Records of the Liberal Democratic Party, [1930]-2000, including material relating to Liberal Democrat policy, [1970-1997], notably consultation papers, correspondence, policy briefings and minutes and papers of Green Papers Working Groups on topics such as the economy, tax and benefits, the environment, East-West relations, education, rural affairs, transport, crime and policing, local government, health, housing, disability, ethnic minorities and employment; bulletins, pamphlets publications produced by the Liberal Democrats, the SDP and the Liberal/SDP Alliance, [1980-1994]; election material, 1978-1995, such as manifestos, campaign papers and articles, including papers relating to the 1992 General Election and the 1994 European election; material relating to conferences, 1994-1995; papers concerning the Federal Party, 1988-1999, notably candidate manifestos produced for the 1999 Federal elections, and minutes of the Federal Policy Committee; printed material, [1985-2000], including conference reports, newsletters, leaflets and handbooks; later material regarding the Liberal Democrat leadership campaign, elections for Mayor of London and the London Assembly, and papers of the Defend Council Housing Campaign, 1994-2000.

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).

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.

Papers of Alfred Morris, Baron Morris of Manchester and Labour politician, 1965-1997. Comprises material relating to Morris' work for disabled people; papers relating to Morris' wider work as a Member of Parliament and to his Wythenshawe Constituency and Manchester; papers concerning Labour Party issues, the Co-operative movement and other organisations and institutions.

Letters by Thornely to his fellow MP for Wolverhampton, Charles Pelham Villiers (1802-1898) including some letters by Villiers, bound typescript transcript. Also includes a letter from Thornely to his father announcing his election, 10 Jan 1835, a brief biography of Thornely, and photographs of both Villiers and Thornely.

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.

Ephemera relating to the Northumberland election of 1826, including journals, handouts, posters, press cuttings and song sheets.

Papers of David Vasmer, 1971-2001, comprise papers regarding the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democrats, including documents relating to the merger, conference papers and publications. There are also files relating to the ALC (Association of Liberal Councillors), ASLDC (Association of Social and Liberal Democrat Councillors) and ALDC (Assocation of Liberal Democrat Councillors), including annual reports, minutes, artwork, and publications (such as circulars, leaflets and guides).

Papers of Richard Wainwright MP, c 1868-2005, including personal papers, papers relating to the Colne Valley constituency and general election campaigns, articles, speeches and press releases written by Wainwright and Liberal Party policy papers; papers relating to Richard Wainwright's time at Cambridge University, his work for the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War II and the Rowntree Reform Social Services Trust (now the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust). Further papers relate to his wife, Joyce's, involvement in the Yorkshire Women's Liberal Federation.

Papers of Graham Robert Watson, 1996-1999, including material relating to constituency work, such as correspondence with individual constituents and interest groups, papers concerning elections and subject files on issues including BSE, European monetary union and business.

Sound recordings and papers relating to the radio series 'India: A People Partitioned', 1997. Cassette tapes of interviews (83 tapes) and partial transcripts concern the social history of partition between India and Pakistan (1947) and its effect on people in south Asia. Interviewees included some prominent political and cultural figures, but also 'ordinary' people whose lives were affected by the events surrounding independence, including the large number of refugees created. The subjects discussed include Communism, politicians including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Muslim League, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. Cassette tapes of the five broadcast programmes (3 tapes) are also included: 'The Gathering of the Storm', on the context of partition, disturbances in 1946, and Gandhi's attempts to broker peace; 'The Killing Fields of Punjab', examining partition violence; ' Tearing the Veil', on women's experiences, including abduction; 'Comers and Goers', concerning the experiences of Muslims in India and their dilemma as to whether to migrate to Pakistan or remain in India; 'Unfinished Business', on the Kashmir dispute and the continuing legacy of partition in regional politics, culture and diplomacy. The partial transcripts were made for working purposes and are an indication rather than a definitive record of the contents of the tapes. Appended to the transcripts are copies of an occasional series of articles written by Andrew Whitehead for the Indian Express based on the material he gathered. An additional deposit comprises a cassette tape of the revised programme, 'Unfinished Business', 2000, and six further interview tapes, the interviewees including key participants in India-Pakistan relations, with notes on the contents of the interviews compiled for working purposes.

Papers, 1927-1986, of Gledhill Stanley Blatch, comprising correspondence, press cuttings, reports and political propaganda material collected by him. The material relates largely to the Ethiopian situation in the 1970s and 1980s and covers topics such as the famine and refugee situation, questions of religious discrimination and the Mengistu regime.

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].

Notebooks of Sir Gerald Barry, record conversations with Carl Goerdeler (a member of the German opposition to Hitler) and notes on British politics before and after World War Two; correspondence concerning editorial responsibilities at the 'News Chronicle'; texts of wartime broadcasts; diaries of Sir Gerald Barry's visits to France, Greece, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and the United States of America; a small section on the Festival of Britain consisting of a file of correspondence on the setting up of an International Design Centre and a file of correspondence on the redevelopment of Crystal Palace; one file of correspondence on censorship reform; and articles and speeches by Sir Gerald Barry and notes and drafts for his autobiography.

Correspondence, mainly to the Rt Hon Henry Broadhurst, MP, 1873-1910, from correspondents including the Rt Hon William Ewart Gladstone, Prime Minister; the Rt Hon Joseph Chamberlain, MP; the Rt Hon Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon-Harcourt, MP; John Duke, 1st Baron Coleridge; Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke; Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford; Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys; George H Croxden Powell; Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery; and Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire. There is a name index in the catalogue.

Circa 5000 books collected by Vane Ivanovic. The strength of the library is books on 20th Century Balkan history and books on the Second World War, although there are books on a number of other subjects including the history of the Olympic Games and Spear-fishing. There are also a small number of books pre-dating 1900, going back to the 1490s. The vast majority of books are in English, although a small number are in other Western European languages or Serbo-Croat.