The catalogue of the papers of the Liberal MP Richard Wainwright is now available online through the Archives catalogue|. The collection is an important resource for all those interested in the post Second World War history of the Liberal Party.
Richard Wainwright was MP for Colne Valley, Yorkshire, between 1966 and 1970 and then again from February 1974 until his retirement at the General Election of 1987. He was an active Liberal both nationally and within his own locality holding several significant positions, working for the Liberal Party Executive, Liberal Party Organisation, and as Chairman of the Party between 1970 and 1972. He had a particular interest in the financial organisation of the Party and was a key figure in the management of the Liberal's limited funds during the 1960s and 1970s.
The collection relates to both Wainwright's political and non-political career and comprises administrative papers, correspondence, photographs and publications. Highlights include the following:
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A significant part of the collection relates to Wainwright's work as Spokesman for the Party on key subjects including finance, trade and industry, the economy and employment. Speech texts, press releases and articles on these and other subjects, including local government, electoral reform and devolution, provide a real insight into Liberal Party policy during this period (WAINWRIGHT R/4).
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Papers relating to Wainwright's constituency include publicity material relating to every General Election campaign for which Wainwright contested as a Liberal candidate from 1950 until 1983 in both Pudsey and Colne Valley (WAINWRIGHT R/6). Further papers relate to work of the Liberals, and later the Liberal Democrats, in Colne Valley and the surrounding areas (WAINWRIGHT R/5).
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Papers relating to the work of Richard's wife Joyce, who was active in the work of Women Liberals both nationally, within Yorkshire and the constituency of Colne Valley. These files largely comprise minutes and publicity material (WAINWRIGHT R/16).
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Papers regarding the work of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, for which Wainwright worked from 1959 until 1984. As part of this work Richard and Joyce visited Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde in November 1972 and the collection includes detailed notes with a written account of the trip, publications by the Party for the African Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and minutes and correspondence by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (WAINWRIGHT R/7).
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Further papers relating to Wainwright's non-political life includes a fascinating insight into life and work during the Second World War. After registering as a Conscientious Objector at the outbreak of the war Richard joined the Friend's Ambulance Unit (FAU), a Quaker organisation, first founded during the First World War, which provided a Voluntary Ambulance Service across Europe. Wainwright served with the Unit throughout the war, taking him to France, Holland and Germany. Papers include an interesting collection of correspondence from friends, family and colleagues regarding general life during the war, and papers regarding the work of the Unit with issues of the FAU's publication 'The Chronicle', weekly information sheets and some central administration papers (WAINWRIGHT R/3).
The catalogue of the papers of Richard Wainwright was completed as part of an externally funded project to make accessible two collections central to Liberal Party history and compliments the recent introduction of the catalogue of the papers of the Liberal Party to the Archives Catalogue|. The papers of Lord David Steel|, relating to his time as Liberal Party leader (1976-1988), will be made available via the online catalogue towards the end of 2007.
For more information regarding this project please contact us: Contact details|