Papers of William James Millar Mackenzie,1909-1996, Professor of Politics, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

The Special Operations Executive: Britain and the resistance movements in Europe (History of the Second World War), by William James Millar Mackenzie

Administrative / Biographical History

William James Millar Mackenzie was born in 1909 and was educated first at Edinburgh Academy and then at Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he graduated MA. He was the Ireland Scholar in 1929 and became a graduate of Law from the University of Edinburgh. He was a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1933-1948. During the Second World War (1939-1944), he was a Temporary Civil Servant in the Air Ministry. He was the Official War Historian for the SOE from 1945-1948 and was Faculty Fellow at Nuffield College in 1948. That year he was also Lecturer in Politics at the University of Oxford. He was Special Commissioner for Constitutional Development in Tanganyika in 1952. From 1949-1966 he held the post of Professor of Government at Manchester University. In 1966 Mackenzie was then appointed the University of Glasgow's first James Bryce Professor of Government (the name was subsequently changed to Politics) a post he held until 1970. Following this he was appointed the Edward Caird Professor of Politics from 1970 to 1974.

During his career he was a member of numerous committees and boards, including: Manchester City Education Committee from 1953-1964; British Wool Marketing Board, 1954-1966; Constitutional Adviser, Kenya, 1959; Vice-Chairman, Bridges Committee on Training in Public Administration for Overseas Countries, 1962; Maud Committee on Management in Local Government, 1964-1966; North-West Regional Economic Planning Council, 1965-1966 and Children's Panel Advisory Committee, Glasgow City, 1973-1975. He was created an Honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Warwick in 1972. His publications include: (in part) British Government since 1918, 1950; (jtly) Five Elections in Africa, (1959); Politics and Social Science (1967); and Explorations in Government, (1975).

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

Access Information

Access is open, however an appointment may be required. Please email Archives and Special Collections for advice: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Acquisition Information

Gift : Cabinet Office, Historical and Records Section : 9 July 1997 : ACCN 4691

Other Finding Aids

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents. Applications for permission to quote should be sent to Archives and Special Collections, please email: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 247 procedures

Custodial History

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Accruals

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