Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
9 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) was founded by journalist Ronald Kidd in 1934 to protect and promote civil liberties and human rights. NCCL's activity in the field of gay rights has been focussed on discrimination in the criminal law and employment rights. NCCL supported the implementation of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendation for the decriminalisation of homosexual activity, and developed links with the Homosexual Law Reform Society, the Albany Trust, and later the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. Gay issues were included in NCCL newsletters and conference resolutions, and a NCCL pamphlet, Privacy under attack, included a section on the private rights of individuals. Two surveys into discrimination in the workplace were undertaken in the 1970s, the first into the policies of London Education Authorities and the second into the attitudes of Social Services Committees, both of which revealed prejudice against gay staff. NCCL also submitted evidence to the criminal Law Reform Committee on Sexual Offences in 1976, and produced a pamphlet Homosexuality and the law in 1978. NCCL was relaunched as Liberty in 1989.
Archival history
Deposited in the Hall-Carpenter Archives prior to their move to the British Library of Political and Economic Science in 1988.
GB 0097 HCA/National Council for Civil Liberties 1962-1989 Subfonds of the Hall-Carpenter Archives 9 boxes National Council for Civil Liberties
The National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) was founded by journalist Ronald Kidd in 1934 to protect and promote civil liberties and human rights. NCCL's activity in the field of gay rights has been focussed on discrimination in the criminal law and employment rights. NCCL supported the implementation of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendation for the decriminalisation of homosexual activity, and developed links with the Homosexual Law Reform Society, the Albany Trust, and later the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. Gay issues were included in NCCL newsletters and conference resolutions, and a NCCL pamphlet, Privacy under attack, included a section on the private rights of individuals. Two surveys into discrimination in the workplace were undertaken in the 1970s, the first into the policies of London Education Authorities and the second into the attitudes of Social Services Committees, both of which revealed prejudice against gay staff. NCCL also submitted evidence to the criminal Law Reform Committee on Sexual Offences in 1976, and produced a pamphlet Homosexuality and the law in 1978. NCCL was relaunched as Liberty in 1989.
Deposited in the Hall-Carpenter Archives prior to their move to the British Library of Political and Economic Science in 1988.
Papers of the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), 1962-1989, including material relating to the NCCL constitution and rules, 1965-1971 and 1979; Annual Reports, 1974-1980; papers of Annual General Meetings, 1962-1971 and 1978-1982; accounts, 1981-1982; minutes and papers of the Executive Committee, 1967-1982; NCCL reports, 1968-1982, mainly comprising reports by staff to the Executive Committee, and reports on human rights issues; NCCL bulletins and newsletters, 1961-1988, notably Civil liberty and Rights; minutes and papers of the NCCL Gay Rights Committee, 1976-1987; minutes and papers of the Gay Community Liaison Group, 1983-1987; minutes of the NCCL Police Committee, 1982; minutes of the Gay Policing Project Support Group, 1983; general papers, 1962-1983, notably leaflets, press cuttings and newsletters of related civil liberties groups.
The collection is arranged in sections as follows: NCCL constitutional papers, Executive Committee papers, reports, newsletters, NCCL Gay Rights Committee papers, general papers.
Apply to Archivist.
Apply to Archivist for copyright details.
English
Full handlist and on-line catalogue available.
The main archive of Liberty is held in the Brynmor Jones Library, Hull University (Ref: DCL).
Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. 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. Oct 2000 Civil and political rights Gay Policing Project Support Group Human rights Lesbian, gay and bisexual rights National Council for Civil Liberties , Gay Community Liaison Group National Council for Civil Liberties , Gay Rights Committee National Council for Civil Liberties , Police Committee National Council for Civil Liberties x Liberty
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), 1962-1989, including material relating to the NCCL constitution and rules, 1965-1971 and 1979; Annual Reports, 1974-1980; papers of Annual General Meetings, 1962-1971 and 1978-1982; accounts, 1981-1982; minutes and papers of the Executive Committee, 1967-1982; NCCL reports, 1968-1982, mainly comprising reports by staff to the Executive Committee, and reports on human rights issues; NCCL bulletins and newsletters, 1961-1988, notably Civil liberty and Rights; minutes and papers of the NCCL Gay Rights Committee, 1976-1987; minutes and papers of the Gay Community Liaison Group, 1983-1987; minutes of the NCCL Police Committee, 1982; minutes of the Gay Policing Project Support Group, 1983; general papers, 1962-1983, notably leaflets, press cuttings and newsletters of related civil liberties groups.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged in sections as follows: NCCL constitutional papers, Executive Committee papers, reports, newsletters, NCCL Gay Rights Committee papers, general papers.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Apply to Archivist.
Conditions governing reproduction
Apply to Archivist for copyright details.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The main archive of Liberty is held in the Brynmor Jones Library, Hull University (Ref: DCL).
Finding aids
Full handlist and on-line catalogue available.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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