Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1953-1999 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
18 boxes of papers and 1 box of oversized photographs and framed lithographs. 0.18m3.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1922; educated at Manchester Grammar School and Pembroke College, Oxford; Pilot, Royal Air Force, 1941-1946; Assistant Principal, Air Ministry, 1948; Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Air, 1949-1951; Private Secretary to Permanent Under Secretary of State for Air, 1951-1953; Private Secretary to Chief of Air Staff, 1953-1955; Assistant Secretary, Head of the Air Staff, Secretariat, 1955-1960; Head of Cyprus Secretariat, including negotiations in Cyprus and responsibility for setting up Sovereign Base Area Administration in Cyprus, 1960-61; awarded CMG, 1961; Director of Accounts, Air Ministry, 1961-1962; Assistant Under Secretary of State, Air Ministry, 1962-1964; Assistant Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1964-1968; Deputy Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1968-1970; awarded CB, 1970; Deputy Secretary, Civil Service Department, 1970-1973; Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office, 1973-1976; created KCB, 1974; Honorary Fellow, Pembroke College, Oxford, 1976; Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1976-1982; appointed GCB, 1979; Member of Council, King's College London, 1981-1989; Honorary Consultant, Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, from 1982; Governor, Cranbrook School, 1982-1992; Director, Westland Helicopters, 1982-1985; Privy Councillor, 1983; Chairman, Delegacy, King's College Medical and Dental School, 1983-1989; Director, Babcock International Group, 1983-1990; Director, Morgan Crucible, 1983-1994; Member of Council, Imperial College, London, 1983-1996; Director, N M Rothschild and Sons, 1983-1996; published Communications in crisis management (Council for Arms Control, London, 1985); Chairman, United Scientific Holdings, 1985-1989; Chairman, Institute of Contemporary British History, 1986-1992; Chairman, High Integrity Systems Limited, 1986-1995; Fellow of King's College London, 1987; Chairman of Trustees, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London, 1987-2002; Fellow of Imperial College London, 1988; Chairman of Council, Imperial College, London, 1988-1996; Member, Advisory Council on Public Records, 1989-1992. For further biographical information see the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Archival history
GB 0099 KCLMA Cooper F 1953-1999 Collection (fonds) 18 boxes of papers and 1 box of oversized photographs and framed lithographs. 0.18m3. Cooper , Sir , Frank , 1922-2002 , Knight , civil servant
Born, 1922; educated at Manchester Grammar School and Pembroke College, Oxford; Pilot, Royal Air Force, 1941-1946; Assistant Principal, Air Ministry, 1948; Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Air, 1949-1951; Private Secretary to Permanent Under Secretary of State for Air, 1951-1953; Private Secretary to Chief of Air Staff, 1953-1955; Assistant Secretary, Head of the Air Staff, Secretariat, 1955-1960; Head of Cyprus Secretariat, including negotiations in Cyprus and responsibility for setting up Sovereign Base Area Administration in Cyprus, 1960-61; awarded CMG, 1961; Director of Accounts, Air Ministry, 1961-1962; Assistant Under Secretary of State, Air Ministry, 1962-1964; Assistant Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1964-1968; Deputy Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1968-1970; awarded CB, 1970; Deputy Secretary, Civil Service Department, 1970-1973; Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office, 1973-1976; created KCB, 1974; Honorary Fellow, Pembroke College, Oxford, 1976; Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1976-1982; appointed GCB, 1979; Member of Council, King's College London, 1981-1989; Honorary Consultant, Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, from 1982; Governor, Cranbrook School, 1982-1992; Director, Westland Helicopters, 1982-1985; Privy Councillor, 1983; Chairman, Delegacy, King's College Medical and Dental School, 1983-1989; Director, Babcock International Group, 1983-1990; Director, Morgan Crucible, 1983-1994; Member of Council, Imperial College, London, 1983-1996; Director, N M Rothschild and Sons, 1983-1996; published Communications in crisis management (Council for Arms Control, London, 1985); Chairman, United Scientific Holdings, 1985-1989; Chairman, Institute of Contemporary British History, 1986-1992; Chairman, High Integrity Systems Limited, 1986-1995; Fellow of King's College London, 1987; Chairman of Trustees, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London, 1987-2002; Fellow of Imperial College London, 1988; Chairman of Council, Imperial College, London, 1988-1996; Member, Advisory Council on Public Records, 1989-1992. For further biographical information see the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
The papers were acquired directly from Sir Frank Cooper in 27 accessions between 1989 and 2000.
Papers of Sir Frank Cooper, 1953-1999, primarily relating to his service as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office, 1973-1976, as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1976-1982, and post retirement, 1983-1999. The papers include correspondence, articles, press cuttings, press releases, reports, speeches, interviews and conference papers on a variety of topics including: the Air Ministry in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Suez War and Operation MUSKETEER, 1956; the political situation in Northern Ireland, 1973-1976; the Falklands War, 1981-1982, particularly the reaction of the Ministry of Defence and of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the sinking of the Argentinean cruiser BELGRANO; the Civil Service, including relationships with the Government, structural reorganisations, Parliamentary Committees and policy making; the Ministry of Defence, including the Defence budget, management policy and accountability, the civilian contribution to the MoD, the relationships between defence procurement, industry and the economy; wider defence issues including the relationships between Britain, Europe, America and NATO, the importance of research and development collaboration, arms sales, the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), the European aerospace industry, American protectionism and technology transfer; British nuclear weapons policy, nuclear deterrence and disarmament, ATBM (anti tactical ballistic missile) defences and the management of the Trident, Polaris and Chevaline projects; British and French maritime forces; and Westland Helicopters PLC, including correspondence from Cooper's time as Director (1982-1985) and parliamentary reports relating to the sale of the company.
Also papers relating to projects and study groups including the Joint Study of European Cooperative Measures for Aeronautical Research and Technology (EUROMART), 1978-1991; the EUREKA research and development programme, 1985-1986; EUROGROUP, 1982; the Foundation for International Security, 1984-1990; the British Rocketry Oral History Project, 1997-1998; the Defence Study Group of the Institute for European Defence and Strategic Studies, 1988-1990; and the Institute for Defence Procurement Studies, 1989-1990.
Photographs of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in session, 1965-1977 and the Falklands War, 1982, including Royal Marines progressing through Port Stanley, surrendering Argentinean soldiers and piles of surrendered Argentinean weapons. Prints Ulster Impressions by Joan Wanklyn, 1974, RAF Aldergrove by Ken Howard, 1975 and The Great White Whale by Ronald Dean, depicting the SS CANBERRA, 1982.
The papers have been arranged in fifteen sections as outlined in the detailed catalogue.
Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification.
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the Director of Archives and Information Management.
English, French
The collection includes two audio cassette tapes which require an audio cassette tape player, available from the Archivist on request.
Detailed catalogue available on the Archives website and in hard copy in the Archives Reading Room.
The originals of the copy photographs of the Falklands War (Cooper 15/1/2) are held at the Imperial War Museum.
Ministry of Defence papers may be duplicated in the official holdings of the Ministry of Defence held at The National Archives (Code: DEFE).
The Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London, holds the following related material: the papers of Sir Maurice (Joseph) DEAN, including correspondence with Cooper, 1969-1978 (Ref: Dean 3/4/5); the papers of AVM Stewart William Blacker MENAUL, including a Ministry of Defence memorandum introduced by Cooper entitled 'Reorganisation of the Chief of Defence Staff's central staff', Sep 1982 (Ref: Menaul 7/2/177); the Civil Service Oral History Project (Ref: Misc 74) includes a typed transcript of an interview with Cooper, conducted in May 1989, relating to his career as a civil servant; the Suez Oral History Project includes a transcript of an interview with Cooper about the Air Ministry during the Suez War (Ref: SOHP 4).
The National Archives holds papers relating to Cooper's service as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland, 1973-1976 (Ref: CJ 4/668, 724, 1073, 1526, 1779) and to Cooper's service as Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence, 1976-1982 (Ref D/PUS). The National Sound Archive at the British Library includes several recordings of Cooper's interviews.
The papers were used in preparation of the biography of Cooper in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Summary guide compiled by Iain Mutch; revised by Rachel Kemsley; further revised by Katharine Higgon. Sources consulted in preparing the description included Who's Who and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Dec 1999, Mar 2001, Mar 2008. Armed forces Arms control Caribbean Cooper , Sir , Frank , 1922-2002 , Knight , civil servant Cuba Defence Diplomacy Disarmament Europe Falkland Islands Falklands War (1982) Foreign relations International conflicts International organizations International politics International relations Military organizations Ministry of Defence NATO , North Atlantic Treaty Organization x North Atlantic Treaty Organization Northern Ireland Organizations Peace South America State security UK War Western Europe Wars (events) London England
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were acquired directly from Sir Frank Cooper in 27 accessions between 1989 and 2000.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Sir Frank Cooper, 1953-1999, primarily relating to his service as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office, 1973-1976, as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, 1976-1982, and post retirement, 1983-1999. The papers include correspondence, articles, press cuttings, press releases, reports, speeches, interviews and conference papers on a variety of topics including: the Air Ministry in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Suez War and Operation MUSKETEER, 1956; the political situation in Northern Ireland, 1973-1976; the Falklands War, 1981-1982, particularly the reaction of the Ministry of Defence and of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the sinking of the Argentinean cruiser BELGRANO; the Civil Service, including relationships with the Government, structural reorganisations, Parliamentary Committees and policy making; the Ministry of Defence, including the Defence budget, management policy and accountability, the civilian contribution to the MoD, the relationships between defence procurement, industry and the economy; wider defence issues including the relationships between Britain, Europe, America and NATO, the importance of research and development collaboration, arms sales, the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), the European aerospace industry, American protectionism and technology transfer; British nuclear weapons policy, nuclear deterrence and disarmament, ATBM (anti tactical ballistic missile) defences and the management of the Trident, Polaris and Chevaline projects; British and French maritime forces; and Westland Helicopters PLC, including correspondence from Cooper's time as Director (1982-1985) and parliamentary reports relating to the sale of the company.
Also papers relating to projects and study groups including the Joint Study of European Cooperative Measures for Aeronautical Research and Technology (EUROMART), 1978-1991; the EUREKA research and development programme, 1985-1986; EUROGROUP, 1982; the Foundation for International Security, 1984-1990; the British Rocketry Oral History Project, 1997-1998; the Defence Study Group of the Institute for European Defence and Strategic Studies, 1988-1990; and the Institute for Defence Procurement Studies, 1989-1990.
Photographs of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in session, 1965-1977 and the Falklands War, 1982, including Royal Marines progressing through Port Stanley, surrendering Argentinean soldiers and piles of surrendered Argentinean weapons. Prints Ulster Impressions by Joan Wanklyn, 1974, RAF Aldergrove by Ken Howard, 1975 and The Great White Whale by Ronald Dean, depicting the SS CANBERRA, 1982.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The papers have been arranged in fifteen sections as outlined in the detailed catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the Director of Archives and Information Management.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London, holds the following related material: the papers of Sir Maurice (Joseph) DEAN, including correspondence with Cooper, 1969-1978 (Ref: Dean 3/4/5); the papers of AVM Stewart William Blacker MENAUL, including a Ministry of Defence memorandum introduced by Cooper entitled 'Reorganisation of the Chief of Defence Staff's central staff', Sep 1982 (Ref: Menaul 7/2/177); the Civil Service Oral History Project (Ref: Misc 74) includes a typed transcript of an interview with Cooper, conducted in May 1989, relating to his career as a civil servant; the Suez Oral History Project includes a transcript of an interview with Cooper about the Air Ministry during the Suez War (Ref: SOHP 4).
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue available on the Archives website and in hard copy in the Archives Reading Room.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Ministry of Defence papers may be duplicated in the official holdings of the Ministry of Defence held at The National Archives (Code: DEFE).
Related units of description
The National Archives holds papers relating to Cooper's service as Permanent Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland, 1973-1976 (Ref: CJ 4/668, 724, 1073, 1526, 1779) and to Cooper's service as Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence, 1976-1982 (Ref D/PUS). The National Sound Archive at the British Library includes several recordings of Cooper's interviews.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- State security » Armed forces
- Peace » Disarmament » Arms control
- State security » Defence
- International relations » Foreign relations » Diplomacy
- Peace » Disarmament
- International relations » Foreign relations
- International conflicts
- International politics » International organizations
- International politics
- International relations
- Organizations
- Peace
- State security
- International conflicts » War
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English