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

2. 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

3. Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 1

4. Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 2 Key departments of Conservative Central Office: Key departments of Conservative Central Office: Chairman’s Office 1940-1997 Chairman’s Office 1940-1997 Local Government 1953-1992 Local Government 1953-1992 Conservative Political Centre 1947-1973 Conservative Political Centre 1947-1973 Women’s Organisation 1928-1991 Women’s Organisation 1928-1991 Public Opinion Research 1948-1983 Public Opinion Research 1948-1983 Education 1944-1990 Education 1944-1990 Youth 1906-1985 Youth 1906-1985 International Office 1945-1976 International Office 1945-1976 Conservative Research Department 1918-present Conservative Research Department 1918-present

5. 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, 1956-1971 Party fundingBy-elections;Party colours, 1949-1967 Political educationHonours 1930s-1954Conservative trade unions, 1940s-1975 Propaganda, broadcasting & the Press, 1940s-1986 Political rumours, 1940s-1952 Recruitment campaigns, 1946-1966Party 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, 1949-1974Wales, 1949-1981Scottish devolution, 1975-1981 Housing, 1919-1975Electoral reform, 1948Northern Ireland, 1971-1981 Industry & industrial policy, 1927-1970Anti-semitism, 1940s-1961 Crime, 1961-1966Terrorism, 1974-1979Capital punishment, 1956-1969 Economics & Finance, 1930-1989Health, 1930-1966Nationalisation & de-nationalisation, 1940s-1966 Child welfare, 1940s-1954Railways, 1955-1959Protection and tariffs, 1923-1936 Education 1929-1986Agriculture & agricultural policy, 1930-1989 Aviation, 1930-1964Immigration, 1954-1984New towns, 1950-1966 Unemployment, 1929-1966Vivisection, 1954-1961Planning & the environment, 1946-1964

6. Contents of the Conservative Party Archive: 4 Sample subject-based files from Conservative Central Office & the Conservative Research Department Commonwealth Affairs Imperial & colonial policy, 1932-1966New Zealand 1940s-1966Guyana, 1957-1964 Lesotho, 1966-1968Rhodesia, 1961-1973 India 1930s Aden & Yemen, 1967Australia, 1940s-1961Suez, 1956-1964 Canada 1940s-1961Kenya, 1950-1964South Africa 1940s-1970 Nigeria, 1968-1970Tanzania, 1965-1969 Foreign Affairs League of Nations, 1930sUnited Nations, 1946-1966Palestine and Israel, 1949 Foreign Affairs, 1937-1964Suez, 1955-1958West Germany, 1961-1966 Spain, 1938-1940Guatemala, 1956-1958Vietnam, 1965-1970 US Presidential elections, 1949-1958Europe & NATO, 1959-1968Hungary, 1956-1958 Greek elections, 1946Portugal, 1970sMiddle East, 1966-1973 EEC, 1946-1975Central African Federation, 1960-1964 Latin America, 1972 Co-operation with right-wing parties, 1949-1961

7. 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, c1886-2007 Election posters: Conservative, Labour and Liberal, c1886-2007 Photographs: Senior Party figures and events, c1903-2007 Photographs: Senior Party figures and events, c1903-2007 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

8. Recent areas of postgraduate study: Race relations policies in Britain, 1945- 1970 Race relations policies in Britain, 1945- 1970 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, 1956-1963 British relations with Europe, 1956-1963 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, 1961-1963 British national identity and opposition to membership of Europe, 1961-1963 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 1933-1936 Conservative Party policy towards Germany 1933-1936 Political rhetoric of the 20th century Political rhetoric of the 20th century Collaboration and resistance by local authorities over major changes in housing policy, 1971-1983 Anglo-American relations during the Rolls-Royce Lockheed crisis of 1970-1971 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, 1910-1924 The Campaign to abolish capital punishment in Britain, 1955-1969 Conservative Backbench pressure, the Macmillan Government and the Congo Crisis, 1960-1963 Perceptions of finance capital between 1918 and 1944: ideological criticisms of banking in the inter-war years

9. 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.

10. 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: www.conservativepartyarchive.org www.conservativepartyarchive.org www.conservativepartyarchive.org For advice and to request files in advance: For advice and to request files in advance: Jeremy McIlwaine, Conservative Party Archivist Tel: (01865) 277 181 Email: jeremy.mcilwaine@bodley.ox.ac.uk

11. Conservative Party Archive