The Papers of Richard Thorpe

Richard Thorpe was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 12 March 1943, the son of Cyril Thorpe and Mary Avison. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, 1956-61, and Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1962-5.

He taught history at Charterhouse School, 1965-97. He was Archives Fellow Commoner, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1986, and Alistair Horne Fellow, St Antony's College, Oxford, 1997-8. He is a Senior Member, Brasenose College, Oxford, 1998-. He is an historian and biographer of modern British political figures.

His publications include: "The Uncrowned Prime Ministers" (1980); "Selwyn Lloyd" (1989); "Alec Douglas-Home" (1996); and "Eden: the Life and Times of Anthony Eden, First Earl of Avon, 1897-1977" (2003).

Papers relating to a biography of Alec Douglas-Home, comprising a manuscript of the book with drafts, notes, correspondence, transcripts of interviews, press cuttings and copies of original documents.

The papers were deposited in Churchill Archives Centre by Richard Thorpe, 1997.

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 Richard Thorpe, THRP

Richard Thorpe's papers relating to his biography of Selwyn Lloyd are also held at Churchill Archives Centre and have been added to the papers of Selwyn Lloyd (SELO).

A copy of this finding aid and box list is available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, and the National Register of Archives, London.

This collection (fonds) level description was prepared by Sophie Bridges at Churchill Archives Centre. The collection was box listed, 2000. Information was obtained from "International Who's Who of Authors and Writers" (2003) and "Contemporary Authors. New Revision Series", vol. 68 (1998).