George Hodgkinson (1893-1986) was born in Nottingham and moved to Coventry in 1914, working at Daimler, where he became a pioneer shop steward. After studying at Oxford during 1919-20, he became a full-time Labour Party agent in 1923, and was subsequently councillor, mayor and alderman, remaining active in civic affairs to the end of his life. He published his autobiography, 'Sent to Coventry', in 1970, and selected extracts from his correspondence to his wife, whilst studying at Ruskin College, were published as 'A Shop Steward at Oxford' (1980).
This collection includes: correspondence, 1919-1941; publications by Hodgkinson and others, 1950-1987; tape recordings of interviews given by Hodgkinson, 1972-(1976).
This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See
Further deposits are not expected.
The collection was donated to the Centre in 1974. Tape recorded interviews with Hodgkinson were added in November 1976 and letters written by Hodgkinson to his wife, from Ruskin College, Oxford, in March 1980.
The deposits have been weeded for duplicates.
There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.
Further records relating to George Hodgkinson can be found at Coventry City Record Office. The Centre also holds some correspondence between Hodgkinson and Dr. David Sutton, re: Labour policy (MSS.252). Authority files exist for George Hodgkinson (GB 0152 AAR0947) and David Sutton (GB 0152 AAR0948).
Link to full catalogue: