Donald Coleman Papers

Political papers, 1944-1991, of Donald Richard Coleman, including correspondence files, 1964-1991, mainly of political interest; papers concerning the Labour Party, 1964-1990, many relating to the Labour Party Wales; and files, 1944-1990, relating to various subjects.

Donald Richard Coleman (1925-1991) was the Labour MP for Neath from 1964 until his death.
He was educated at Cadoxton Boys' School, Barry, and Cardiff Technical College. He held a number of technical positions at various laboratories at Cardiff and Swansea before securing an appointment in 1954 as metallurgist to the Research Department of the Steel Company of Wales Ltd, Abbey Works, Port Talbot, in which position he remained until his election to parliament in the General Election of October 1964.
He held a number of junior ministerial appointments including minister of state for Wales, 1967-1970, opposition whip, 1970-1974, and opposition spokesman on Welsh affairs, 1981-1983. He also served as delegate to the Council of Europe and was especially prominent in the public life of Neath, Swansea and West Glamorgan.

The papers have been arranged at NLW into three series: correspondence files; papers relating to the Labour Party and the Labour Party Wales; and miscellaneous subject files.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Donated by Donald Coleman's widow, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Coleman, Neath, in March 1999 and April 2001.; A1999/45, A2001/25

Donald Richard Coleman (1925-1991) was the Labour MP for Neath from 1964 until his death.
He was educated at Cadoxton Boys' School, Barry, and Cardiff Technical College. He held a number of technical positions at various laboratories at Cardiff and Swansea before securing an appointment in 1954 as metallurgist to the Research Department of the Steel Company of Wales Ltd, Abbey Works, Port Talbot, in which position he remained until his election to parliament in the General Election of October 1964.
He held a number of junior ministerial appointments including minister of state for Wales, 1967-1970, opposition whip, 1970-1974, and opposition spokesman on Welsh affairs, 1981-1983. He also served as delegate to the Council of Europe and was especially prominent in the public life of Neath, Swansea and West Glamorgan.

A hard copy of this list is available at NLW.

February 2004.

Compiled by J. Graham Jones.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Who was who, 1897-1996, on CD-ROM; information from this archive.

Normal laws of copyright apply

Action: A large quantity of printed material and papers deriving from Donald Coleman's association with the Council of Europe have been destroyed. Authority to destroy unwanted papers is given in Departmental Appraisal Form JGJ/2003-04/1..

The papers were accumulated and retained by Donald Coleman during the course of his political career and came into the possession of his widow, Mrs Margaret Coleman, following his death in January 1991.

Further papers are possible

Papers of local interest are held at the West Glamorgan Record Office.

Published