TAWNEY, Richard Henry, 1880-1962, historian: academic papers

Scope and Content

Lecture notes, both handwritten and typescript for Tawney's courses on economic history, 1485 - 1800; on English economic history in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; on the seventeenth century given at Oxford (Ford) and Chicago; on seventeenth century English history; for Denmark and Sweden, October - November 1951; for London School of Economics, January - March 1952, and lectures for Bristol; drafts of chapters for a book on Cranfield; notes and talks on the French Revolution given at Longton, 1910 - 1913; for classes or lectures on nineteenth century economic history; on nineteenth century agriculture, given at LSE; for classes or lectures on nineteenth century economic history; on early nineteenth century reform movements and handloom weavers; public lectures given in Chicago, 1939; various lectures given in the USA, 1941 - 1942; on education; regarding reform of Oxford and Cambridge; papers and memoranda on education; papers and notes on the Labour Party and education; papers for a proposed biography of Sidney Webb; papers found interleaved in books from his library sold to the University of East Anglia; and papers deposited by Dr J.M.Winter on behalf of J.M.K.Vyvyan.
Further accessions have been added to this collection:
TAWNEY/ADD. 37 boxes of research notes, correspondence and other papers, 1890s-1960s.
TAWNEY/II. 102 boxes and 2 volumes: research notes and extracts from sources by Tawney and his research assistants; a few lecture notes; draft articles; correspondence from research assistants, academics and others. Much of the material is undated, but mostly 1910s-1960s.
TAWNEY/VYVYAN. 18 boxes of personal and family papers of R H Tawney and his wife, Jeannette, 1890s-1961, including: correspondence with family, friends, associates, W H Beveridge and Albert Mansbridge; education papers; commonplace book; and, photographs.

Administrative / Biographical History

Richard Henry Tawney, 1880-1962, was born in Calcutta and educated at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford. After leaving Oxford, he became an assistant at Glasgow University, 1906-1908, before returning to Oxford to become a member of the Teacher for Tutorial Classes Committee, 1908-1914. He became Director of the Ratan Tata Foundation at the University of London, 1913-1914 and Professor of Economic History at the University of London, 1931-1949. After 1949, he was Professor Emeritus. Tawney was also a member of numerous committees relating to trade and education. He was a member of the executive of the Workers Educational Association, 1905-1947 and President, 1928-1944, and also a member of the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education, 1912-1931. He was a member of the University Grants Committee 1943-1948. In 1919, he joined the Coal Industry Commission, and he was also a member of the Chain Trade Board, 1919 - 1922, and the Cotton Trade Conciliation Commission, 1936-1939.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 26 sections:
1. Lectures on economic history 1485-1800, pre 1940.
2. Lectures on English economic history in the 16-17th centuries, pre 1940.
3. Lectures on the 17th century given at Oxford (Ford) and Chicago, 1936-1939.
4. Fragments of Ford and Chicago lectures, c1936-1939.
5. Lectures on 17th century English history, c1936-1939.
6. Lectures for Denmark, Sweden, Oct-Nov 1951.
7. Lectures for London School of Economics, Jan-Mar 1952, and lectures for Bristol, undated.
8. Drafts of chapters for book on Cranfield, undated.
9. Notes and talks on the French Revolution, Longton 1910-1913.
10. Notes and talks on the French Revolution, Longton 1910-1913, c1910-1914.
11. Notes for classes or lectures on 19th century economic history, c1940-1944.
12. Lectures on 19th century agriculture given at London School of Economics, c1934-1946.
13. Notes for classes or lectures on 19th century economic history, undated.
14. Notes on early 19th century reform movements and handloom weavers, c1912-1913.
15. Public lectures given in Chicago, 1939.
16. Various lectures given in the USA, 1941-1942.
17. Lectures on education, c1934-1935.
18. Speeches on various occasions, 1936-1949.
19. Speeches on various occasions, 1944-1954.
20. Notes for speeches made on various occasions, c1940-1956.
21. Notes and papers re reform of Oxford and Cambridge, c1884-1919.
22. Papers and memoranda on education, c1913-1931.
23. The Labour Party and education, 1942-1944.
24. Papers for a proposed biography of Sidney Webb, 1945-1959.
25. Papers found interleaved in books from his library sold to the University of East Anglia, 1927-1961.
26. Papers deposited by Dr J M Winter on behalf of J M K Vyvyan, 1914-1941.
In addition there are three sub-collections from later deposits:
TAWNEY/ADD. Research notes, correspondence and other papers, 1890s-1960s (much of this material has not yet been listed).
TAWNEY/II. Research notes and other papers, 1910s-1960s.
TAWNEY/VYVYAN. Personal and family papers of R H Tawney and his wife, Jeannette, deposited by Major-General Charles Vyvyan, 1890s-1961.

Access Information

OPEN

Acquisition Information

Some papers from family, others from unknown source (probably family).

Other Finding Aids

Detailed catalogue available from Archives staff

Archivist's Note

Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on July 15, 2002; updated April 2008

Conditions Governing Use

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE FAMILY