Papers on the B.B.C. British Empire series

Correspondence, programme plans and press cuttings.

In 1969 the B.B.C. began to plan a series of programmes on the British Empire. The scheme was eventually abandoned, but on 11 January 1972 the first of a thirteen-part weekly series on the Empire was transmitted on the B.B.C., and was repeated between March and June. At the same time Time-Life began the publication of a 'complimentary' work in 98 weekly parts. The R.C.S. Library provided the B.B.C. with graphic material for its project and supplied Time-Life with illustrations. The Librarian, D.H. Simpson, wrote comments on each programme, which he sent to Max Morgan-Witts, the Producer, and to the R.C.S. Council; later he prepared a survey of the whole series for the Council.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

The provenance of the collection is unknown.

Includes index.

MSS 11

MSS Addenda, vol. I.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

This collection level description was created by RAS using information from the original typescript catalogue.

Simpson, Donald Herbert, 1920-2002, Librarian of the Royal Commonwealth Society