Manuscript volume containing a 'Memoire de plusieurs choses et decisions remarquables tirees des liures de deliberations reposants en la Chambre de la Cour', relating to the Parlement of Dôle, France, and giving extracts of business between 1518 and 1599. The parchment cover of the volume was cut from 16th century book of accounts principally concerning salt, including the 'Vendues des sels de ceste Septembre' (almost complete).

Transcripts relating to local taxation in Edinburgh from 1745 to 1760, including:

1. 'Memorandum offered by the members of the College of Justice appointed by the Faculty of Advocates and Society of Writers to the Signet to the preses and other remanent stent-masters of the city of Edinburgh in relation to the imposing the stent on the inhabitants of the town for the year 1749'. The memorandum, dated 18 July 1749, contains eight questions put to the stent-masters, and these are answered in the following eight pages of the manuscript, written for the most part in another hand, and dated 19 July 1749.
2. A 'Report to the Faculty of Advocates of the stent-masters appointed by them to meet with the stent-masters of the town of Edinburgh for imposing the stent or cess for the year 1749', written in the second hand. A note in the original hand says that the reports were 'drop'd'.
3. Comments on the collusion between the Faculty of Advocates and the Town Council regarding the stent-masters, with a copy of a letter to George Chalmers, writer to the Signet, from Robert Thomson of Aberdeen, dated 13 Feb 1745, concerning stents at Aberdeen.
   4. The final leaf, dated 14 Jul 1760, contains in a third hand an 'Estimate of the land cess and trade stent to be imposed by the...Magistrats & Town Council of Edinburgh for the service of the year, viz. from 25 March 1759 to 25 March 1760'.

Manuscript volume containing accounts for the Généralité of Caen, France, for 1772-1773, headed 'Recette Généralle des Finances. Exercice 1772' and beginning 'Etat au vrai des recettes et depenses faites par Pierre Oursin, Ecuyer, Seigneur de Digoville, Conseiller du Roy, Receveur Général des Finances de la Généralité de Caen'. The accounts include financial details for the 'élections' of Caen, Bayeux, Saint Lo, Vire et Condé, Coutances, Carentan, Valognes, Avranches and Mertain. Each section of the accounts is signed by [Charles Gabriel] des Hommets [de Martainville] who was appointed 'commissaire pour verifier le present etat' on 19 Oct 1775, with the words 'Vu par nous', sometimes with further comment. The sums are listed under various headings, the individual items being entered against a place, a person, or the personnel of an office. The total expenses are given as 2,912,200 livres, 16 sols, 6 deniers; receipts as 2,948,734 livres, 9 sols, 6 deniers. The whole account was signed by Louis XVI and seven members of the Conseil Royale des Finances at Versailles on 28 Nov 1775. Each page is stamped 'Gen[eralité] de Paris Extraordinaire' in a decorative frame.

Nine licences and six draft licences to beg within the county of Norfolk, 1583-1593, especially within the hundreds of Blofelde [Blofield], Tunstede [Tunstead], Happinge [Happing], East and West Flegge [East and West Flegg], Walsham, Loddon, Clavering, Taverham, and in the towns of Wilton, Potter Heigham, Horsford and Horsham St. Faithes [Horsham St. Faiths], Ludham, Cromer alias Shipdom [Shipden], Hofton St. John [Hoveton St. John], Cattfield [Catfield], Hickling and Hemlingtonne [Hemblington]. Most of the originals include the signature of Edmund Scambler, Bishop of Norwich, though other signatories include Sir William Paston, Sir Thomas Berney, Miles Corlett, John Pagrave, William Blenerhayset [Blennerhassett], William Hogdon and Henry Gaudy [Gawdy]; most of the seals are wanting.
On the dorse of item 7 is a cancelled licence of 21 Nov 1591, by Edmund Scambler, Bishop of Norwich, and Sir William Paston, to Edward Chaundeler of Barton, Norfolk, to keep an alehouse.

Petition, [1720?], to the justices of the peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire on behalf of Abraham Bean, a farmer of the parish of Cantley, near Doncaster, and signed by John Fox, Vicar of Cantley, Samuel Crabtree, William Morehouse and John Leetham, parishioners. The petition 'Sheweth That your Petitioner is an honest and labourious Person And hath maintain'd himself and family (since he had one) reputably on a Small Farm in This Parish...', and appeals for further aid - the Justices had granted £10 immediate relief the previous August at Rotherham. He had lost 16 head of 'Great Cattle' in the winter, and his house had been burned down. Both he and his wife had suffered from burns, and they and their two children had been forced to enter an alms house 'and are there now barely kept from starving by the Parish'. A note is added at the foot: '29 1. as Charity to be paid by the Treasurer'.

Warrant of 10 Dec 1747 addressed to Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford and Auditor of the Exchequer, for the payment to Richard Tuck, Sheriff of Wiltshire, of £160 'to repay the like sum disbursed by him for the following rewards upon the conviction of the several offenders mentioned in the annexed certificates'. These certificates are wanting, but a list follows of the names of the offenders and of those securing their conviction, with details of the sums paid as rewards totalling £160.

Two printed forms, completed in manuscript, dated 12 Jan 1715 and 16 Jan 1717, appointing surveyors of highways for the parish of St Stephen, Bristol. With the signatures and seals of the respective mayors, Henry Whitehead and Nicholas Hickes, and by other Justices of the Peace.

Manuscript volume containing the seal tariffs decided by the French Conseil d'Etat, Mar 1703, and entitled 'Tarif des droits du Sceau arresté au Conseil'. Includes lists of offices in provincial administration and tariffs of the provincial chancelleries presidiales. A later hand has added notes of an judgement of 20 Jul 1785 concerning seal tariffs.

Manuscript volume containing a transcript of the 'Mémoires de Monsieur [Louis René de Caradeuc] De La Chalotais, Procureur Général au Parlement de Bretagne... Ecrit le 21 janvier MDCCLXVII'. The manuscript is perhaps a fair copy from the printed edition of 1766, containing the first and second Mémoires.

The papers listed here relate chiefly to the affairs of the University of London, and to the London County Council. Though many of Collins' correspondents were fellow physicians and scientists, there is little in the correspondence relating to medical or scientific subjects. There is some material relating directly to national politics in Collins' autobiographical papers, and a full account by Collins of the Royal Commission on Vaccination. Given the range of Collins' interests, this is a small collection indeed. It appears however, that Collins himself carefully weeded and arranged his own papers. The list which follows here preserves, as far as possible, the original arrangement. A box of printed material, containing pamphlets, offprints of articles, speeches etc. by Collins, 1882-1925, was deposited with the papers. These relate chiefly to medical and political subjects. They are not listed here in detail. An additional deposit comprising press-cuttings, autobiographical material including sketches of contemporaries, archives relating to Collin's work on University of London bodies, his parliamentary career, and speeches was deposited in 1996. A box list has been compiled for this deposit. There are three other 'stray' letters addressed to Sir William Job Collins in the University of London Library which have been catalogued separately: 1916, 23 Nov. Benchara Branford, London County Council. Inserted in a presentation copy (to Collins) of Branford's 'Janus & Vesta' (London, 1916) 1925, 20 June. Sir Bernard Henry Spilsbury, 1 Verulam Buildings, Gray's Inn, WC1. (A.L. 229) 1926, 22 June. Sir Philip Magnus, Tangley Hill, Chilworth, Surrey. (A.L. 162) 1. Abbreviations - Sir William Job Collins is referred to by his initials, W.J.C. The abbreviation, TS., means typescript. 2. Correspondents - Peers are referred to by their title in the record but are indexed under their surname. Unless specificed otherwise, all letters are addressed to Sir William Job Collins. 3. Postal Addresses - Where the town is not specified in the entry, the address is in London. Where known, the names of counties are inserted in square brackets where they are missing from the original letter. 4. Volume - Where an item exceeds two leaves, its volume is given in the entry.

Writ, dated 13 May 1615, addressed to the Sheriff of Essex ordering him to have John Webb brought to Westminster to do homage for the manor of Engamehath, held of the Crown, which he had recently received from Thomas Broxley without royal licence. Endorsed by the officials concerned.

Papers of Jeremy Bentham, 1750-1885, consist of drafts and notes for published and unpublished works, and cover many subjects including: Bentham's codification proposal, a plan to replace existing law with a codified system, an idea which manifested itself in Constitutional Code (London, 1830), a blueprint for representative democracy and an entirely open and fully accountable government, 1815-1832; penal code, which involved penal law giving effect to the rights and duties of civil law, [1773]-1831; punishment, to certain actions which, on account of their tendency to diminish the greatest happiness, would be classified as offences, [1773-1826]; Bentham's Panopticon, a way of maintaining and employing convicts in a new invented building, 1785-1813; Chrestomathia, the secondary school designed by Bentham, 1815-1826; evidence in law, [1780]-1823; religion, and the Church, 1800-1830; logic, ethics, deontology (the science of morality), morals, utilitarianism and the greatest happiness principle, 1794-1834; political economy, [1790]-1819; Supply without burthen or Escheat vice taxation, a proposal for saving taxes, 1793-1795; legislation, including law amendment and law reform, [1770-1843]; procedure, and procedure codes, [1780]-1830; law and issues in other countries, including Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and Tripoli, 1810-1830; A Comment on the Commentaries, being a criticism of William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, also Bentham's and Blackstone's views on civil code, [1774]-1830; sexual nonconformity, [1774]-1816; Scotch reform, 1804-1809; Court of Lords delegates, 1807-1821; parliamentary papers, and parliamentary reform, [1790]-1831; poor law, and poor plan, 1796-[1845]; correspondence, 1761-1866, including a corrected draft letter to James Madison, President of the United States of America, in which Bentham made an offer to draw up a complete code of laws for the USA, 1811.

Papers, 1798-1923, of Sir Edwin Chadwick. Over half of the collection consists of correspondence dating from around 1820, but most of the letters were written after 1834. Some of the earliest papers in the collection are notes on the police. There are papers relating to Chadwick's service as Secretary of the Poor Law Commission, including material on his troubled relationship with the Poor Law Commissioners and his unsuccessful attempts to be made a Commissioner. There is a good deal of material on public health and sanitation. There are also drafts and notes for many of his published writings to do with the reform of central and local government and military training and education.

Notebooks, the first concerned mainly with Henry Machyn's diary, the second with the Chamberlains of the City.

Papers of Margherita Rendal relating to two research projects, namely:'Graduate Administration in Local Education Authorities', 1965-1968, including material relating to project administration; correspondence and memoranda; interim and final reports; sample questionnaires; information about the survey program used to analyse the data; coding lists; sample punch cards. Also included is a file of correspondence and papers relating to The Committee on the Management and Staffing of Local Government (the Mallaby Committee), 1965. 'Survey for UNESCO of Courses and Research in Political Science, Law and Related Disciplines Concerned with the Role and Status of Women', 1979-1982, mainly comprising a series of individual folders for over seventy different countries or regions containing published and unpublished material relating to women's studies and the women's movement in each area; correspondence with local contacts in educational institutions and women's organisations; some answers to a questionnaire; and research summaries. Also included are some general publications and memoranda relating to UNESCO; card indexes of local contacts; and drafts of the final report. Also included are a small number of papers relating to the Institute of Education Department of Educational Administration in the 1970s, especially relating to a course run jointly with the London Business School on 'Management in the Education Service'; and circular letters of the Education in Human Rights Network, 1988. There is also a file relating to the Confederation for the Advancement of State Education, 1960s and a small amount of material concerning a study of educational administration in Derbyshire, 1967.

Papers of Max Lock, 1936-1988, produced and collected by Max Lock and the Max Lock Group, relate to Lock's career as a planner and architect and to wider issues in planning, particularly after World War Two, and comprise working papers (including survey papers) and finished material.

They include correspondence; notes and card indexes; photographs (some aerial), slides, drawings, maps and plans; Bills, Acts, white papers and other official publications; books, articles, reports and other publications (some annotated); typescripts; press cuttings; and conference papers. The bulk of the material dates from the 1940s to the early 1970s. Material relating to Lock's career and projects within the UK includes papers on his time as a Watford councillor and his architectural practice in the 1930s, including a timber house he designed at Stanmore, Middlesex; Hull, 1939-1957, including conflicts between Lock and his superiors; Scalby, 1940-1941; Middlesborough, 1943-1970; Hartlepool, 1946-1970; Portsmouth, 1948-1973; Salisbury, 1949-1969; Sutton Coldfield, 1950-1967; Bedford, 1950-1971; Sevenoaks, 1954-1965; Aberdare, 1957-1959; Stratford (West Ham), 1957-1962; Hackney and Shoreditch, 1960-1971; Woodley, 1962-1969; Oldham, 1962-1971; Covent Garden, 1963-1971; Battle, 1964; Brentford and Chiswick, 1964-1970; Torbay, 1968-1969; Dunstable, 1968-1972; Greater London Development Plan Inquiry, 1969-1971, and other material on GLC planning and transport; Beverley, 1969-1972. Material on projects and visits overseas includes papers on Scandinavia, 1937-1939, 1946-1949; India, Pakistan and Ceylon, 1946-1955; the Netherlands, including the Town Planning Institute Tour (1946), 1946-1957; the Americas, including Brazil, the West Indies and the USA, 1952-1969; Italy, 1952-1970; the Middle East, including Iraq and Jordan, 1954-1958; Australia, 1959-1960; Aden, 1960-1961; Kuwait, 1961; Nigeria, including Kaduna and Maiduguri, 1962-1975.

The collection includes a large volume of accumulated material, 1944-1987, largely printed material by other authors, including other planners, planning bodies and architects, some from architectural and planning journals and from the national and regional press, on planning and related issues both in the UK and overseas, such as planning law and procedures; central and local government and administration; public inquiries; housing; historic buildings; urban development; industry and retail; transport infrastructure, including roads and ports; traffic, noise, and the environment; social and economic issues including employment, labour, and social class; population levels and density; public amenities and utilities; land use and open space; and statistical data. Some papers relate to the affairs, including legal and financial matters, of the Max Lock Group; the architectural work of Max Lock and Partners; premises in Victoria Square, London; and the Max Lock Group Nigeria. Papers of or concerning Lock himself include his notebooks and other papers reflecting the development of his ideas; papers relating to publications and broadcasts; papers relating to professional bodies, including the TPI, RIBA, TCPA and UDAG; personal correspondence; photographs of him and his friends; papers on music and architecture, including lecture notes; articles about Lock, and his obituary in the Independent, 3 May 1988.

Papers of Jeremy John Durham (Paddy) Ashdown, [1970]-1999, including material relating to the working of the Liberal Democrat Party (including files on the merger of the Liberal and Social Democratic Parties in 1988), campaigns, and relations with related Liberal groups, such as campaigning within ethnic minorities, the Liberal Youth and Student Office, the Liberal Movement, the European Liberal Democratic and Reform Parties, and Liberal International; material relating to Social and Liberal Democrat and Liberal Democrat conferences, 1989-1993, comprising programmes, agenda and correspondence; files relating to the administration of party political broadcasts and press releases, 1988-1992; papers relating to general, by, local and European elections, 1988-1993, including the 1991 report on general elections, and the European Election Task Group and ASLDC reports on local government elections; files on parliamentary procedure, 1989-1992; financial and administrative papers of the Liberal Democrat Party, 1986-1992, notably relating to fund raising; material concerning the organisation of local parties, 1988-1993, including those in Scotland and Wales; Liberal Democrat correspondence, 1982-1993, mainly with party members; constituency correspondence, 1985-1994, relating to Yeovil; general correspondence, 1983-1994, with members of the public, on subjects including animal rights, the arts, blood sports, capital punishment, constitutional and electoral reform, defence, education, energy, the environment, Europe, foreign affairs/policy, health, housing, human rights, legal aid, minority rights, the Poll Tax, taxation, trade and industry, and transport; correspondence relating to issues in individual constituencies, 1988-1994; files of information and correspondence on particular subjects, 1984-1993; personal material relating to work by Paddy Ashdown, 1983-1994, including books, articles, speeches and details of programmes; files on the employment of staff in Paddy Ashdown's office, 1984-1992. Also: files created by Ashdown as leader of the Liberal Democrats, c1991-1999 (AccNo: M1981); Paddy Ashdown's diaries, July 1988-April 1997 (AccNo: M3059); personal and party correspondence, 1987-1998 (AccNo: M3322); diaries and emails, 1999-2006 (AccNo: M3348).

Minute books and financial records of the Bedford Constituency/Divisional Labour Party, 1923-1970, including minutes of the Executive Committee, 1923-1925, 1952-1969; minutes of the Sub-Committee, 1923-1925; minutes of the Organisation and Propaganda Committee, 1923-1925, 1938; minutes of the Organisation Committee, 1923-1925; minutes of the Conference of the Bedford Divisional Labour Party, 1923-1925; minutes of the Individual Members Meeting, 1923-1925; minutes of the Joint Trade Union Meeting, 1923-1925; minutes of the Finance Committee, 1923-1925, 1952-1956; minutes of the Literature and Propaganda Committee, 1923-1925; minutes of the Bedford Town Council Labour Group, 1939-1947; minutes of the General Committee and Annual General Meeting, 1947-1957, 1967-1969; minutes of the Women's Section, 1925-1934; minutes of the meetings of the Bedford Constituency Labour Party Young Socialists, 1966-1968, with correspondence; expenditure account books, 1949-1970; press cuttings book, 1954-1958; and attendance register, 1956-1961.

Papers relating to Conservative Councillor Nicholas Bennett's activities in Lewisham, 1977-1981, mainly concerning the problems of local residents.

Papers of the Review Committee of the Greater London Citizens Advice Bureau Service Limited, 1972-1975, comprising:
Official Review Committee papers, 1972-1975, including agendas, minutes and correspondence between members, with the National Citizens Advice Bureau Council and London Borough CABs.

Research papers and survey material used by the Review Committee, 1972-1975, regarding the structure, finances and organisation of the Greater London Citizens Advice Bureau Service Limited and London borough CABs.

Research and survey material regarding information and advice services offered by local councils in Greater London.

Material collected for the compilation of Fabian Tract no. 105, "Five year's fruits of the Parish Councils Act", published in 1901. Also two letters relating to Fabian Tract no. 106, "The education muddle", published in 1901: Section A: Replies to questionnaire addressed to individual parish councils in England and Wales for preparation of Tract No. 105; correspondence and corrected proofs; press cuttings. 1900-1901. Section B: Replies to questionnaire addressed to parish councils on the provision of baths and washhouses-also preparation of tract no. 105. 1900. Section C: General correspondence relating to Tract no. 105 and parish council affairs. 11 Jul-6 Dec 1900. Section D. Two letters criticising proof of Tract no. 6. 1900.

Copy of the minute book of Rastrick Township meetings, held by Mr James Bottomley of Brighouse Corporation. The main concerns of these meetings were poor relief, local roads and tax assessments.

Copy of the minutes of the Hipperholme with Brighouse townships meetings, in the possession of Brighouse Corporation, copied in 1929. The meetings' main concerns were poor relief, roads and local tax assessment.

Minutes and papers of the Labour Party Advisory Committee on Local Government Sub-Committee on Town Planning, relating to local government reorganisation, by C M Lloyd, G D H Cole, F W Jowett and W Rees Jeffreys, for a meeting on 26 Mar 1920.

Papers relating to the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, the Minority Report and the National Committee for the Prevention of Destitution, including a paper by Sidney Webb "Suggestions and Hypotheses".

Working files of the Constitutional Reform Centre, 1970-1992, comprising general files, 1970-1991, organised by project, on the Bill of Human Rights, the Civil Service, the David Harlech Democracy Prize (a video-making competition for 16-23 year olds), the Europe and European Convention on Human Rights, the 'Good Government, Better Business' campaign, legal system reform, proportional representation in local government, local government relations with central government, and opinion polls; material relating to conferences and seminars, 1984-1992, on subjects including the European Convention on Human Rights, the conduct of elections, constitutional change, the abolition of the metropolitan authorities, major planning inquiries, and a written constitution; papers relating to work with the National Committee for Electoral Reform, 1976-1988, notably on the Campaign for Fair Votes in 1987, including correspondence with the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, press releases, questionnaires and leaflets; material relating to the CRC's Working Party on Company Donations, 1985-1987, including reports, minutes and working papers; printed material, 1978-1991, mainly on the British electoral system and proposals for its reform.

This collection consists of material relating to the principle functions of the Fabian Society. It includes correspondence; early papers and memorials; minutes and papers of the executive committee, the finance and general purposes committee and the home research committee; and material relating to lectures, publications, local societies, schools and conferences, groups and bureaux of the society, relations with the Labour Party, conferences, biographies of early members, and information gathered on electoral constituencies and issues in local government.

Papers of Robert Crossman, mainly comprising material relating to local government, gays and lesbian rights, particularly regarding equal opportunities and and the teaching of homosexuality in schools, his term as Mayor of Islington and papers regarding gay organisations and events.

The Hetherington collection consists predominantly of a series of notes of interviews with political figures from Britain and overseas kept between November 1958 and July 1975. Rough notes were made after the interviews which were later sent for typing; where a lengthy delay intervened prior to typing this is indicated. Frequent accounts are given of meetings with Labour leaders from Hugh Gaitskell to James Callaghan and there were regular meetings with Jo Grimond, leader of the Liberal Party, in the early years. Regional development and the Scottish government are frequent themes throughout the British interviews and there are discussions of the spy scandals of the early 1960s and the industrial disputes of the early 1970s. Foreign affairs figure strongly including Rhodesia's declaration of UDI, the independence of African states, the Vietnam War and the pursuit of a settlement in the Middle East. Britain's negotiations towards entry into the EEC can be traced. The section 'Additional Papers' contains notes on an attempted merger of The Times and the Guardian in 1967.

Papers of Lena May Jeger, 1943-2004, mainly correspondence, reports, briefings, speeches, photographs and other papers relating to her work as a local councillor, MP and member of the House of Lords. Also includes draft articles, correspondence and other papers relating to her time as a journalist.

Papers relating to Jenkins' early political career, including material concerning the Suez Crisis, post-war Czechoslovakia, the National Union of Bank Employees, and industrial welfare; papers relating to Jenkins' time on the London County Council; parliamentary papers on subjects including the Arts and foreign visits; Jenkins' diary as Minister for the Arts; papers relating to Putney Labour Party, including constituency correspondence, publicity material, 'Why: Putney Labour Monthly', 'Voice: Putney Labour Party', and photocopies of press cuttings from 'Battersea News'; publications and scripts for broadcasts by or concerning Jenkins; pocket diaries and personal ephemera; photographs of public engagements; papers relating to Jenkins' work with Rangoon Radio; and papers relating to Victory for Socialism.

Papers of Professor Paul Joyce, 1997-1998, include minutes, financial papers, newsletters and publications relating to the User-Led Innovation in Local Government research project.

Lansbury's personal and political correspondence; correspondence between Lansbury's biographer, Raymond Postgate, and others after his death; correspondence and papers on subjects of interest to Lansbury, including schools, the Labour Party, unemployment, agriculture, India, the 1931 Cabinet Crisis, and the Metropolitan Police; photographs, personal and official, and caricatures from the press; press reviews of Lansbury's published works; printed matter, including articles, pamphlets, speeches and leaflets by or concerning Lansbury, election addresses, and personal ephemera. Volumes 1 - 26 consist of the personal and political correspondence and papers used by Lansbury's son-in-law, Raymond Postgate, in researching The Life of George Lansbury, published in 1951. These papers were presented to the British Library of Political and Economic Science by Professor Postgate in 1950. Volumes 27 - 30 were added to the collection some time later, and volume 31 consists of three files of personal correspondence which were added to the collection in 1994 and one file found in 1999.

Papers of James Eugene MacColl MP, comprising files on subjects such as Africa, the Church, crime and delinquency, education, housing and planning, local government in theory and practice, and race relations; papers relating to the Labour Party and parliamentary matters; personal papers; writings; and correspondence with constituents.

Papers of Michael James Meadowcroft, 1960-2000, mainly relating to his career in the Liberal Party, notably working papers for Liberal publications written by Meadowcroft, 1976-1992, including Liberal values for a new decade (1980), Bluffers guide to politics (1976), Liberalism and the left (1982) and The case for the Liberal Party (1992); documents collected for an article on Liberal strategy, including the Lib-Lab Pact, 1973-1978; material relating to elections for Leeds West, 1974-1987, including candidates handbooks, campaign manuals, General Election papers, press cuttings and reports to electors; material relating to Liberal Assemblies, 1971-1994, notably official papers, press cuttings and scrapbooks; material relating to the central Liberal Party, [1981-1990], including papers of the Liberal Party Council (1980-1983), minutes of the Parliamentary Liberal Party (1983-1987), and working papers of the Standing Committee (1980-1983); papers concerning the SDP and the Liberal/SDP Alliance, 1981-1988, including notes, press cuttings, manifestos, programme material , and SDP conference material; material concerning the SDP and Liberal Party merger, 1987-1989, notably papers relating to negotiations, and press cuttings; papers relating to the inception of the Liberal Movement, 1988-1989, mainly comprising working papers of the Steering Committee; material concerning European elections, 1977-1984; Leeds City Council papers, 1986-1987; material relating to Hammersmith Liberal Association, 1987, and West Leeds Liberal Association; general Liberal Party literature, 1984-1987, including strategy papers and booklets; material concerning the enquiry into Systime [computer company], 1985-1987, including case papers, parliamentary questions and correspondence with Paddy Ashdown; correspondence and papers relating to Cyril Smith, 1975-1984; later political papers, 1990-2000, mainly relating to Meadowcroft's role in the relaunched Liberal Party.

Records of the Merton and Morden Labour Party, 1926-1970, including minutes of the General and Executive Committees, the General Management Committee and the Annual General Meetings, 1936-1970; minutes of the Merton and Morden Young Socialists, 1959-1965; minutes of the Morden Ward, 1926-1966, and the Morden Ward Women's Section, 1947-1967; minutes of the Merton Group, 1933-1935; minutes of the Ravensbury and St Helier Ward Women's Section, 1948-1952; various publications, notably the Merton and Morden weekly tote, lottery and bulletin, 1957-1970, copies of The Argus, the Journal of the Merton and Morden Labour Party, 1952-1961, Labour Party General Election literature, 1964-1970, Local Election literature, 1934-1956, and press cuttings, 1960-1968.

Correspondence of John Stuart Mill; correspondence of Helen Taylor concerning the publication and translation of John Stuart Mill's works and correspondence, the Moral Reform Union, women's suffrage, the social position and education of women, the London School Board and education, literary work, the land question, political questions, Irish affairs, miscellaneous public interests, and private correspondence; letters of appreciation and criticism of John Stuart Mill's work and character, and of sympathy on his death; other miscellaneous letters concerning John Stuart Mill; additional correspondence of John Stuart Mill; correspondence of Harriet Taylor and other members of the Taylor family; material relating to honorary degrees, society memberships, etc. conferred on John Stuart Mill; note books, etc. of John Stuart Mill, including botanical notebooks; writings by Helen Taylor, including "Limits of Local Government", "Municipal Vote etc", and her diaries; letters, speeches and articles by and concerning John Stuart Mill, extracted from newspapers and periodicals; miscellaneous papers of John Stuart Mill, Helen Taylor, Harriet Taylor, and others; and photographs and press cuttings.

The collection consists of Jones and Donoughue's research notes and transcripts of interviews they conducted with Morrison's associates, and original documents and copies collected from various sources, the provenance of some of which is uncertain. The papers include material relating to Morrison's time as Lord President and Leader of the House of Commons, his speeches, publications by and concerning Herbert Morrison, the research notes and correspondence of Jones and Donoughue, interviews with Morrison's associates, original manuscripts and printed material, and copies of manuscripts and printed material held at Nuffield College, Oxford.

Minute Books, constituency papers, leaflets and other election ephemera from London County Council and Parliamentary elections, papers of Ray Roberts, the Party agent, 1920-1955.

Correspondence, drafts of published works and press cuttings relating to British government and administration, and local government and planning.

Papers of Derek Senior, [1940-1988], including material relating to the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, 1966-1969, notably briefing papers, evidence, minutes of meetings, printed materials, working papers, press cuttings, research studies, correspondence and drafts of the final report; cuttings, articles and reports on urban form, structure, land use and town planning; reports, articles and pamphlets on numerous subjects, including rural conservation, local government reorganisation, education, housing, and transport; typescripts of several books by Senior.

Papers of Beatrice Serota, 1953-2002, relate to her work in London local government, as a Minister of State, member of the House of Lords and of a number of advisory bodies and committees, including the Advisory Council on the Penal System and the Commission on Local Administration. Includes correspondence, reports, publications, notes, speeches and other papers.

Personal and professional correspondence, articles, manuscripts of books, research material, reviews of books, biographical material, Ada Wallas' diaries, and Graham Wallas' engagement diaries.

Materials on local government collated by Sidney and Beatrice Webb, 1906-1930, mainly during research for their nine volume English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act (Longmans and Co, London, 1906-1929) and other works on local government and the poor law, including extensive notes taken from parliamentary papers and acts, books, newspapers and local records, and including bibliographical lists, summaries and reports of interviews with members of local authorities, and material on specific counties; material on the poor law, including correspondence and papers relating to the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, 1905-1909.

Papers relating to local government deposited by Professor Kenneth Young, 1945-1985, comprising: Memoranda of evidence sent to the 1986 Committee of Inquiry into the Conduct of Local Authority Business (Widdicombe Committee), 1985. Kenneth Young acted as research director and adviser to the Committee (6 boxes). Also includes papers relating to the 1947 Local Government Boundary Commission, 1945-1954, including minutes of meetings, memoranda, statements submitted to the Commision, correspondence, statements of reasons and public relations bulletins. The papers were given to Kenneth Young by 2nd Baron Silsoe, son of the chairman of the Commission, Malcolm Trustram Eve (1 box).

Papers, 1926-1986, of Ifor Ball Powell, largely comprising the Philippine reference material collected by him, together with his correspondence and personal papers. The reference material covers topics such as the Philippine legislature; Philippine administration; political parties, elections and election statistics; US Philippine agreements and relations; Philippine Islands during World War II; and the City of Manila. Also included are photographs taken during Powell's field trips in Southeast and East Asia, particularly in the Philippines, and an extensive collection of press cuttings.

Papers, c1900-1992, collected by Jean Boyd, relating to northern Nigeria from the late 18th century to the 1990s.

Papers on Nana Asma'u include copies of her manuscript poems (1820-1865) and later papers relating to her work, including translations, 1976-1984. Papers on works by Shehu dan Fodio include copies of his poems on male-female relationships (1789 and undated) and later papers relating to his work, 1975-1981. Papers on works by Asma'u's female relatives and descendants include copies of poems and writings by various authors (c1860-1934 and undated) and later papers relating to the subject, c1950-1990. Other material comprises field notes on the remnants of Asma'u's disciples, the Yan Taru, 1973-1990; papers on the milieu in which Asma'u lived in Gobir, c1900-1984, including Gobir chiefs; papers, including press cuttings, on the situation of women in northern Nigeria in the 1980s, the subjects including Muslims, prostitution, women's organizations, medical matters, and women's education.

Papers, 1903-1992, including articles, reports and press cuttings, on Sokoto relate to geological history, prehistory, palaeontology, archaeology, pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history, the subjects including the social and economic history of the city of Sokoto, colonial administration, British fears over Mahdism, and local government and economic issues in Sokoto state in modern Nigeria.

Three volumes contain over 500 postcards, many in colour, relating to Nigeria, including images of people, cultural events, various places, and other aspects of Nigerian life [late 20th century].