Runciman (Walter) Archive

Scope and Content

The papers of Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford (1870-1949), relate chiefly to his political career, but also include material concerning his personal and professional life. They cover his election campaigns and his political career, during the years 1894-1938, and in particular they cover the different political offices he held, as a Liberal M.P. and Cabinet Minister, and as a member of the Board of Education, 1908-11, and the Board of Trade, 1914-16 and 1931-37. There is also material relating to Runciman's attempt to solve the 1938 Sudeten crisis through his mission to Czechoslovakia.

The collection also includes the diaries and some correspondence of Walter's wife, Hilda Runciman, herself briefly an M.P. Hilda's diaries have been found to be of particular value to researchers, providing as they do an insight into the world and circles in which she and her husband moved, sometimes revealing insider knowledge about the current talk in London Society, a classic example being Hilda's remarks in her 1936 diary about the abdication crisis and the King's intentions.

In addition, there are 114 volumes of press cuttings, plus material relating to Walter Runciman's father, the 1st Baron Runciman, as well as documents relating to Sir Walter Leslie Runciman (1900-1989).

Access Information

Open. Please follow this link for further information about how to access items from this collection: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/special-collections/browse/collection_details/?id=87

Acquisition Information

The first installment of the Runciman Archive was deposited at the University Library in 1969. Further items were added in 1974, 1980, 1984, 1990 and 2016.

Archivist's Note

This EAD description created 10/12/2018.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright relating to all works created by the Runciman family has been passed to Newcastle University. In all other cases, UK copyright rules apply.

Accruals

Further material is expected to be added to this collection