Janus: Papers of Richard Austen Butler (1902-1982), Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, politician

Trinity/RAB contains:
<-- See earlier
B	Personal Correspondence: Special Occasions
C	Personal Papers
D	Family Papers and Memorabilia
E	Official Correspondence Files
F	Official Papers
G	General Political Files
H	Conservative Party
J	Constituency Papers
K	Speeches and Articles
L	Press Cuttings
M	Ceremonial
See later -->

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Papers of Richard Austen Butler (1902-1982), Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, politician

Title	General Political Files
Reference	G
Covering Dates	1929–65
Extent and Medium	11 boxe

Trinity/RAB/G contains:

General political. Correspondence of general political nature including letter of congratulations on maiden speech, letters re preservation of Thaxted windmill and future of Bishop's Stortford School, letter from Winston Churchill in reply to one from RAB sympathising with his illness, copy letter to Samuel Hoare re Indian Constitution.
1 fil.

1929–1932

General political correspondence. Labelled 1929 by Julia Fish. Including menu for dinner to celebrate Election victory, article by RAB on his books.
1 fil.

1929

General political correspondence. Labelled 1931 by Julia Fish. Including letter (not sent) mentioning politics, constituency correspondence against Sunday Performances Temporary Bill, RAB's account of visit to St Jean de Luz, France.
1 fil.

1931

General political correspondence. Labelled 1932 by Julia Fish. Largely correspondence and papers about Indian Franchise Committee, including letters from Samuel Hoare. Also personal and constituency letters, menu, Carlton Club Centenary dinner programme.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1932

General political correspondence. Labelled 1934 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal correspondence, personal/constituency papers, copy correspondence, article for The Sporting Life, India Office papers.
1 fil.

[1933]-1934

General political correspondence. Labelled 1935 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal correspondence, copy correspondence, constituency papers, India Office papers .
1 fil.

n.d. and 1935 and [1946]

General political correspondence. Labelled 1937 by Julia Fish. Made up of constituency correspondence, India Office and Ministry of Labour papers and a few personal papers.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1936–1937

General political correspondence. Labelled Jan-June 1938 by Julia Fish. Made up of constituency correspondence, Indian papers, Foreign Office papers, copy correspondence including to Michael Brabourne. Includes some named correspondence sub-files.
1 fil.

1937–1938

General political correspondence. Labelled July-Dec 1938 by Julia Fish. Made up of constituency papers, semi-official correspondence in named sub-files, general Foreign Office papers.
1 fil.

1936–1938

G10

General political correspondence. Labelled 1939 by Julia Fish. Made up of constituency correspondence, Foreign Office papers including views of Duke of Buccleuch, printed record by Halifax of events of Aug-Sept and notes by RAB on same period, personal papers, description of life at Stanstead Hall, character studies of Halifax and Sir Horace Wilson [also in F80].
1 fil.

c.1938/9–1939

G11

General political correspondence. Labelled 1940 by Julia Fish. Largely made up of Foreign Office papers and drafts of parliamentary statements on the course of the war, including RAB's views on Narvik as sent to Halifax and Cadogan, statement on Finnish-Soviet Peace Treaty. Also letters of congratulation on reappointment to the Foreign Office, texts of broadcasts on European situation, constituency correspondence and personal papers, copy letter Halifax to Churchill re RAB's conversation with Swedish Ministers.
1 fil.

1940–1941

G12

General political correspondence. Labelled Jan-April 1941 by Julia Fish. Foreign Office internal memoranda mainly written by RAB re his meetings with ambassadors and several semi-official letters.
1 fil.

1940–1941

G13

General political correspondence. Labelled May 1941 by Julia Fish. Largely Foreign Office memoranda and Board of Education papers. Some semi-official letters and texts of speeches.
1 fil.

1941

G14

General political correspondence. Labelled 1942 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal and semi-official correspondence, drafts of pamphlets by RAB A future to work for, speech notes by RAB and Samuel Courtauld, reports of meetings, dinner, press cuttings, typed 'diary'. Includes sub-files Misc. Personal 25 and 74(1)-(10) re Cuthbert.
1 fil.

c.1942–1945 [1963]

G15

General political correspondence. Labelled 1943 by Julia Fish. Made up of semi-official correspondence, speeches of the Prime Minister and RAB and papers about educational reconstruction, including a typed 'diary'. Misc. Personal sub-files 82, 107, 114, 124 and 127.
1 fil.

1942–1943

G16

General political correspondence. Labelled 1944 by Julia Fish. Made up of Board/Ministry of Education papers, speeches, press cuttings, semi-official correspondence and personal papers, including a typed 'diary' of certain events and letters of sympathy on accident. Misc. Personal sub-files 100, 158-9, 162 and Personal nos. 4 and 5.
1 fil.

1944

G17

General political correspondence. Labelled 1945 by Julia Fish. Made up largely of general correspondence, including congratulations on appointment as Minister of labour and National Service and letters following General Election. Also speech notes, press cuttings, articles and two Post-War problems Committee pamphlets. Misc. Personal sub-files 99, 166, 191, 195, 203, and Personal no. 6.
1 fil.

1942–1945

G18

General political correspondence. Labelled 1946 by Julia Fish. Made up of semi-official correspondence, brief parliamentary notes, speech notes, dinner invitations and programmes, accounts for restoration of 3 Smith Square, churchwardens' handbook, pamphlet on Wales.
1 fil.

1946

G19

General political correspondence. Labelled 1947 by Julia Fish. Made up of semi-official correspondence, texts of articles, constituency broadsheets, account of visit to U.S.A. and Canada, obituaries of and press cuttings re Samuel Courtauld, programmes etc.
1 fil.

1947

G20

General political correspondence. Labelled 1948 by Julia Fish. Made up of correspondence, review of parliamentary session, paper re-organisation of Conservative Research Department, catalogue of Samuel Courtauld memorial exhibition, programme etc.
1 fil.

1948

G21

General political correspondence. Labelled 1949 by Julia Fish. Largely correspondence and papers re financial position of Roman Catholic schools under 1944 Education Act. Also general correspondence, text of lecture, constituency fete programme with press cuttings.
1 fil.

1949–1950

G22

General political correspondence. Labelled 1950 by Julia Fish. Made up of semi-official correspondence, political notes/diary, speech notes, programmes for opening of schools, degree ceremony, Cummings cartoon of RAB.
1 fil.

1950

G22a

Cummings cartoon, "S ome busman's holidays", original, published in Daily Express of 25 May 1950.
1 do.

1950

G23

General political correspondence. Labelled 1951 by Julia Fish. Made up of Letters Patent appointing RAB Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of His Majesty's Exchequer, paper by Michael Fraser on future of Conservative Research Department, two copies of cover for pamphlet We shall win through, one press cutting, correspondence including to Selwyn Lloyd re Conservative Research Department, about economics.
1 fil.

1951-c.1952

G24

General political correspondence. Labelled 1952 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal correspondence on largely financial matters, including some from Arthur Salter and Edward Bridges, unfinished drafts of letters from RAB to Winston Churchill on economic situation, memo by Leopold Stennett Amery 'Towards a balanced economy', paper by Isobel Cripps on the threat of communism, press cuttings, dinner menu.
1 fil.

1952

G25

General political correspondence. Loose papers of 1952. Ceremonial papers from conferment of Honorary Degrees on RAB - Doctor of Law of Cambridge University, Doctor of Civil Law of Oxford University; [George Bernard] Shaw Memorial Appeal committee papers [RAB as president, appeal failed c. Aug 1952]; papers of Council of Management of St Antony's College, Oxford [RAB a member]; Conservative Research Department 'Report on present activities' by Michael Fraser and paper on 'Co-partnership - 1952' by David Dear; letter from Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (Sir Will Spens) offering RAB Honorary Fellowship; letters re activities of Royal Society of Literature; order of service for wedding of Richard Clive Butler and Susan Anne Maud Walker, 50th birthday greetings to RAB from Winston Churchill, appreciation of life of Sir Montague Butler by S.C. Robert from Pembroke College Review.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1952

G26

General political correspondence. Labelled 1953 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal letters including Harold Macmillan, Anthony Eden, Edward Bridges; memos from Hubert Ashton on political situation; notes by Leo Amery on trade and production; unfinished accounts by RAB of a lunch with Winston Churchill and of the Prime Minister's dinner for de Gasperi, Italian Prime Minister; memos by RAB to Prime Minister on outstanding policy questions and general political scene.
1 fil.

1952

G27

General political correspondence. Labelled 1954 by Julia Fish. Made up largely of personal correspondence including re timing of resignation of Winston Churchill and succession of Anthony Eden, Cabinet changes, death of William Wolfson, invitation to become Chancellor of University of Nottingham (declined). Also note of lunch with Prime Minister (11 March), meeting with City editors re economic policy; article 'Our responsibility to the children' by RAB; notes from Michael Fraser on future legislative programme; programmes from conferment of Honorary Freedom of Saffron Walden, Honorary Degree of University of Bristol, various dinners; certificates of appreciation from National Press Club; Annual Conference agenda.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1953–1954

G28

General political correspondence. Labelled 'Personal records 1955'. Personal correspondence, programmes, notes etc. including lists of Members and Statutes of the Order of the Companions of Honour, tribute to Sydney E. Butler from Marriage Guidance Council's Journal, correspondence with Ralph Harris re biography of RAB later published as Politics without prejudice, papers re Honorary Freedom of Skinners' Company and Honorary Doctor of Laws of Sheffield University, RAB's ms. account of period of Winston Churchill's resignation, 5 April 1955 to c. Sept 1955, Christmas greetings.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1954–1956

G29

General political correspondence. Labelled 'Home Office'. Made up of News Chronicle articles on RAB by Laurence Thompson, press cuttings about Adam Butler's wedding, various speech notes (some incomplete), statements on Suez c. 8 Nov 1956, ceremonial on State Opening of Parliament and visit of Indian President, Times Supplements, menus etc.
1 fil.

n.d., 1955–1958

G30

General political correspondence. Labelled 'Personal records 1956'. Made up of personal correspondence including thanks for Treasury work and congratulations on Annual Conference speech, Laureation Address on receiving Honorary Doctorate of Laws of St Andrews University, article on RAB from U.S. News and World Report, engagement diary for Jan and Oct-Dec, menus, transcripts of letters of 1756 between one Daniel Butler and his son Daniel, photographs and transcripts of documents of 1495 and 1558 - grants to Count of Lerin and Marquis de Sarria.
1 fil.

n.d., 1956–1957

G31

General political correspondence. Labelled 'Top secret and personal 1957'. Accounts by RAB of circumstances of choice of Prime Minister, key political events 1954- Jan 1957, day of departure of Prime Minister to U.S.A., 22 Oct; personal letters received on not becoming Prime Minister and others largely political, minute to Prime Minister on policy, introduction to republication of The Tory tradition by Sir Geoffrey Butler, impressions of Conservative Annual Conference by Pat [?Hornsby-Smith], Prime Minister's memo on current affairs.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1957

G32

General political correspondence. Labelled Jan-July 1958 by Julia Fish. Made up of personal correspondence, largely political but including re Royal Society of Literature poetry reading attended by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; reprint of articles on crime and children from Sunday Times, including one by RAB; speech notes re resignation of Peter Thorneycroft, O.E.E.C.; accounts by RAB of taking charge of the Government on various occasions (June), events of 21 July re Kruschev and timing of General Election; minutes to Prime Minister re events during his absence (Feb and June), penal reform, the Middle East; Time journalist's report of private talk with Anthony Eden (July); press cuttings, programmes.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1957–1958

G33

General political correspondence. Labelled Aug-Dec 1958. Made up of personal correspondence, including with Alan Lennox-Boyd re Welensky and Rhodesia, congratulations on becoming High Steward of University of Cambridge; RAB's minute to Sir Charles Cunningham on draft penal reform White Paper; speech notes for opening Barrow-in-Furness police H.Q.; printed Government memo on new French Constitution draft on Onward in freedom; paper 'The Secretary of State's Office under Elizabeth [the First]' by A.J. Eagleston; menus and programmes.
1 fil.

1958

G34

General political correspondence. Labelled 1959 by Julia Fish. Made up of Home Office papers including Prime Minister's personal minutes, personal correspondence, ms. recollection of period of Churchill-Eden transition, papers relating to marriage arrangements and letters of congratulations, programmes for degree ceremonies, dinners, fete etc.
1 fil.

1955–1960

G35

General political correspondence. Labelled Jan-May 1960 by Julia Fish. Made up of copy telegrams/correspondence between Harold Macmillan and RAB during Prime Minister's absence in Africa, copy telegrams re Southern Rhodesia, RAB's typescript notes on political events, papers relating to change of surname of untitled royalty to Mountbatten-Windsor, text of Eleanor Rathbone Memorial Lecture on penal reform, speech notes for installation as Chancellor of Sheffield University.
1 fil.

1960

G36

General political correspondence. Labelled June-Dec 1960 by Julia Fish. Made up of correspondence, papers about Government changes including ms. notes revealing RAB's feelings, account of talk with Selwyn Lloyd largely re Eden and Suez, text of article by RAB on Conservative Party for Encyclopaedia Britannica, draft of Chapters 3-5 of People and politics and note on the Forward Programme and the Party, papers about top audience rating of broadcast by RAB.
1 fil.

1959–1960

G37

General political correspondence. Labelled 1961. Made up of personal letters, papers re African affairs, press cuttings of interview on RAB's working day, accounts by RAB of the 'Spanish incident' speech and of government changes. Also miscellaneous papers on policy and government achievements, Conservative Research Department paper 'At the Treasury, 1951-55' re RAB's Chancellorship, Statistical Account of parish of Kilninian and Kilmore, Isle of Mull, letter (not sent) to Sir Alec Douglas-Home re relinquishing leadership of House of Commons.
1 fil.

1961

G38

General political correspondence. Made up of ms. 'diary' covering African situation, Cuba, Cabinet changes of 13 July and relations with Prime Minister; speech notes for Dunmow Farmers, first Chuter Ede Lecture and debate on law and order; appreciation of Macmillan for Daily Mail; miscellaneous political papers.
1 fil.

1962 [c.March 1963]

G39

General political correspondence. Labelled 1962 by Julia Fish. Made up of correspondence, including congratulations on becoming First Secretary of State, 'diary' re Rhodesias, articles on morality and the criminal law and the welfare state, speech notes for Saffron Walden A.G.M. and Quendon Park meeting, copy minutes to Prime Minister, Courtaulds business papers, news cuttings.
1 fil.

1961–1962

G40

General political correspondence. Labelled 1963 by Julia Fish. Papers re Jan trip to Rhodesia, reflections on Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister for six years, speech notes for Dunmow N.F.U., texts of interviews re life in politics and re religion. Bulk of file is re leadership crisis: RAB's diary/minutes. Letters of 'sympathy', including two from Paul Channon, one from Alec Douglas-Home, newspaper articles, account by Randolph Churchill [see also C33, The Fight for the Tory Leadership, and L114].
1 fil.

1963

G41

General political correspondence. Monday Club pamphlet, arrangements for Rhodesia visit, order of proceedings for grant of the office of High Steward of University of Cambridge to RAB, reports of 1922 Committee meetings from Paul Channon, personal letters including from Roy Welensky, Stanstead Hall fete programme.
1 fil.

1963–1964

G42

General political correspondence. Labelled 1964 by Julia Fish. Largely correspondence and minutes re political matters. Also speech notes for debates on the Address and foreign affairs, papers re selection of Party leader, copy letter to Alec Douglas-Home declining earldom.
1 fil.

1964

G43

General political correspondence. Labelled 'Guinea Club 1964'. Made up of profile of RAB by Arthur Gavshon of Associated Press, proof of Spectator article on leadership crisis 1963 by Iain Macleod with letter from him, speech notes for British Flower Industry Association, personal correspondence, odd notes.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1964

G44

General political correspondence. Labelled 1965 by Julia Fish. Made up of correspondence, House of Commons tribute to Sir Winston Churchill which RAB did not give, description by RAB of Conservative Research Department presentation to him with text speech by David Clarke, note on resignation of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, comments re 1965 Conservative Policy Groups interim reports [see also G45], letter from last constituency case dealt with as an M.P., letters about leaving House of Commons, letters from Harold Wilson inviting RAB to be chairman of new National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants, speech notes re agriculture, annual report of Saffron Walden Constituency Conservative Association, ceremonial for Churchill's funeral.
1 fil.

1965

G45

General political correspondence. Interim reports of Conservative Party Policy Groups, note by RAB on resignation of Sir Alec Douglas-Home with copy letter to him and other drafts (not sent), personal letters including to Violet Bonham-Carter re Churchill and odd notes including re early chapter of autobiography.
1 fil.

n.d. and 1965

G46

Contents of an envelope given to Anthony Howard by Lady Butler after RAB's death and deposited at Trinity College, Cambridge, in April 1983. Some items have been annotated by Lady Butler. Part closed under 100 year rule.
1 fil.

1954, 1966–1976, 1956, n.d.