Introduction
RAB 1 Butler's Personal Correspondence,
1937-44
RAB 2 Butler's Personal files on Education Bill,
1941-5
RAB 3 Butler's Personal Files on India,
1940-5
RAB 4 Butler Correspondence,
1946-7
RAB 5 Butler Speech Notes,
1956-60
RAB 6-20 R.A. Butler letterbooks,
1947-52
RAB 19-21 Miscellaneous,
1952-67
| Abstract: Papers of R.A. Butler, Chairman of the Conservative Research Department (1945-61) and Chairman of the Conservative Party Organisation (1959-61), 1937-67 |
Shelfmarks: RAB 1-21
Extent: 37 shelfmarks
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden (1902-1982) was Chairman of the Conservative Research Department, 1945-61, and Chairman of the Conservative Party Organisation, 1959-61. Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.
Although R.A. Butler's private papers are in Trinity College, Cambridge, because of his role as Chairman of the Conservative Research Department (1945-61) and Chairman of the Conservative Party Organisaion (1959-61), the CPA contains a small collection of his papers. The bulk of the collection is from his years as President of the Board of Education (1941-44) and Minister of Education (1944-5). This includes correspondence and files on the Education Act of 1944. Other papers from this period include correspondence on India.
The collection includes boxes (RAB 6-20) of outgoing correspondence (1946-61) which has been arranged chronologically, and finally a box of speech notes from his period as Home Secretary (1956-61). The Education files, the India files and speech notes contain detailed contents lists at the beginning of each file. Also see CRD 2/32/1-18 for the Post-War ProbleMS. Sub-Committee on Education.
General access conditions apply to this material.
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Conservative Party Archive [followed by shelfmark, e.g. RAB 1/1].
R.A. Butler's private papers are held by Trinity College, Cambridge.
Other papers relating to Butler in the Bodleian Library are as follows.
Correspondence with J.C.C. Davidson, 1932-35
Letters to and from Lionel Curtis, 1932-53
Copies of letters from William Rea, 1933-4
Letters to and from, 1938-42
Correspondence with the 3rd Earl of Selborne, 1942-5
Copies of letters to and from, 1942-8
Lettters to and from Lord Simon, 1942-51
Correspondence with Lord Woolton, 1944-61
Note of Conversation with Lord Pethwick-Lawrence, 1945 - MSS. Attlee dep 27 fol 255
Quotation from 1947 - MSS. Attlee dep 61 fol 125
Letters to and from Attlee 1948
Letters to Lady Emmet, 1948-55
Letters to Sir George Hamilton, 1951-3 - MSS. Eng lett c. 271 fols 104-6
Photograph of Encaenia, 1952 - MS. Top Oxon c. 635 fols 6-7
Letter to O.G.S. Crawford, 1957 - MS. Crawford 56 fol 131
Letter to Dr. Frank Hardie, 1966 - MS. Eng lett c. 460 fol 53
Letter to and from Walter Moncton, n.d. - Index available from the Modern Papers and John Johnson Reading Room (132)
RAB 1: Butler's Personal Correspondence, 1937-44
| RAB 1/1 | Personal Correspondence | 1937-44 |
RAB 2: Butler's Personal files on Education Bill, 1941-5
| RAB 2/1 | Personal Education Papers | Sept. 1943-May 1945 |
| RAB 2/2 | White Paper on Education Reconstruction, 1943; Cmd. 6458: Correspondence | Dec. 1942-Dec. 1943 |
| RAB 2/3 | Education Bill, 1943; Correspondence | Oct. 1943-July 1944 |
| RAB 2/4 | Education - general correspondence | Oct. 1943-June 1944 |
| RAB 2/5 | Education Act, 1944; Correspondence | Aug. 1944-Sept. 1944 |
| RAB 2/6 | Confidential notes regarding Education Bill | Nov. 1942-Apr. 1943 |
| RAB 2/7 | Documents submitted to the War Cabinet regarding Education Bill | 1942-4 |
| RAB 2/8 | Education interviews and notes | Aug. 1941-Apr. 1945 |
| RAB 2/9 | Official interview notes on Education Reconstruction: The Dual System | Sept. 1942-Apr. 1943 |
| RAB 2/10 | Presidents Interview Notes | Nov. 1941-May 1944 |
RAB 3: Butler's Personal Files on India, 1940-5
| RAB 3/1 | Correspondence with Professor Gupta | 1940-5 |
| RAB 3/2 | Personal Correspondence | Sept. 1941-Dec. 1943 |
| RAB 3/3 | Personal Correspondence | Mar. 1944-May 1945 |
| RAB 3/4 | Confidential Papers on India | 1944 |
| RAB 3/5 | Correspondence with A.K. Pilai and series of publications of the Radical Democratic Party | Apr. 1944-May 1945 |
RAB 4: Butler Correspondence, 1946-7
| RAB 4/1 | Butler correspondence (index in box) | Oct. 1946-Mar. 1947 |
RAB 5: Butler Speech Notes, 1956-60
| RAB 5/1 | Speech notes | 1956-60 |
| RAB 5/2 | The Prime Minister's Speech notes | 1956-60 |
| RAB 5/3 | Miscellaneous Speech notes | 1956 |
| RAB 5/4 | Miscellaneous Speech notes | 1957-60 |
RAB 6-20: R.A. Butler letterbooks, 1947-52
| RAB 6 | Letterbooks | Apr.-Sept. 1947 |
| RAB 7 | Letterbooks | Oct. 1947-Feb. 1948 |
| RAB 8 | Letterbooks | Mar.-June 1948 |
| RAB 9 | Letterbooks | July-Nov. 1948 |
| RAB 10 | Letterbooks | Dec. 1948-Apr. 1949 |
| RAB 11 | Letterbooks | May-Oct. 1949 |
| RAB 12 | Letterbooks | Dec. 1949-Mar. 1950 |
| RAB 13 | Letterbooks | Apr.-Aug. 1950 |
| RAB 14 | Letterbooks | Sept.-Dec. 1950 |
| RAB 15 | Letterbooks | Jan.-Apr. 1951 |
| RAB 16 | Letterbooks | May-Aug. 1951 |
| RAB 17 | Letterbooks | Sept.-Dec. 1951 |
| RAB 18 | Letterbooks | Jan.-June 1952 |
RAB 19-21: Miscellaneous, 1952-67
| RAB 19 | R.A. Butler oddments | 1952-6 |
| RAB 20 | R.A. Butler oddments | 1957-61 |
| RAB 21 | Presentation to Lord Butler, 1965; Robin Allen's material for R.A. Butler's memoirs, 1966-7 | 1965-7 |