The Papers of Robert Rhodes James

Robert Rhodes James was born on 10 April 1933, the youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel W R James, OBE, MC. He was educated at private schools in India and at Sedbergh School then Worcester College Oxford. In 1956 Rhodes James married Angela Margaret Robertson, elder daughter of the late R M Robertson. They had four daughters. He died on 24 May 1999.

Rhodes James' positions included: Assistant Clerk, House of Commons, 1955-61; Senior Clerk, 1961-64; Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, 1965-68, 1979-81; Director of the Institute for the Study of International Organisation, University of Sussex, 1968-73; Principal Officer, Executive Office of Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1973-76; Kratter Professor of European History, Stanford University, California, 1968-;Consultant to United Nations Conference on Human Environment, 1971-72; UK Member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, 1972-73; MP (Conservative) Cambridge, December 1976-92; Principal Private Secretary, Foreign Office, 1979-82; Member of the Chairmen's Panel, House of Commons, 1987-92; Conservative Party Liaison Officer for Higher and Further Education, 1979-85 and 1987; Chairman, Conservative Friends of Israel, 1989-; Vice-President, Anglo-Israel Association, 1990-. FRSL 1964; NATO Fellow, 1965; FRHistS 1973; Professorial Fellow, University of Sussex, 1973; Fellow, Wolfson College, Cambridge, 1991-; DL Cambs, 1993; Hon. DLitt Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, 1986. Kt 1991.

Rhodes James was a distinguished historian and biographer. His published works include: "Lord Randolph Churchill" 1959; "An Introduction to the House of Commons", 1961; "Rosebery", 1963; "Gallipoli", 1965; "Standardization and Production of Military Equipment in NATO", 1967; "Churchill: a study in failure, 1900-39", 1970; "Ambitions and Realities: British politics 1964-70", 1972; "Victor Cazalet: a portrait", 1976; "The British Revolution 1880-1939", vol. I, 1976, vol. II, 1977, 1 Vol. edn, 1978; "Albert, Prince Consort", 1983; "Anthony Eden", 1986; "Bob Boothby: a portrait", 1991; "Henry Wellcome", 1994; edited: "Chips: The Diaries of Sir Henry Channon", 1967; "Memoirs of a Conservative: J. C. C. Davidson's Memoirs and Papers", 1969; "The Czechoslovak Crisis 1968", 1969; "The Complete Speeches of Sir Winston Churchill, 1897-1963", 1974; contrib. to: "Suez Ten Years After", 1967; "Essays From Divers Hands", 1967; "Churchill: four faces and the man", 1969; "International Administration", 1971; and "The Prime Ministers", vol. II, 1975.

This collection relates to Rhodes James' research and writings on the 1915 Dardanelles Campaign. The collection includes Rhodes James' research notes and correspondence plus material he collected about Gallipoli including a significant number of contemporary photographs and newspaper cuttings and rare printed material.

The collection was deposited at Churchill Archives Centre by Robert Rhodes James and his widow.

The papers have been arranged in 3 series: correspondence, research notes, speeches and articles concerning Gallipoli; secondary Sources about Gallipoli (and World War I): printed material; Secondary Sources about Gallipoli: maps, photographs etc..

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.

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Please cite as Churchill Archives Centre, The Papers of Robert Rhodes James, RHJS

The collection comprises source material for Rhodes James' "Gallipoli" (Batsford, London, 1965). A copy of this book is available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre.

The collection has been catalogued. Paper copies of the catalogue are available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre and the National Register of Archives.

Biographical information was obtained from Sir Robert Rhodes James' entry in Who's Who. This catalogue was prepared by Natalie Adams 14 December 2000 and converted by Natalie Adams 28 October 2002.