The
Chamberlain
Papers
Correspondence and Political Papers of
Joseph, Austen and Neville Chamberlain
The Chamberlain Papers
The Chamberlain Papers on Archives Unbound
The Chamberlain Papers is a three-part collection covering
the political careers of three men who belonged to the most
powerful political dynasty in late 19th and early 20th century
Britain – and is now available online as part of the Archives
Unbound programme.
Sourced from the collection of papers at the University of
Birmingham Library, they are an invaluable research tool for
researchers and students of:
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Politics and International Relations
19th and 20th Century History (particularly UK, Ireland, South Africa, Germany and France)
War Studies
The Chamberlain Papers constitute one of the most important sets of primary sources on British
life and politics in the first half of the twentieth century.
The Collections:
Date Range: 1836 – 1914
Winston Churchill once wrote that Joseph Chamberlain “made the
weather” in British politics. Through his radical ideals he split both the
main British parties; the Liberals by opposing Home Rule for Ireland, and
the Conservatives over tariff reform. The Papers of Joseph Chamberlain
highlight his political career as Mayor of Birmingham to Secretary of State
for the Colonies and the fight over tariff reforms with which he ended
his career. This collection demonstrates the rapid change in politics,
particularly the constantly changing allegiances between politicians and
Chamberlain’s own development as a politician. Newspaper clippings of
his early speeches, the only record still existing of them, can also be found
in this collection, recording his political career from start to finish.
Joe Chamberlain by Eveleen Myers (née Tennant)
© National Portrait Gallery, London
The Papers of Joseph Chamberlain
Key documents found in this collection include:
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Personal Letters and diaries, family scrap albums, photographs and cartoons.
Newspaper clippings of his speeches collected by his second wife, reviews of his career and accounts of his
funeral.
Political papers on domestic politics, focussing on the work of party organisation, fighting of elections and the
formation of national policy.
Letters regarding the campaign for imperial preference and tariff reform.
Irish correspondence regarding the issue of Home Rule in the 1880s.
Minutes, notebooks and semi-official diaries on his career as Colonial Secretary.
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gale.cengage.co.uk/unbound
The Papers of Sir Austen Chamberlain
Date Range: 1863 – 1937
Sir (Joseph) Austen Chamberlain by Henry Walter (‘H. Walter’) Barnett
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Austen Chamberlain, Joseph’s eldest son, was Britain’s most capable
Foreign Secretary of the interwar period, earning the Nobel Peace Prize for
the signing of the Locarno Treaties in 1925. As a career politician, he held a
variety of government offices, and The Papers of Sir Austen Chamberlain
contains political papers that variously document his policies as Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the House
of Commons. These provide insight into the intentions behind his policies,
the development of foreign affairs for both the First and Second World Wars,
and his role in the wartime coalition government. The papers also include
personal correspondence with his family, including his sister and wife, and
highlight his close friendship with his stepmother, Mary Endicott.
Key documents found in this collection include:
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Letters between Austen and his family, including 1,358 letters from Austen to his stepmother, Mary, forming
the most important correspondence covering his whole lifetime in politics.
Assortment of papers and correspondence from 1902-1911 on the military estimates, reform of the army and
tariff reform.
Papers from the Committee of Imperial Defence, often relating to India, during the war and post-war
coalition ministries.
Letters of congratulations, including the Nobel Peace Prize, in response to his achievement at Locarno.
The Papers of Neville Chamberlain
Date Range: 1869 – 1940
Neville Chamberlain, Joseph’s younger son, remains the best-known of
the Chamberlain family due to his controversial policy of “appeasement”
towards Hitler. The Papers of Neville Chamberlain contain political papers
documenting his policies as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime
Minister, but also highlight his personal correspondence with his family.
These provide insight into the intentions behind his policies, his concerns
at the development of the Second World War, as well as letters covering
his life together with his wife Annie and his sisters, particularly Hilda and
Ida.
Key documents found in this collection include:
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(Arthur) Neville Chamberlain by Bassano Ltd
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Drafts and final copies of a number of his political speeches and broadcasts.
Papers of Neville Chamberlain as the Director General of National Service, including strained
correspondence with Lloyd George.
Letters on internal intrigues of the Conservative party in the early 1930s.
Papers outlining the meetings with Hitler at Berchtesgaden, on the early months of the resumed war, on his
preparation for the debate that precipitated his fall as Prime Minister and on his subsequent responsibilities
as Lord President.
Papers of Mrs Neville Chamberlain following her husband’s death.
Photographs, including some of his trips to meet Mussolini and then Hitler in 1938.
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Subject-specific collections
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