Baring (Howick of Glendale) Papers

This material is held atDurham University Archives

Scope and Content

The papers relate chiefly to Lord Howick's career as a colonial administrator, including both official papers and letters to family and friends from his early career in the Indian Civil Service, 1926-1934 (including a period as Agent of the Government of India in South Africa, 1929-1932), and from his service as Governor of Southern Rhodesia 1942-1944, U.K. Commissioner for the Union of South Africa and the High Commission Territories 1944-1952, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Kenya and Chairman of the East African High Commission 1952-1959.

After that period, the papers reflect his involvement in the Colonial (later Commonwealth) Development Corporation (Chairman 1963-1972), the Universities Mission to Central Africa (1960-1963), the Commission on Crown Appointments to Ecclesiastical Offices (Chairman from 1962) and the Nature Conservancy (Member and Chairman 1962-1972).

There is a small amount of material relating to banking and investments and to business interests (particularly the Swan Hunter Group of which he was Director), as well as papers concerning the Howick estates in Northumberland, including notebooks from the 1940s to the 1970s recording a whole range of estate management issues.

Personal papers include letters to his parents from school and school reports, a long series of letters to his mother from India and S. Africa 1924-1933, letters between Lord Howick and his wife, and papers relating to appointments and decorations. Notebooks covering the whole of his adult life, contain jottings on a wide variety of subjects, both official and personal. His photographs include a number of family portraits, but consist mainly of informal views of official occasions in Africa as well as numerous photographs of African game.

Administrative / Biographical History

(Charles) Evelyn Baring, son of the 1st Earl of Cromer and his second wife, Lady Katharine Thynne, was educated at Winchester and Oxford. Married 1935 Lady Mary Cecil Grey, daughter and heiress of 5th Earl Grey. KCMG 1942, KCVO 1947, GCMG 1955, KG 1972, created Baron Howick of Glendale 1960.

Entered the Indian Civil Service 1926-1934, serving at Lucknow and Meerut 1926-1929, as secretary to the agent of the government of India at Durban 1929-1932, and then in the North-West Frontier district of India. Retired from the ICS 1934, due to illness. Joined the Foreign Office 1939. Governor of Southern Rhodesia 1942-1944. High Commissioner for UK in the Union of South Africa, and High Commissioner for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland 1944-1951. Governor of Kenya and chairman of the East Africa High Commission 1952-1959. Chairman, Commonwealth Development Corporation 1963-1972 (Deputy Chairman 1960, Chairman 1960-1963, Colonial Development Corporation). Chairman, Church of England Crown Appointments Commission, 1962-1964. Chairman, Nature Conservancy, 1962-1973. Director, Swan Hunter Group.

Arrangement

In sections, according to different phases of his career (chronologically within each section), followed by notebooks, personal and family papers, and photographs.

Access Information

Open for consultation.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by the 2nd Baron Howick of Glendale, 1996, with a further instalment in 1998.

Note

Part of : Earl Grey Papers

Other Finding Aids

Available online at online catalogue

Bibliography

Douglas-Home, Charles, Evelyn Baring: the last proconsul (London, 1978)