WISER Social Sciences, 25 th February 2008: Conservative Party Archive Modern Political Papers Section, Dept of Special Collections & Western Manuscripts

Introduction Created at the Bodleian as a source for academic study in 1978 Complements existing holdings of private papers of prominent Conservatives such as Disraeli and Macmillan Also a worthy resource in its own right, and preserves the thinking behind the party’s policy- making

Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 1

Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 2 Key departments of Conservative Central Office: Key departments of Conservative Central Office: Chairman’s Office Chairman’s Office Local Government Local Government Conservative Political Centre Conservative Political Centre Women’s Organisation Women’s Organisation Public Opinion Research Public Opinion Research Education Education Youth Youth International Office International Office Conservative Research Department 1918-present Conservative Research Department 1918-present

Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 3 Sample subject-based files from Conservative Central Office & the Conservative Research Department Party matters Party Agents, 1920s-1966Cinema vans, 1920s-1950Party membership, Party fundingBy-elections;Party colours, Political educationHonours 1930s-1954Conservative trade unions, 1940s-1975 Propaganda, broadcasting & the Press, 1940s-1986 Political rumours, 1940s-1952 Recruitment campaigns, Party reorganisation, 1946/7, 1966 Second World War and the Party truce Political partisanship of BBC, 1930s Domestic Affairs Post-War reconstructionRationing, 1940s-1958Equal pay for Women 1940s-1966 Communism in the UK, Wales, Scottish devolution, Housing, Electoral reform, 1948Northern Ireland, Industry & industrial policy, Anti-semitism, 1940s-1961 Crime, Terrorism, Capital punishment, Economics & Finance, Health, Nationalisation & de-nationalisation, 1940s-1966 Child welfare, 1940s-1954Railways, Protection and tariffs, Education Agriculture & agricultural policy, Aviation, Immigration, New towns, Unemployment, Vivisection, Planning & the environment,

Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 4 Sample subject-based files from Conservative Central Office & the Conservative Research Department Commonwealth Affairs Imperial & colonial policy, New Zealand 1940s-1966Guyana, Lesotho, Rhodesia, India 1930s Aden & Yemen, 1967Australia, 1940s-1961Suez, Canada 1940s-1961Kenya, South Africa 1940s-1970 Nigeria, Tanzania, Foreign Affairs League of Nations, 1930sUnited Nations, Palestine and Israel, 1949 Foreign Affairs, Suez, West Germany, Spain, Guatemala, Vietnam, US Presidential elections, Europe & NATO, Hungary, Greek elections, 1946Portugal, 1970sMiddle East, EEC, Central African Federation, Latin America, 1972 Co-operation with right-wing parties,

Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 5 Library of Published & Printed Material: Library of Published & Printed Material: printed Party literature printed Party literature Manifestos Manifestos press releases press releases speech transcripts speech transcripts Election posters: Conservative, Labour and Liberal, c Election posters: Conservative, Labour and Liberal, c Photographs: Senior Party figures and events, c Photographs: Senior Party figures and events, c Audio-visual material: Party election broadcasts and recordings of Party Conferences, c1980s-2007 Audio-visual material: Party election broadcasts and recordings of Party Conferences, c1980s-2007 Podcasts: oral history interviews Podcasts: oral history interviews Theses Theses

Recent areas of postgraduate study: Race relations policies in Britain, Race relations policies in Britain, Opposition to the Falklands War & its influence on the 1983 General Election Opposition to the Falklands War & its influence on the 1983 General Election Labour and Conservative Party organisational reform Labour and Conservative Party organisational reform British relations with Europe, British relations with Europe, Government policy towards road development and the promotion of cars Government policy towards road development and the promotion of cars British national identity and opposition to membership of Europe, British national identity and opposition to membership of Europe, Decline of the Labour Party and rise of the Conservative Party in Wales c1960s- 1970s and its opposition to devolution Decline of the Labour Party and rise of the Conservative Party in Wales c1960s- 1970s and its opposition to devolution Conservative Party policy towards Germany Conservative Party policy towards Germany Political rhetoric of the 20th century Political rhetoric of the 20th century Collaboration and resistance by local authorities over major changes in housing policy, Anglo-American relations during the Rolls-Royce Lockheed crisis of The rise of neo-liberal politics in the US & UK in the post-War period, using housing, economic strategy, social security as case studies Radical Right activism and the transformation of the Conservative Party, The Campaign to abolish capital punishment in Britain, Conservative Backbench pressure, the Macmillan Government and the Congo Crisis, Perceptions of finance capital between 1918 and 1944: ideological criticisms of banking in the inter-war years

Access restrictions Material dated up to 31 December 1977 is available for research. Material dated up to 31 December 1977 is available for research. Material from 1 January 1978 to 31 December 1992 can be viewed only with permission from Conservative Campaign Headquarters Material from 1 January 1978 to 31 December 1992 can be viewed only with permission from Conservative Campaign Headquarters Material dated after 31 December 1992 is closed. Material dated after 31 December 1992 is closed.

Using the Conservative Party Archive Consulted in Room 108, Special Collections Reading Room in the New Bodleian Consulted in Room 108, Special Collections Reading Room in the New Bodleian Online catalogue: Online catalogue: For advice and to request files in advance: For advice and to request files in advance: Jeremy McIlwaine, Conservative Party Archivist Tel: (01865)

Conservative Party Archive