The catalogue of the papers of Leonard and Kate Courtney is now available online through the Archives Catalogue|.
Leonard Henry Courtney (1832-1918) was a journalist and politician. He was Liberal MP for the Cornish towns of Liskeard (1876-1885) and Bodmin (1885-1900), and served in a number of government posts: under-secretary of the Home Office (1880-81); under-secretary for the colonies (1881-82); and, financial secretary to the Treasury (1882-84). He was deputy Speaker, 1886-92. In 1906, he became Lord Courtney of Penwith.
Catherine Potter (1847-1929) married Leonard Courtney in 1883. She began her career as a social worker and, like her husband, was politically active. In the 1890s she was a leading suffragist. During the First World War she campaigned for the rights of those German civilians who were in Britain, and on behalf of conscientious objectors. She championed the causes of peace organisations such as the British Section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Union of Democratic Control and the League of Nations Union.
Most of the Courtney collection consists of the correspondence of Leonard and Kate Courtney. Correspondents include: Henrietta and Samuel A Barnett, John Elliot Cairnes, Dame Millicent Fawcett, W E Gladstone, John Stuart Mill, John Morley, C P Scott and W T Stead. The collection also includes the manuscript diaries of Kate Courtney (mainly 1875-1919). Other documents include articles, photographs and family papers.
The collection illustrates the Courtneys' stand on a variety of issues including:
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Electoral reform, such as advocating proportional representation
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Opposition to Gladstone's home rule proposals for Ireland
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Anti-imperialism
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Peace campaigns, including during the Boer War and the First World War.
For further information about the political collections at LSE Archives, please see our guide to Government and Politics| or contact us (Document@lse.ac.uk|).
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