BEVERIDGE, William Henry, 1879-1963, 1st Baron Beveridge of Tuggal, economist: Ministry of Reconstruction papers

Minutes and papers of the Ministry of Reconstruction, 1917-1919, acquired by Sir William Henry Beveridge during his work as a civil servant during World War One. Includes papers of the Reconstruction Committee, notably reports, memoranda, statistics, committee papers, minutes and other documents collated by the Women's Employment Sub-Committee and its Industry Group concerning the types and conditions of employment of women in England and Wales, notably in key industries such as munitions, and details of schemes to substitute them with men; and correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes and the final report of the Civil War Workers Committee, concerning the demobilisation of women employed as clerks, secretaries, shop assistants etc during World War One, including memoranda by the Women's Industrial Council.

The Ministry of Reconstruction was set up in July 1917, and covered a wide range of economic, social and political issues, from administrative reform and improvement of industrial relations, to the position of women in society and the prevention of post-war unemployment. It was split into several committees, including the Reconstruction Committee and the Civil War Workers Committe. For a biography, see the Beveridge personal papers (Ref: Beveridge).

Arranged in files according to subject by Beveridge.

Open.

Temporary handlist and on-line catalogue available.

Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

The British Library, London, holds papers of the Adult Education Sub-Committee, 1917-1919 (Ref: Add MS 65195). For details of material in other institutions relating to Beveridge, see the Beveridge personal papers (Ref: Beveridge).

Crown Copyright.

Possibly given by Beveridge whilst Director of the London School of Economics (1919-1937).

The BLPES holds the personal papers of Beveridge, which include material relating to the Reconstruction Committee (Beveridge 4/14-18). There are also papers relating to the Capital and Labour Sub-Committee (Ref: Coll Misc 0013), the Agricultural Policy Sub-Committee (Ref: Coll Misc 0015), and munitions labour (Ref: Coll Misc 0144). The papers of Sidney and Beatrice Webb include correspondence and papers relating to the Reconstruction Committee (Ref: Passfield 4/7, 13).