Papers of Ernest Bevin

Curriculum vitae

Rt. Hon. Ernest Bevin P. C.

1881 Born

1910 - 1921 National Organizer of the Docker's Union

1921 - 1940 General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

1925 - 1940 Member of General Council of Trades Union Congress.

1940 - 1950 Labour M.P. for Central Wandsworth.

1940 - 1945 Minister of Labour and National Service.

1945 - 1951 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

1950 Labour M.P. for East Woolwich.

1951 Lord Privy Seal

1951 Died.

BEVN 1 Pre-war papers

BEVN 2 Political papers

BEVN 3 Political correspondence

BEVN 4 Speeches and conferences

BEVN 5 Visits

BEVN 6 General correspondence

BEVN 7 Writings by and about Ernest Bevin

BEVN 8 Press cuttings

BEVN 9 Miscellaneous prints

BEVN II 1: Ministry of Labour and National Service - Speeches

BEVN II 2: Ministry of Labour and National Service - Visits

BEVN II 3: Ministry of Labour and National Service - General papers.

BEVN II 4: Miscellaneous Correspondence with Bevin at the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

BEVN II 5: Foreign Office - Speeches.

BEVN II 6: Foreign Office - Papers and correspondence.

BEVN II 7: Trade Union Papers.

BEVN II 8: Labour Party

BEVN II 9: Personal and Miscellaneous

BEVN II 10: Photographs and cuttings.

BEVN II 11: Condolences on Bevin's Death.

In August 1967, Sir Alan Bullock, later Lord Bullock, transferred to Churchill Archives Centre that part of the late Ernest Bevin's papers which he had used for the second volume of "The Life and Times of Ernest Bevin". 11 more series of papers (BEVN II) were deposited by Lord Bullock in March 1983.

The Archives Centre holds the papers retained by Bevin from his period at the Ministry of Labour and some earlier material. The collection was received in a state of some disorder and has been partly resolved. Section BEVN 1 includes all the early material. Sections BEVN 2 and BEVN 3 include all the significant political memoranda. Section BEVN 6, General Correspondence, consists of letters from constituents and the general public and formal letters, invitations to dinner and the like from more important people. The section as a whole contains useful material on the state of public opinion.

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Churchill Archives Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. A prior appointment and two forms of identification are required.

In english

Most of the pre-1940 papers are held at the Modern Records Centre, University Library, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL.

The Bevin catalogue was converted from typescript to electronic form as part of the A2A project co-ordinated by the National Archives. The catalogue was updated by Natalie Adams of Churchill Archives Centre 2002-2005.