of Disillusion (ed. with David McKie) British Historical Facts, 1830-1900 (with Brendan Keith) Atlas of Modern British History (with John Stevenson) European Political Facts, 1848-1918 (with John Paxton) British Historical Facts, 1760-1830 (with John Stevenson) The Slump: Society and Politics during the Depression (with John Stevensor Sources in British Political History, 1900-1951, Volumes I and 2
Sources in British Political History 1900-1951 compiled for the British Library of Political and Economic Science by CHRIS COOK with Philip Jones Josephine Sinclair Jeffrey Weeks Volume 4 A Guide to the Private Papers of Members of Parliament: L-Z
British Library of Political and Economic Science 1977 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1977 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission First published 1977 by THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD London and Basingstoke Associated companies in New York Dublin Melbourne Johannesburg and Madras ISBN 978-1-349-15764-8 ISBN 978-1-349-15762-4 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-15762-4
Contents Foreword vii Acknowledgements ix Members of the Political Archives Investigation Committee x Introduction xi A Guide to the Private Papers of Members of Parliament: L-Z Appendix I A note on archives relating to Ireland 260 Appendix II Postal addresses of libraries and record offices cited in the text 268
Foreword This is the fourth in the series of volumes reporting the results of a survey of twentieth-century British political archives. It has been undertaken by the British Library of Political and Economic Science with the support of the Social Science Research Council. The project originated from a meeting of archivists, historians and librarians, held in October 1967 on the initiative of Nuffield College, Oxford, which appointed a Political Archives Investigation Committee (whose membership is listed on p. x) to explore the possibility of making a major effort to locate and list modern British political manuscripts and encourage their preservation. With the assistance of a grant from the Social Science Research Council a two-year pilot project, directed by Dr Cameron Hazlehurst, was begun at Nuffield College in 1968, with the object of locating the papers of Cabinet Ministers who held office between 1900 and 1951. The same Committee acted as a steering committee for the project. This enquiry was an undoubted success; and Dr Hazlehurst's guide to the papers of Cabinet Ministers was published in 1974 1 In view of the favourable outcome of the pilot project, the Committee had.no hesitation in recommending that a more comprehensive survey should be undertaken; and particularly bearing in mind the bibliographical facilities and geographical convenience of London, as well as the number of scholars active in relevant fields working in the London School of Economics, it proposed that this phase of the investigation should be carried out under the auspices of the British Library of Political and Economic Science. A generous grant was accordingly made to that Library by the Social Science Research Council; and on I October 1970 a research team directed by Dr C. P. Cook began work on a six-year project intended to locate the papers of all persons and organisations influential in British politics between 1900 and 1951, encourage their preservation, and publish guides. The records of political parties, societies, institutions and pressure groups were described in the first volume in this series. The second volume was concerned with the private papers of senior public servants, diplomats and military personnet.3 The third and fourth volumes have been devoted to reporting the findings of the comprehensive search that was made for the papers of all Members of the House of Commons:4 The fifth volume will deal with the papers of selected writers, intellectuals and propagandists. 5 D. A. Clarke British Library of Political and Economic Science 1 C. Hazlehurst and C. Woodland, A Guide to the Papers of British Cabinet Ministers, 1900-1951 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1974). 2 C. Cook (and others), Sources in British Political History, 1900-1951, Vol. I: A Guide to the Archives of Selected Organisations and Societies (London: Macmillan, 1975). 3 C. Cook (and others), Sources in British Political History, 1900-1951, Vol. 2: A Guide to the Private Papers of Selected Public Servants (London: Macmillan, 1975). 4 For the first part of this survey, see C. Cook (and others), Sources in British Political History, 1900-1951, Vol. 3: A Guide to the Private Papers of Members of Parliament: A-K. 5 C. Cook and J. Weeks, Sources in British Political History, 1900-195/, Vol. 5: A Guide to the Private Papers of Selected Writers, Intellectuals and Propagandists.
Acknowledgements This book, like its three predecessors, could not have been compiled without a large grant from the Social Science Research Council and the help and guidance of Derek Clarke, the Librarian of the British Library of Political and Economic Science. It would be impossible to thank by name all the people without whose help thi-. volume either would not have appeared or would have looked very different. I am. however, indebted to the following: Maurice Bond, M.Y.O. O.B.E., Clerk of the Records at the House of Lords; D. S. Porter of the Bodleian Library, Oxford: Christine Kennedy of Nuffield College, Oxford; A. E. B. Owen of Cambridge University Library: Daniel Waley, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Library: J. K. Bates, Secretary of the National Register of Archives (Scotland): J. S. Ritchie at the National Library of Scotland; Sir John Ainsworth, Bt, at the National Library of Ireland; an d G. M. Griffiths at the National Library of Wales. The Keeper and the staff at the Public Record Office, and their colleagues at the Northern Ireland Public Record Office, have given gent~rously of their time. A variety of related projects have been involved in work closely associated with our own. Particular thanks are due to Michael Rush of the University of Exeter; Joyce Bellamy and Professor John Saville at the University of Hull (whose Dictionary of Labour Biography has been of invaluable assistance); lain MacDougall, Secretary of the Scottish Society for the Study of Labour History, and Hywel Francis of the South Wales Miners. Library, University College, Swansea. Many repositories, though not primarily interested in collecting the papers of Members of Parliament, have material of relevance. Particular thanks are due to the staffs of the Bodleian Library, Rhodes House Library, the House of Lords Record Office, the Imperial War Museum, the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, Churchill College, Cambridge, the India Office Library, the Middle East Centre, St Antony's College, Oxford, Cambridge University Library and the University of Warwick. The compilation of any biographical register of M.Ps and Ministers relies heavily on the existing reference publications of Fred Craig and David Butler. The staff at Transport House, Conservative Central Office and Liberal headquarters also cooperated in the survey. The archivists of local record offices, many company archivists and a host of local reference librarians must also be warmly thanked. I have relied heavily on suggestions, advice and information supplied by colleagues and friends, both at the London School of Economics and elsewhere. I should like to thank especially David Bebbington, David Bovey, Stephen Brooks. Susan Bruley, Philip Bull, Martin Ceadel, Janet Druker, Chris Howard, George Jones. Stephen Koss. Jan Nish, John Ramsden, Angela Raspin, David Rolf, Martin Sieff, Richard Storey, Paul Sturges and Philip Woods. I have also received much help and advice from members of the steering committee, both past and present. In addition, Dr Davis and the staff of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, whose work is so closely associated with our own, have been of continuous assistance. The pioneering work done by Cameron Hazlehurst and Christine Woodland has also helped in the production of this book. Last, but by no means least, the compilation of this book has been a team effort, and my very warm thanks are due to my colleagues and co-authors, Philip Jones, Josephine Sinclair and Jeffrey Weeks. Most of the typing for the survey was done with unfailing energy and kindness by Eileen Pattison, with additional secretarial help from Jean Ali. CHRIS COOK
Members of the Political Archives Investigation Committee Mr John Brooke, formerly Historical Manuscripts Commission ( 196 7 - ) (Chairman, 1972 - ) Mr D. A. Clarke, British Library of Political and Econom1c Science ( 196 7 - ) Dr C. P. Cook, Historical Manuscripts Commission ( 1970-) MrMartin Gilbert, Merton College, Oxford (1967-70) Dr R. M. Hartwell, Nuffield College, Oxford (Chairman, 1967-72) Dr Cameron Hazlehurst, Nuffield College, Oxford ( 1967-70) Professor A. Marwick, The Open University ( 1972-) Dr H. M. Pelling, StJohn's College, Cambridge ( 196 7-) Dr John Roberts, Merton College, Oxford ( 1973-) Mrs Felicity Strong, formerly Historical Manuscripts Commission ( 1967-) Mr A. J. P. Taylor, Magdalen College, Oxford ( 1972-) Professor D. C. Watt, London Sc-hool of Economics and Political Science (1967-) Mr Jeffrey Weeks, British Library of Political and Economic Science ( 1975-) Dr Edwin Welch, Churchill College, Cambridge ( 196 7-71)
Introduction I. Scope of the Survey This volume (like the third volume in the series) is concerned with the surviving private papers of all Members of Parliament from the General Election of September 1900 to the fall of the Attlee Government in the election of October 1951. The two books have attempted to include every M.P. elected during this period, together with every holder of a ministerial appointment. The survey, however, did not attempt to trace the papers of every member of the House of Lords, only of those who had held ministerial office.1 However, all elected M.P.s (including the Sinn Fein members returned in 1918) have been incl4ded to provide within two volumes the only comprehensive biographical list of M.P.s which currently exists for the period 1900 to 1951. 2. The Reports The reports which appear in the following pages are necessarily very brief. Biographical details are restricted to a concise note detailing the person's party affiliation, the constituency for which he sat and any ministerial office held. Where appropriate, important aspects of a person's career have been briefly noted if these are of particular relevance, but in every case researchers are urged to use entries in this Guide in conjunction with the appropriate entries in Who's Who, Who Was Who and the Dictionury of Nutionul Biogruphy. These reports attempt only to describe briefly the extent and nature of those collections of private papers which have survived. Where it has been found that no private papers exist, this information has been included. Reference has not usually been made to published biographies, memoirs or other such works. In addition, whilst reference has often been made to the relevant papers of an individual to be found in another collection, such cross-referencing could only be done for a selection of the most important collections. Researchers are again most strongly urged to consult the Personal Index at the National Register of Archives. This computer printout, which is up-dated annually, may also be consulted at the British Library, the Bodleian Library and Cambridge University Library. In many instances, the reader will note that entries in this volume have no accompanying text describing surviving papers. This normally means that, despite attempts to trace a surviving member of the family (or indeed a solicitor still in touch with the family), no names of possible contacts could be established. In virtually every case (as is outlined below), the will and act of probate of the person concerned was consulted, but with no success in the search for a surviving relative. However. researchers willing to undertake the arduous task of tracing a widow's will (or the will of the major beneficiary) might well succeed in eliciting a contact. With only limited reserves of time and manpower. the survey could obviously not go to these lengths. except for a very few of the more important members. 3. Reseurch Procedure Volumes 3 and 4 have attempted to describe the surviving papers of some 3800 individuals. Many of these M.P.s were often at Westminster for only one parliament; some. indeed, sat for
even less time. Especially after such landslide elections as 1906, 1918, 1931 and 1945, an individual M.P. lost his seat in the succeeding election and rapidly disappeared from public life. To attempt to trace the relatives and descendants of so many individuals of such varied backgrounds has been an Herculean task. The research procedure adopted involved, in the first instance, the collation of information on record at the National Register of Archives and at a number of repositories in this country, the United States and the Commonwealth. For persons whose papers were not known to be deposited, reference was made to the standard reference works, such as Who Was Who, Kelly's Handbook and Burke's Peerage. More specialist publications, such as the Dictionary of Labour Biography (compiled by Joyce Bellamy and John Saville) and the various yearbooks produced by the political parties, were extensively consulted. There has been close liaison with research projects in related fields: particular mention must be made of the survey of Scottish Labour records.2 Where possible, as a result of this research, a letter of inquiry was sent to a surviving relative or a close contact. Over 2000 such letters were despatched. In addition, several hundred more letters were sent out as a result of visits made to the Principal Probate Registry at Somerset House to consult wills and probate acts. In many cases, this enabled contacts to be made with the surviving family, executor or solicitors. Lack of time and resources meant that a second visit to Somerset House to search for further contacts was not possible in most cases. Despite these efforts, there are still many M.P.s included in this volume for whom the survey had no knowledge of whether any private papers were extant. In these cases, as explained earlier, no text appears below the entry for the individual M.P. In the case of M.P.s still alive, and indeed in some cases still active in politics, the absence of any text indicates that, failing any definite information, any surviving papers are presumed to be still with the individual concerned. No comprehensive attempt was made in this survey to trace the surviving papers of former Irish Nationalist members, whilst virtually no effort was made to trace papers of former Sinn Fein or Republican members still in private hands. However, much effort was devoted to finding details of the collections of such papers in the National Library of Ireland, or in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. These details are included in the text. In addition, an appendix on Irish archives (see pp. 260-267) summarises the most useful sources for students working in this area and explains certain of the complexities of the Irish archive scene. The symbol after each Irish entry refers the user to this appendix. For those persons in this volume who held ministerial office, any personal collections of papers surviving at the Public Record Office (i.e. the Private Office series of papers) have where possible been included in this guide. In addition, Private Office collections still retained by the relevant government department are also described. It must be remembered, however, that certain Private Office series at the Public Record Office are not arranged by person, for example, the Ministry of Education series (Ed. 24 and Ed. 136) and Ministry of Labour and National Service series (Lab. 25 ). Finally, it cannot be emphasised too strongly that, although this volume has attempted (with the exceptions mentioned) a thorough and comprehensive search for papers, it is utterly unavoidable that considerable omissions still remain. For any number of reasons it may not be possible to include details of papers of certain figures who should be included. It may be impossible to trace a family; an address may change; illness or incapacity may prevent a reply to an inquiry: papers may be in store and details thus not available. In such circumstances, omissions are inevitable. Equally, the information presented here may change; papers may be lost, destroyed. found or deposited. In particular, the addresses of custodians of papers will frequently change. For this reason, where the address of a person mentioned in the text can be obtained from the current Who's Who or similar sources, constantly up-dated. it is not cited in the text. For all these instances, the editors of this book merely ask that, if scholars obtain additional information to that included here. they would inform them so that this information may be added to the project's findings.
4. Availability of Papers The mention of the existence of private papers in this volume in no way implies that these collections are necessarily available for research. Where papers are known to be closed to scholars, an attempt has been made to incorporate this information. For all collections in libraries and record offices, a preliminary letter to the appropriate archivist is very strongly advised. For collections in private hands, a letter is absolutely essential; no research worker should expect private collections necessarily to be opened up for his work. A letter of thanks to such custodians of private papers is also a matter of common courtesy. Scholars are reminded again of the law of copyright- and, in particular, that copyright lies with the writer of a letter, not the recipient. 5. Arrangement The entries in this guide have, in general, been arranged alphabetically, under the last known name of the person concerned. Where a family name differs from the title subsequently chosen by a peer, a cross-reference has been given in the text. The two volumes have thus attempted to be completely self-indexing. Hyphenated names are usually found under the last half of the surname (e.g. for Talbot-Smith, see Smith). 6. Abbreviations and Symbols The use of the symbol * (referring the user to Appendix I) is described above. In addition, to save needless repetition, standard abbreviations have been used for certain titles, party affiliations and appointments. A Life Peer has been styled Baron. Otherwise, titles have been abbreviated as follows: D (Duke); M (Marquess); E (Earl); Vt (Viscount); B (hereditary Baron); and Bt (Baronet). The British Library or Political and Economic Science is referred to throughout as BLPES, whilst the earlier volumes in this series are referred to as Sources with the appropriate volume and page reference. Frequent reference is made in this volume to the survey of Cabinet Ministers' papers undertaken by Cameron Hazlehurst and Christine Woodland at Nuffield College, Oxford. This volume (A Guide to the Papers of British Cabinet Ministers, 1900-1951) is referred to in this book as Hazlehurst and Woodland. 7. Further Information Deposits of papers too recent to be included in this volume are recorded in the annual list of Accessions to Repositories published by H.M. Stationery Office for the Historical Manuscripts Commission. More detailed unpublished lists of archives both in repositories and libraries and in the custody of their originators may often be found in the National Register of Archives maintained by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, Quality House, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A I HP, where known alterations and additions to the information given in this volume will be recorded. It is hoped that the information in this volume is correct at the time of going to press, but apart from the possible changes mentioned earlier, it must be remembered that many details of papers were often supplied by persons whose knowledge of the records was imperfect, by librarians who had not yet been able to catalogue records fully, or by scholars whose interests might be limited to certain aspects of their research. Both the British Library of Political and Economic Science and the Historical Manuscripts Commission would be grateful to be informed of alterations, additions and amendments. Notes 1 Many members of the House of Lords, will of course, be found in other volumes in this series. The papers of senior diplomats, colonial officials and civil servants who received peerages were discussed in Volume 2, whilst, for example, many of the press lords will appear in Volume 5. 2 This survey of records of the Labour movement in Scotland, conducted by Ian
MacDougall, the secretary of the Scottish Committee of the Society for the Study of Labour History, has published an Interim Bibliography of the Scottish Working Class Movement ( 1965). MacDougall's extensive Catalogue of Some Labour Records in Scotland and Some Scots Records Outside Scotland will be invaluable. This work not only covers the primary sources and collections of private papers known to survive, but also published records, writings and reports. The book's sections comprise (I) Friendly Societies, (2) Co-operation, (3) Political Movements from the 18th Century onwards, (4) Trade Unionism, (5) Miscellaneous groups and organisations, (6) Newspapers and periodicals, and (7) Leaders, rank and file, associates and forerunners of the Working Class movement. A comprehensive index of subjects, persons and places has been included in this major work.