Papers relating to Robert Sheldon's chairmanship of the Committee of Public Accounts, 1964-1997, including Chairmen's files, Committee of Public Accounts and National Audit Office reports, Treasury minutes and correspondence.

Seychelles political and trade union material, from 1964 onwards, including constitutions, manifestos, speeches, letters, newsletters, lists of candidates, congress reports and policy statements issued by the National Workers Union (Seychelles), the Seychelles Democratic Party, the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, the Seychelles People's United Party and the United Opposition (Seychelles).

This collection contains betacam videotapes and transcripts of interviews with leading political figures and members of the public during the 1970s and broadcast as the documentary 'The Writing on the Wall'. The collection covers many areas of political and social history during the period, most notably trade unionism and industrial relations.

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.

Papers of Beatrice Nancy Seear, Baroness Seear of Paddington, [1930]-1997, mainly comprising case studies, reports and memoranda relating to her work with the Runnymeade Industrial Unit, the London Business School Minority Groups, and the Community Relations Commission, as well as material concerning women's employment.

Papers of Peter Sedgwick (1934-1983), including: correspondence with contemporaries and friends including Raphael Samuel, Jean McCrindle, Anna Davin, Luke Hodgkin, Stanley and Hannah Mitchell, Steven Lukes and others, 1953-1983; photocopies of Sedgwick's handwritten diaries, 1980-1983; family, biographical and personal papers, 1934-1952; published articles, reviews and papers regarding politics, psychology and Victor Serge, 1963-1984.

The archive consists of manuscripts and typescripts of books and articles written by Amelia Scott including:

• Periodicals relating to the women's suffrage campaign and other women's issues - inc. Family Welfare Association (Passing of a Great Dread was serialised in three volumes of this periodical), 4 volumes Liberal Woman's Review.

Pamphlets and Ephemera - inc. National Union of Women Workers, inc Soldiers' Central Laundry and photographs thereof, National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, National Council of Women, Woman's Leader and Common Cause

• Minute books - Committee meetings of Working Girls Club (including reports of the Leisure Hour Club), Christian Social Union, and Christian Social Crusade.

• Speeches - for election campaigns, on women's suffrage

• Papers relating to her work in Tunbridge Wells including material relating standing for election in Tunbridge Wells and election as a guardian for Tonbridge Union, and papers concerning a number of welfare projects she was involved in including the establishment of a Maternity Home and various housing projects.

• Personal and family papers including publications belonging to Amelia Scott, inc. her father's will, general papers and family photographs.

• Correspondence - approximately 150 letters to Amelia Scott; including photocopies of some originals from well-known individuals which were auctioned for charity, correspondents include Eleanor Rathbone and Beatrice Webb. Also letters to Amelia's sister Louise.

• Objects consist of a decoration and presentation book concerning her work during the First World War and the assisting of Belgian refugees and a bag with Kentish Pilgrims Way and red, white and green ribbons sewn on.

Printed treatise on the government of Florence, [1498], by Girolama Savonarola, entitled Tractato di frate Hieronymo da Ferrara dell ordine de predicatori circa el reggimento & governo della Citta di Firenze composto ad instantia delli excelsi Signori al tempo di Giuliano Salviati Gonfaloniere di Iustitia, [published by Bartolommeo de'Libri, Florence, 1498].

Sarawak political material, 1962-[1970] produced by the following groups: Barisan Pemuda Sarawak, Sarawak Government, Parti Bumiputera Sarawak, Party Pesaka Sarawak, Sarawak Alliance Party, Sarawak Chinese Association, Sarawak National Party, and Sarawak United People's Party.

The collection of the politician Neville Sandelson, 1923-1996, includes a series of scrapbooks of press cuttings covering Sandelson's period as an MP, files relating to the Hayes and Harlington constituency, and papers on the Labour Party and the SDP. Sandelson took a keen interest in foreign affairs, and there are files on the Middle East, Afghanistan, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. There is also an extensive collection of photographs documenting his political life.

Speeches, constitutions, reports, manifestos, speeches, statements, letters and newsletters issued by the Commercial, Technical and Allied Workers' Union (Saint Vincent), the Labour Party (Saint Vincent), the Movement for National Unity, the National Progressive Workers' Union (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the People's Political Party of Saint Vincent, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, the St. Vincent Junior Chamber and the Youlou United Liberation Movement. They are concerned amongst other things with the problems of economic development in the islands, with the position of the country in the Caribbean as a whole and of course with the transition to independence. There are also materials issued by trades unions as well as by human rights and business groups.

Constitution and manifestos issued by the United Workers' Party (Saint Lucia), 1964-1997.

Manifestos, platforms, press releases, papers and miscellaneous election material from 1975 onwards issued by the Nevis Reformation Party, the People's Action Movement (Saint Kitts and Nevis), the People's Progressive Party (Anguilla), the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union. The materials here date from the period around the split with Anguilla and the subsequent move to independence and are concerned both with these issues and with the desire of Nevis for more local autonomy.

Manifestos and pamphlets issued by the St. Helena Labour Party in seeking election to the Island's council, 1975-1976.

Constitutions, memoranda, newsletters and pamphlets, 1961-1970, issued by the National Unity Party (Sabah), the Sabah Alliance Party, the Society of Kadazans, the United National Kadazan Organisation and the United Sabah National Organisation. The majority of the materials held here date from the period just prior to independence and federation and originate from newly formed parties debating the benefits of both for Sabah in the context of a fear of excessive Chinese or Malay influence.

Collection of miscellaneous papers, including embassy handouts, conference papers, correspondence, reports and speeches, accumulated by the Far East Department of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, c1926-1962. They address political and economic issues in the Far East and South East Asia including China, Japan, Korea and Formosa.

Platforms, statements, letters, newsletters, constitutions, speeches, addresses and broadcasts, 1957-1962 issued by the Central Africa Party, the Constitution Party (Rhodesia and Nyasaland) and the United Federal Party. Only material produced by a federal party during the existence of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland has been included in this collection.

Manuscript volume containing a [transcript of a] report by Maximilien Lasowski on the state of English finances in 1784, addressed to his pupil François Alexandre Frédéric, Duc de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt (1747-1827), a French educator and social reformer. The report is written in the form of four letters, dated at Bury St. Edmunds, 10 Jun, 25 Jun, 14 Jul and 2 Aug, and includes a letter addressed to the Duc de Liancourt concerning the laws and principles surrounding parliamentary elections in England, and various impressions of political customs there, [1784]. The manuscript is written on the left half only of each page, and there are additions in pencil and ink in the right hand margin.

Papers of Bernhard Reichenbach, 1953-1974, document the post-war journalistic and broadcasting activities of Reichenbach, former actor, political party official, journalist and refugee from Nazi Germany.

The papers consist largely of annotated drafts of broadcast transcripts, produced for the German radio station, Süddeutscher Rundfunk. They cover a wide range of subjects providing, for the German audience, an insight into the economic, social and political life of Britain, 1963-1974. Also included are book reviews and correspondence.

Official programme of Reform League demonstration in London, 3 Dec 1866, giving details of times and places of meeting, routes of processions etc.

Papers relating to Lord Merlyn-Rees' political career, 1949-2002, concerning his role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Among the papers are: transcripts of Merlyn Rees' taped diary, 1972-1976. These are a very useful insight into Rees' contemporary views on politics and events in Northern Ireland. Included are accounts of: the Ulster Workers' Strike; the collapse of the power sharing executive; the Constitutional Convention; meetings with politicians; parliamentary proceedings; and, security matters such as internment and special category status for paramilitary prisoners. The diaries also contain comments on UK politics generally (MERLYN-REES/1); articles, lectures and speeches by Lord Merlyn-Rees, 1965-2002, including speeches made while he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Home Secretary (MERLYN-REES/2); drafts of 'Northern Ireland: a personal perspective' (MERLYN-REES/3); correspondence, timetables and other papers regarding visits to Northern Ireland by Merlyn Rees and Colleen Rees, mainly 1972-1976 (MERLYN-REES/4); official papers, mainly 1974-1976 (MERLYN-REES/5); Northern Ireland Office press notices, 1974-1976 (MERLYN-REES/6); correspondence files, 1971-1997 (MERLYN-REES/7); subject files relating to Northern Ireland, including correspondence, official memoranda (including memos from Roger Darlington, political adviser/researcher), articles, press cuttings and other papers. These have been arranged by the archivist in a number of series: legislation (MERLYN-REES/8); media (MERLYN-REES/9); political (MERLYN-REES/10); religion, culture and parades (MERLYN-REES/11); security (MERLYN-REES/12); social and economic (MERLYN-REES/13); organisations (MERLYN-REES/14); people (MERLYN-REES/15); general (MERLYN-REES/16); papers regarding the campaign for the release of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven, and papers regarding the Birmingham Six case (MERLYN-REES/17); papers regarding allegations of a 'dirty tricks' campaign by elements of the security forces during the 1970s. Merlyn Rees was one of the people who was smeared during the campaign (MERLYN-REES/18); subject files (except Northern Ireland), including papers on crime, the Falklands War, media, the miners' strike and policing (MERLYN-REES/19); photographs (MERLYN-REES/20).

Papers of the writer Sir Richard Rees, c1920-1970 and undated.

Manuscripts and typescripts for Rees' published and unpublished work include material for an unpublished book of essays; a typescript of his unpublished novel; unpublished shorter pieces, including lectures on literary and cultural subjects, among them George Orwell and Simone Weil.

Miscellaneous personal papers and writings, 1926-1960s, include notes on dreams; travel notes on the USA, 1929; a Russian diary, 1935; papers relating to the Spanish Civil War; typescript papers of the International Commission for War Refugees, 1941-1944, and other correspondence and papers on its work; papers relating to Rees' service in World War Two; correspondence concerning Rees' membership of the committee of the Pilgrim Trust; papers relating to sales of Rees' books; printed papers, comprising various articles and book reviews relating to Rees' interests.

Correspondence, c1920-1970, comprises items to Rees and carbon copies or drafts of his letters, the correspondents including prominent literary and other public figures, for example David Astor, Vanessa Bell, Joseph Conrad, Victor Gollancz, Frieda Lawrence, Iris Murdoch, Sonia Orwell, Sir Herbert Read, Hugh Trevor-Roper, A L Rowse, John Sparrow, Stephen Spender, R H Tawney, and many others, and including letters relating to George Orwell, J Middleton Murry, R H Tawney, and Simone Weil; correspondence with his literary agents A D Peters and with publishers, on his publications and broadcasts; letters to the press; personal papers, including c100 letters from Rees to his mother, c1938-c1942, other family letters, and snapshots; correspondence with J Middleton Murry and his wife, 1936-1937, relating to personal matters leading to Rees' resignation from the Adelphi, and other papers relating to the Adelphi, 1935-1936.

Other material includes a notebook including typescript reviews and letters to editors; memoranda of agreements with publishers for books, articles, etc, 1954-1969; press cuttings on various political, literary, artistic, and other subjects, including reviews of some works by Rees; typescript diary of a visit to Italy, 1959.

Rees' papers on George Orwell, 1949-1963, relating to his role as literary executor include correspondence and papers, some relating to Orwell's death, adopted son Richard, and proposed posthumous publications, and including material relating to his wife Sonia; papers on the George Orwell Archive Trust; typescript transcripts of poems Orwell contributed to the Adelphi, 1933-1936; two book reviews by Orwell, 1943-1944.

Rees' papers on Simone Weil largely comprise translations, typescripts and proofs for Rees' publications on Weil. There are also some writings by Weil; a photograph of her, 1942; letters to Rees from Weil's mother and brother, André, and other correspondence on Weil, 1958-1970; press cuttings on Rees' publications on Weil.

Rees' papers on R H Tawney, relating to his role as literary executor, include correspondence and papers of Tawney; Rees' correspondence on Tawney, largely dating from 1960-1970; correspondence and papers relating to the sale of Tawney's belongings and his will, with other personal documents relating to Tawney and his wife; correspondence relating to the disposal of Tawney's collection of books on economic history, 1952. The correspondents include a number of prominent literary and other public figures.

The later deposit comprises a typescript on Orwell and a typescript and corrected proofs on Murry.

Articles, factsheets, conference documents, pamphlets, bulletins, programs, reports and histories, 1965 onwards, issued by American Friends Service Committee, Asociación Cubana de las Naciones Unidas, Caribbean Labour Solidarity, Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization, Committee for Puerto Rican Independence, Conferecia Internacional de Solaridad con la Independencia de Puerto Rico, Liga Socialista Puertorriqueña, Movimiento de Izquierda Nacional Puertorriqueño, Movimiento de Liberación Nacional (P.R.), Movimiento Ecumenico Nacional de Puerto Rico, New Movement in Solidarity with Puerto Rican Independence and Socialism, Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, Partido Socialista Puertorriqueña, Russell Tribunal on Repression in Brazil, Chile, and Latin America, United Nations Comité de Puerto Rico, and United States Dept. of State.

Prose and verse on moral and political affairs, some in dialogue form, in several hands.

The Women's Library continues to document the development of feminism in the UK, and examples of '3rd wave' activity can be found within our Zine Collection. The Zine Collection began with a donation of 50 zines by Ladyfest London in 2002. This Collection comprises self-published magazines reflecting contemporary feminism and the attitudes and concerns of young women in the UK today. It currently includes over 150 indexed zines on topics ranging from music, feminism, art, fashion, food, politics, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, popular culture, travelling, relationships, parenting and much more. The Women's Library aims to collect and preserve women's zines from the 1970s to the present day.

Over 3,000 periodical titles are held dating from 1745, some in single issues, but many in complete or representative runs. The Periodicals Collection brings together academic, popular and campaigning women's journals in one location and gives a unique insight into periodicals published about, for and by women. Titles range from commercially-produced popular magazines (Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan), to academic quarterlies (Gender and History, Feminist Review), organisational journals (One Parent Families, National Association of Women Pharmacists), special interest publications (Executive Black Woman), and older titles such as the English Woman's Journal. Many of these titles are not held in other research collections. The non-commercial nature of many of these periodicals with limited self-published print runs, resulted in periodicals that were issued irregularly, on poor quality paper and often only selectively deposited with the main copyright libraries.

COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED

The Library's collection of commercially published magazines, a key resource for research into social history and popular culture, begins with the Ladies' Almanack of the 1740s and documents women's fashion and domestic concerns from runs of the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine, The Queen, Ladies' Magazine, Ladies Monthly Magazine and Lady, Gentlewoman, in the 19th century; Home Chat, Woman's Weekly, Woman, Woman's Own, Honey,, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire in the 20th century; Grazia, Glamour and Easy Living of more recent years. Also included are some magazines aimed at girls and young women such as The Girls' Own Paper, Petticoat, Just 17 and Jackie.

FEMINIST AND CAMPAIGNING

At the heart of the Periodical Collection are the women's campaigning journals and feminist periodicals. The collection of feminist periodicals at The Women's Library is unrivalled in its extent and breadth. It begins with the English Woman's Journal of the mid-19th century, and continues with titles such as The Young Women and includes complete runs of titles such as The Women's Penny Paper, the Woman's Herald, Victoria Magazine, the Woman's Signal, the Woman's Leader, Englishwoman's Review, Englishwoman, Freewoman, Time and Tide, Woman's Gazette, and Shafts all of which were key to the development of feminist theory and progressive ideas.

SUFFRAGE

The Library's extensive collection of suffrage periodicals is central to the study of women's rights in the 20th century, titles including Votes for Women, Common Cause, Woman's Dreadnought, The Vote, the Women's Suffrage Journal, Women's Franchise, the Suffragette Newssheet, the Independent Suffragette, Britannia, and the Suffragette as well as titles such as the Anti-Suffrage Review.

WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT

The collection of journals documenting 'second-wave' feminism in the UK includes complete runs of titles such as Spare Rib and Trouble and Strife and near complete runs of other liberation titles such as Red Rag, Shrew, WIRES, Outwrite and the London Women's Liberation Newsletter. Regional involvement was an integral part of the movement and this is charted through a number of regional titles including Brighton and Hove Women's Liberation Group, Edinburgh Women's Liberation newsletter, Leeds Women's Liberation newsletter, Leicester Women's Liberation newsletter, Manchester Women's Liberation newsletter and Norwich Women's Centre newsletter.

CONTEMPORARY FEMINISTS

The periodical holdings continue to document the development of contemporary feminism, sometimes referred to as 'third wave', with titles including Verve and Subtext. Additional contemporary feminist publications can be found within our 'zine' collection (dating from 2002).

WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS

Periodicals created by women's organisations, networks and campaigns. These can include weekly or monthly newsletters and magazines aimed at members, quarterly and annual journals aimed at members and a wider academic audience, and annual reports aimed at a wider audience. Given the short life of many campaigning organisations, their newsletters and bulletins often provide the main record of their activities. Few of these publications are held elsewhere, and they are only selectively deposited with national collections, organisations include: the Fawcett Society, National Council of Women, The National Federation of Women's Institutes (Home and Country), Townswomen's Guilds (The Townswoman), UK Federation of Business and Professional Women, Girls' Friendly Society, Executive Black Woman, Catholic Citizen and National Association of Women Pharmacists document women's efforts to come together to improve the quality of their lives.

SPECIALIST INTEREST

Whilst retaining the collecting focus of women's lives in the UK, there are a number of subject specialist interest areas including:

• The Arts - titles such as Feminist Arts News, Heresies: a feminist publication on art and politics, n.paradoxa: international feminist art journal, Vogue and Women's Art Magazine.

• Domestic Violence - titles such as Rights of Women Bulletin, Violence Against Women: an international interdisciplinary journal and Women at War: preventing gun violence, WAVAV - Women Against Violence Against Women.

• Education - titles such as Gender and Education, The Woman Teacher, Gen: an anti-Sexist Education Journal, British Federation of University Women, and The Parents' Review.

• Employment - titles such as Work and Leisure, Women's Union Journal, Labour Woman, Women's Trade Union Review, Equality Now: magazine of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Executive Woman, the Woman Worker, The Woman Engineer: journal of the Woman's Engineering Society and Double shift: working women's newsletter.

• Family and the home - titles such as Women's Weekly, Woman's Own, Family Planning Today and New Home economics.

• Feminist Theory - titles such as Feminist Studies, Feminist Economics, Feminist Theory, and the International Journal of Feminist Studies.

• Health - titles such as Women and Health, Top Sante, London Black Women's Health Action project newsletter and Mental Health.

• Law - titles such as ALRA newsletter: Campaigning for a Woman's Right to Choose on Abortion, Family Law, Individualist: monthly journal of personal rights, Lesbian Employment Rights, and Rights of Women Bulletin, National Abortion Campaign.

• Literature - titles such as Mslexia, Silver Moon Quarterly and Writing Women.

• Media - titles such as Feminist Media Studies, The Woman Journalist and Women's Media Action Bulletin.

• Medicine - titles such as Women in Medicine: newsletter of the Medical Women's Federation and National Association of Women Pharmacists newsletter.

• Motherhood - titles such as Home and Family: journal of the Mother's Union, Journal of Marriage and Family, Maternity Alliance, Gingerbread, One Parent Families, World Congress of Mothers News and Information.

• Sexuality - titles such as Sappho, Sex Roles: a journal of research, Journal of the history of sexuality, Chroma, Diva, Arena Three and Dykelife.

• Women and peace - titles such as Woman today, Greenham Newsletter, Peace and Freedom News: journal of the British Section of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Sellafield Women's Peace Camp Newsletter, Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Newsletter and WoMenwith Hill: Women's Peace Camp Newsletter.

• Politics - titles such as Equal Opportunities International, Gender and Society and the NAWO e-bulletin (National Alliance of Women's Organisations).

• Prostitution - titles such as The Shield: to promote the repeal of Contagious Diseases Act, Network: news from the English Collective of Prostitutes and WHISPER: Women hurt in systems of prostitution engaged in revolt.

• Ethnicity - titles such as Pride, Race Today and Manushi.

• Religion - titles such as Church Militant, Jewish Women's Review, Catholic Citizen, Newsheet/Women Living Under Muslim Laws International Solidarity Network, and Movement for the Ordination of Women.

• Science and Technology are The Woman Engineer, Science for People, Women Chemists Newsletter and Forum: Journal of the Association for Women in Science and Engineering.

• Sport - titles such as Poise: the Health and beauty magazine, Ladies' Alpine Club, The Dyke: Lesbian Walkers' Magazine, Women in Sport: the Voice of Women's Sport and Outdoor Women.

Political papers and correspondence regarding Reginald Prentice's de-selection by his Newham North East constituency, the 1976 Labour Party conference on Blackpool, his defection to the Conservative Party and general political activities.

This collection contains Richard Potter's diaries, accounts, parliamentary journals, correspondence and miscellaneous papers.

The papers of Raymond Postgate, 1830-2000, contain mainly administrative and personal correspondence which are catalogued as correspondence and subject files. Six further sections contain personal papers, Postgate's papers in relation to World War One, his writing research notes and drafts, his work with the Good Food Club and wine writing, and research papers relevant to a biography of his life. There is a large separate section for photographs, many of which are of the Postgate and Lansbury families. The collection also includes four individual sections of letters and papers belonging to George Lansbury, Daisy Postgate, Nellie Lansbury and Helen Hibberd.

Microfilms of the Popper papers held at Stanford University, California, including Popper's speeches and writings, correspondence, course material, subject files, biographical files, index cards with the addresses of acquaintances, and selected writings by others.

Records of the Polytechnic Parliament, 1883-1970, comprising minutes recording the business of the Council which administered the society's affairs, 1883-1916, 1920-1965, 1970; minutes for sittings of the parliament, 1892-1915, 1920-1964; constituency books, 1883, 1930s; motion books, 1884-1915, 1923-1926; members' address book, 1890s; file of typescript orders and rules, 1933; file re amendments, 1930s; Conservative party records, 1930s; attendance books, 1934-1960s; printed constitution, 1948; report to Development Committee and related papers, 1954; subscription book, 1950s-1960s; undated standing orders and rules; two undated photographs, including Polytechnic Parliament in session in Fyvie Hall (in no 309 Regent Street).

Papers of the Political Studies Association, 1950-1983, including minutes of the PSA, 1950-1981; conference papers, 1952-1981, including material on organisation; Chairman's correspondence, 1965-1968; Treasurer's correspondence, 1965-1968; correspondence and papers concerning the editing of Political Studies, 1965-1966; correspondence of the Executive Committee, 1965-1968, the Fulton Committee, 1966, and the Social Science Research (Heyworth) Committee, 1963-1964; correspondence of the Comparative Politics Group, 1967-1970; papers and correspondence with Oxford University Press, 1965-1968; membership letters, 1961-1975; material concerning the International Political Studies Association, 1963-1968.

Papers of the Political Economy Club, include minute book, 1821-1824, with loose handwritten minutes by James Mill, 1821; minute book 1911-1919; membership records, c 1920s-1960s; nominations book, 1917-1927; Sydney Caine's files as secretary, 1958-1968; secretary's files, 1927-1929, 1966, 1969 and 1973-1976; typescript copies of speeches, correspondence and other documents relating to the Political Economy Club, 1883-1897; treasurer's files, 1959-1965, 1967-1984 and 1985-1989; bank correspondence, 1975-1988; accounts and balance sheets, 1927-1949; correspondence relating to printing, 1977-1979; correspondence files, 1914-1951; lists of members, 1977-1985; bank book, 1924-1932; membership subscription papers, 1966-1967; minutes of centenary meeting, 1921; rules, 1917-1976, with printed membership lists, notices of membership nominations and ephemera; correspondence, c1830s; printed volumes relating to the Club's history

Papers of Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair of St Andrews, 1795-1910, comprising general correspondence, 1795, 1840-1910, covering a range of subjects relating to Playfair's scientific and political interests, notably with Prince Albert, 1851-[1853], and via Charles Grey, 1850-1861, concerning the Great Exhibition, Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, 1865-1886, Matthew Arnold, 1883, Sir Charles Barry, 1795-1860, Thomas Francis Bayard, concerning 'Venezuela dispute', 1896, Queen Victoria, 1883, and via Sir Arthur John Bigge, 1895-1898, Charles Booth, 1895, Sir David Brewster, concerning lighthouses,1851-1868, Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, concerning their research, 1841-1849, Edwin Chadwick, concerning agriculture and politics, 1855-1899, concerning pensions, Joseph Chamberlain, concerning the Aged Poor Commission, Venezuela, 1894-1899, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, concerning the 1851 Commission,1882-1896, Sir Robert Christison, concerning vivisection bill, 1867-1876, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1852-1874, Charles Darwin, concerning vivisection bill, 1875, Sir Thomas Henry De La Beche, concerning the Geological Survey, 1842-1852, Sir James Dewar, 1885-1898, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), 1879-1898, Michael Faraday, 1842-1857, William Ewart Gladstone, 1859-1892, Thomas Graham, 1839-1867, Thomas Henry Huxley, 1854-1891, Henry James, 1898, George Granville Leveson-Gower, [1850]-1889, Justus von Liebig, 1841-1873, Joseph Lister, 1876-1898, David Livingstone, including an account of his exploration in Africa, 1861, John Stuart Mill, 1868, Viscount Horatio Nelson to 'Pollard', 1795, Sir Robert Peel, [1842]-1850, letters of condolence to Lady Playfair on the death of Lord Playfair, 1898.

Family correspondence, comprising letters to various correspondents from Playfair, 1854-1898, notably his son George and daughter-in-law; letters from Edith Playfair (third wife), to her step-son, 1898.

Papers relating to diplomas and appointments, 1840-1892, notably appointment as Professor of Chemistry, Edinburgh University, 1858, Charity Commissioner, 1886, Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, 1892, Privy Councillor, 1873.

Papers relating to orders and decorations, 1851-1898, notably Order of the Bath, Order of the Legion of Honour and Jubilee Medal.

Papers of Sir Isaac James Pitman, [1940-1972], mainly relating to his political career, notably the nationalisation of the Bank of England and the gas industry, and his work for the World Security Authority. The collection also contains printed material relating to Boots and Glaxo.

(1) Letter from Karl-Heinz Pfeffer of Leipzig W 31, Margpergerstrasse 27, to J H P Pafford, 5 Oct 1938. Discussing the political situation in Europe, including the Czech 'problem' and Nazi Germany's hopes for peace, etc. Autograph, with signature.

(2) Cutting from The Times, 24 Sep 1938, originally enclosed in item (1).

(3) Note by Pafford about Pfeffer, 15 Jun 1970.

Pamphlets, reports, government publications, programs, bulletins, conference proceedings, dossiers, leaflets, communiqués, histories, declarations and manifestos from 1964 onwards issued by Amnesty International, Asamblea Permanente de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos Perú, Central Latinoamericana de Trabajadores, Centro de Estudios y Promoción Comunal del Oriente, Centro de Información y Documentación de Bolivia, Centro de Intercambio de la Educación Popular, Centro de la Mujer Peruana Flora Tristán, Centro IDEAS, Centro Latinoamericano de Trabajo Social, Centro Nacional de Capacitación e Investigación para la Reforma Agraria, Comisión Episcopal de Acción Social, Comisión Evangélica Latinoamericana de Educación Cristiana, Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos (Peru), Comité de Asesoramiento de la Presidencia de la República (COAP), Comité de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Comité de defensa de los trabajadores petroleros del sur este del Perú Madre de Dios, Comité de la Unidad Democrático Popular del Perú en México, Confederación Campesina del Perú, Congreso de Comunidades Industriales de la Rama Automotriz y Anexos (1st : 1973 : Lima, Perú), Consulta de Iglesias Latinoamericanas sobre Cómo Enfrentar el Racismo en la Década del '80 (1980 : Panama, Panama), Consulta sobre Clase y Raza en los Textos Escolares de América Latina (1980 : San José, Costa Rica), Cooperativa agraria de producción, Desco, Dirección de Difusión de la Reforma Agraria, Dirección de Promoción de la Reforma Agraria, Ediciones Labor, Federación de Trabajadores de Luz y Fuerza del Perú, Federación de Trabajadores Molineros, Fideeros y Afines del Perú, Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America, Ministerio de Agricultura (Peru), Ministerio de Energía y Minas (Peru), Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (Peru), Oficina Central de Información (Peru), Parroquia Virgen de Nazareth (El Agustino, Lima, Peru), Partido Aprista Peruano, Partido Comunista del Perú, Partido Comunista Peruano, Partido Socialista Revolucionario, Partido Vanguardia Revolucionaria, Pomalca Ltda. No.38, President of Peru, Red Regional de Promoción de la Mujer de San Martín, Seminario sobre la Problemática Agraria Peruana (1977 : Ayacucho), SINAMOS, Sub-Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Parlamento de la República, ULAJE, Unidad Democrático Popular (Peru), United Nations General Assembly, Universidad del Pacífico, Vanguardia Revolucionaria (Peru), World Council of Churches, World Council of Indigenous Peoples.

Records of the prison Supervisors comprising: "Act of Parliament to explain and amend the Laws relating to the Transportation, Imprisonment, and other Punishment, of certain offenders, authorising building of two penitentiaries", 1779; order by King appointing John Howard, George Whatley and Dr John Fothergill Supervisors of the penitentiaries to be erected under above Act, 1779; minutes of meetings of the Supervisors to discuss possible sites near London and a plan for the male penitentiary, 1779; draft letter from George Whatley to John Howard, acknowledging receipt of letter, overestimate of savings expected from convicts' labour, and difficulties ahead, 1780; memorial by Supervisors recommending site between Grays Inn Road and Bagnigge Wells Road read out at meeting with Lord Chancellor, Speaker, Judges and Lord Mayor, 1780; proposal by John Howard and John Fothergill for a new site for the Penitentiary near the White Conduit, marked on a map now missing, 1780.

Transcript of interview by Ian Hancock of Miles Anthony Pedder relating to the United Rhodesia Party (URP) and the Central Africa Party (CAP), 1953-1964; including details of his work as Honorary Secretary of the URP, the organisation of the party, establishment of Branches in Coloured, Asian and African areas from 1955; the reformation of the African National Congress (ANC), 1957; his impressions of Garfield Todd as Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, 1953-1958; the election of Edgar Whitehead as Prime Minister, 1958; the role of the Central African Party in the Southen Rhodesia Constitutional Conference, and the subsequent referendum on the Constitution, 1960-1961; the victory of the Rhodesia Front Party, 1962, the break-up of the Federation and the Unilateral Declaration of Independence, 1963-1964.

Manuscript volume, 17th century: the Manner of Holdinge a Parliament in England in 24 Articles, comprising eight texts on parliamentary history, back to the Anglo-Saxon period, and on procedure, concerning both the House of Lords and the House of Commons and their powers.

Files containing press cuttings from national and local newspapers, magazines and supplements, extracts of speeches from Hansard, correspondence with and notes by Roth and other material relating to political activities and careers of various British Members of Parliament.

The Parker Papers, 1943-1982, mainly consist of comments, corrections and suggestions from those to whom John Parker sent the first thoughts of the various chapters which would eventually form the basis of his memoirs, Father of the House, published in 1982 by Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd. They also include various official related records concerned with particularly interesting or important moments from his political career. They consist mainly of correspondence, memorandums, reports and notes. These papers were all deposited upon the publication of his, previously mentioned, book of memoirs.

The collection consists of six separate series of records, ranging virtually the entire span of his time in the House of Commons. The six series reflect the way in which John Parker maintained his papers, each concerning a specific topic. These include records concerning his various literary compositions, the Legitimacy Act of 1959, Select Committee on Procedure, Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law and Sunday Observance.

Press cuttings, reports, project reports, pamphlets, manuals, presidential pronouncements, and pamphlets issued by Anglican Council of South America, Asociacion Indigenista del Paraguay, Centro de Investigación y Planes, Comité de Iglesias (Asunción, Paraguay), Conferencia Episcopal Paraguaya, Equipo de Pastoral de los Paraguayos en la Argentina, Instituto de Bienestar Rural, International League for Human Rights, Ligia Bolivar O, Misión de Amistad, Movimiento Argentino Contra el Sistema de Represión del Gobierno Paraguayo, Movimiento Argentino por la Liberación de los Presos Políticos del Paraguay, Patria (Asunción), President (Paraguay), Pro Mundi Vita (Society), PROMURI, Proyecto Educación Sanitaria, Proyecto Guarani, Proyecto Paí-Tavyterã, Proyecto Urbano, Servicio Ecuménico para Migraciones, United Nations Development Programme.

Pamphlets, leaflets, manifestos, constitutions, posters and miscellaneous election materials from 1961 onwards issued by the All Peoples Party of Papua and New Guinea, the Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu), the People's Progress Party (Papua New Guinea), the United Party (Papua New Guinea), the United Progress Party (Papua New Guinea), the Voters Manifesto Committee (Papua New Guinea) and the Voters Rights Action Group (Papua New Guinea). The majority of the materials held here date either from the early 1960s or from the first election in 1977, although there are also items produced by later pressure groups complaining about the lack of control of voters over the formation of governments given the country's weak party system and the predilection of members to change parties following elections. The independence struggles of Bougainville Island in the 1970s and 1990s are also mentioned.

Pamphlets, reports, analyses, histories, letters from 1972 issued by Bishops' Conference of Panama, CEASPA, Centro de Estudios Económico-Sociales(CEES), Congreso General Extraordinario Guaymí de Soloy, Chiriquí (1980), Congreso General Guaymí de Kankintú, Bocas del Toro (1st : 1979), Congreso Interamericano de Planification (10th : 1974 : Panama), Diálogo Social, Ecumenical Program for Inter-American Communication and Action, Equipo Promoción de la Mujer, Fe y Alegría (Organization), Instituto Cooperativo Interamericano. Seminar (25th : 1978 : Panamá), Institute of Torrijista Studies, Junta Militar de Gobierno (Panama), Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario (Panama), Movimiento Campesino de Panama, Survival International, United States Dept. of Defense.

Pakistan pamphlets, leaflets, speeches, reports, conference reports, letters, newsletters, and miscellaneous materials, from 1940 onwards issued by the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Jammu and Kashmir, India), Jamiatiattehad-Ul-Ulma, the Muslim India Information Centre, the National Awami Party of Pakistan (London), the National Democratic Movement (Pakistan), the National Progressive League (Pakistan), the Pakistan Democratic Party, the Pakistan Muslim League, the Pakistan National Movement, and the Pakistan People's Party.

Letter from Robert Owen of Braxfield, [Lanarkshire] to 'the London Partners in the firm of Robert Owen and Co', 24 Oct 1814. Sending monthly accounts [missing]. Attributing poor trading in cotton to political instability in Europe; explains that unprofitable sales in Russia must continue until the market improves so that the mills [at New Lanark] can be kept working.

Notes containing extracts from ancient Greek philosophers' writings, in Russian [c 1941]

Political papers of Stanley Orme, 1974-2004, comprise papers relating to his work as a government minister in the Northern Ireland Office and subsequently the Department for Health and Social Security (1974-1979), Labour Party Opposition Spokesman on Trade and Industry (1979-1983), Energy (1983-1987), and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (1987-1992). Papers from Orme's period in the Northern Ireland Office are related mainly to his work on industrial democracy in Harland and Wolff shipyard, and also contains reports of visits to USA to meet politicians to discuss Northern Ireland politics. Section 2 contains many articles and speeches by Orme relating to health and social security. Section 3 consists mainly in correspondence, and includes discussions of industrial policy and unemployment. Orme's role as Opposition Spokesman on Energy has been divided into two sections. Section 4 covers the general policy area of energy, dealing with such issues as fuel poverty, nuclear power, and industrial relations in the energy sector, whilst Section 5 is devoted to the significant amount of material relating to the 1984-1985 miners' strike. Section 6 contains material from Orme's Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and Section 7 contains articles and speeches written throughout Orme's career.

Cassette copies and transcripts of recordings of unedited interviews assembled, 1972-1974, for the radio series 'Plain Tales from the Raj', including material not included in the broadcast programmes, and comprising c200 hours of material. The 82 subjects interviewed, including men, women, adults and children, lived and worked in India from the late 19th century to Independence (1947) and the interviews cover a wide range of civilian and military experience between 1876 and 1949. Military personnel range from the Commander in Chief of the Army in India to Army privates. Civil servants of various ranks and members of the business and commercial world, for example tea planters, are also included. Women mainly comprise wives and daughters, but also include a few nurses and governesses. The project covered the lives of the British in India and, although the material touches upon the effect of the Raj on India and its indigenous inhabitants, only a small number of Indians and Eurasians were interviewed. Subjects covered include accommodation and living conditions; daily routine; social life and recreation; health and sanitation; the effects of India postings on family life; relations between the British, other Europeans, Indians and Eurasians in social and work environments; events such as riots and earthquakes; the fauna and landscape of India; and political events. Full typescript transcripts (including inaccuracies in some cases) exist for most, but not all, of the recordings.