Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1939-1983 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
195 boxes and 2 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
George Wigg was born in 1900 and after an early career in the Army entered Parliament as Labour MP for Dudley in 1945. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emanuel Shinwell between 1945 and 1951 and on the election of Harold Wilson's first government in 1964 was appointed Paymaster General with a special interest in defence and security. Wigg retained the post of Paymaster General until 1967 when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Wigg of the Borough of Dudley. Throughout his career, Wigg maintained a close interest in defence, security, African and Middle Eastern politics. Lord Wigg had a lifelong interest in horseracing reflected in his involvement in the organisation of the sport. Career Chronology: born 1900; served in the regular army, 1919-1937 and Royal Army Education Corps, 1940-1946; MP for Dudley, 1945-1967; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emanuel Shinwell, MP as Minister of Fuel and Power, Secretary of State for War and Minister of Defence, 1945-1951; Opposition Whip, 1951-1954; Member of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, 1957-1961; Member of the Totalisator Board, 1961-1964; Paymaster General, 1964-1967; Chairman, Horserace Betting Levy Board, 1967-1972; President, Betting Office Licensees Association, 1973-1983. Throughout his career Wigg maintained a close interest in defence and security issues.
Archival history
GB 0097 WIGG 1939-1983 Collection 195 boxes and 2 volumes Wigg , George Edward Cecil , 1900-1983 , Baron Wigg , politician
George Wigg was born in 1900 and after an early career in the Army entered Parliament as Labour MP for Dudley in 1945. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emanuel Shinwell between 1945 and 1951 and on the election of Harold Wilson's first government in 1964 was appointed Paymaster General with a special interest in defence and security. Wigg retained the post of Paymaster General until 1967 when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Wigg of the Borough of Dudley. Throughout his career, Wigg maintained a close interest in defence, security, African and Middle Eastern politics. Lord Wigg had a lifelong interest in horseracing reflected in his involvement in the organisation of the sport. Career Chronology: born 1900; served in the regular army, 1919-1937 and Royal Army Education Corps, 1940-1946; MP for Dudley, 1945-1967; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emanuel Shinwell, MP as Minister of Fuel and Power, Secretary of State for War and Minister of Defence, 1945-1951; Opposition Whip, 1951-1954; Member of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, 1957-1961; Member of the Totalisator Board, 1961-1964; Paymaster General, 1964-1967; Chairman, Horserace Betting Levy Board, 1967-1972; President, Betting Office Licensees Association, 1973-1983. Throughout his career Wigg maintained a close interest in defence and security issues.
Deposited by the family.
The papers consist mainly of correspondence and memoranda relating to the political positions held by Lord Wigg, 1939-1983, and has been divided into the following sections:
- Early life and personal papers;
- Early Political Career, 1945-1951;
- Labour Party Opposition, 1951-1964;
- Paymaster General, 1964-1967;
- Later Political Career, 1967-1983;
- General Elections, 1945-1966;
- Constituency Papers, 1945-1966;
- Horserace Betting Levy Board, 1964-1972.
A further 80 boxes of papers relating to the Horserace Betting Levy Board remain closed and unlisted.
The archive has been arranged in chronological order. Lord Wigg's practice of maintaining files over many years means that some files will contain material which belong strictly to more than one section.
Open
Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.
English
Detailed catalogue available from Archives staff.
Sources: Copied from LSE Archives CALM database by Anna Towlson.
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.
Feb 2008 Wilson , James Harold , 1916-1995 , Baron Wilson of Rievaulx , statesman x Wilson , Harold x Wilson of Rievaulx , Baron Wigg , George Edward Cecil , 1900-1983 , Baron Wigg , politician Horse racing International relations Politics Political science Government State security Defence Europe Western Europe UK England Worcestershire Dudley Southern Africa Zimbabwe Labour Party Equestrian sports Sport Leisure time activities Leisure London
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by the family.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers consist mainly of correspondence and memoranda relating to the political positions held by Lord Wigg, 1939-1983, and has been divided into the following sections:
- Early life and personal papers;
- Early Political Career, 1945-1951;
- Labour Party Opposition, 1951-1964;
- Paymaster General, 1964-1967;
- Later Political Career, 1967-1983;
- General Elections, 1945-1966;
- Constituency Papers, 1945-1966;
- Horserace Betting Levy Board, 1964-1972.
A further 80 boxes of papers relating to the Horserace Betting Levy Board remain closed and unlisted.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The archive has been arranged in chronological order. Lord Wigg's practice of maintaining files over many years means that some files will contain material which belong strictly to more than one section.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue available from Archives staff.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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