Records of Architects for Peace

Correspondence, committee meeting minutes, newsletters, members, publicity material, press cuttings.

Architects for Peace (A4P) was formed in 1981. Membership was open to architects, assistants and students. Its aims included working for the abolition of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction, awakening the profession and public to the effects of nuclear war, encouraging worldwide professional contacts to build world peace and co-operating with similar professional groups and other organisations working for peace. The chairperson was Kate Macintosh, the secretary Ian Abbott and later Peter Kirkham.

The group organised meetings and seminars on subjects such as nuclear shelters and the financial impact of defence spending on the built environment. They published 'Places for peace' by John McKean (1989). Several regional branches were formed.

A4P linked with other professional groups via Professions for World Disarmament and Development. These included groups of architects in other countries, and medical professionals in the UK.

In 1992, in response to falling membership, the group amalgamated with Engineers for Social Responsibility under the title Architects and Engineers for Social Responsibility. This became part of Scientists for Global Responsibility in 2005.

The system created by Ian Abbott has been retained.

Access to archive material is subject to preservation requirements and must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation. Most sections of this archive contain personal data on individuals and access is therefore restricted under the Act. More detailed cataloguing may make it possible to refine this restriction. Researchers should contact the Special Collections Librarian for information about the status of the material they wish to view.

Donated to Commonweal in 1995 by Ian Abbott, former secretary of the group.

Unpublished boxlist.

Described by Alison Cullingford.

Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of Special Collections staff, subject to copyright law and the condition of the originals. Applications for permission to make published use of any material should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian in the first instance. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Ephemera unrelated to A4P and a scrapbook concerning Birmingham Peace Council 1948-1951 have been removed from this archive.

McKean, John. 'Places for peace'. Architects for Peace, 1989.