ROLPH, Cecil Hewitt, 1901-1994, journalist and criminologist: death penalty/obscene publications papers

Scope and Content

This collection is divided into two sections. Section one contains material on capital punishment and the death penalty, against which Hewitt campaigned. Section two covers material concerned with obscene publications and other forms of media, including censorship, Obscene Publications Acts and other allied topics. The papers contain many printed examples of C H Rolph's articles and materials by organisation such as the Howard League for Penal Reform and the National League for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. Infamous legal cases such as the obscenity trials in the 1960s relating to 'Oz' magazine and Hubert Selby's novel 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' are discussed.

Administrative / Biographical History

Cecil Rolph Hewitt, 1901-1994, had two careers. He was a member of the City of London Police Force from 1921 to 1946, rising to become Chief Inspector. After leaving the Police Force he became involved in journalism. He was a member of the editorial staff of The New Statesman , 1947-1970, and editor of The Author , 1956-1960. He was also involved in the publishing of many books and articles. Hewitt worked under the professional name of C H Rolph.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two main sections:
SECTION 1. PAPERS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1/1 Publications, 1930-1983.
1/2 Press cuttings, 1975-1983.
1/3 Letters, c1968.
1/4 General files, 1950-1982.
1/5 Notes, 1967.

SECTION 2. PAPERS ON OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS, CENSORSHIP etc.
2/1 Correspondence, 1964-1981.
2/2 Articles by C H Rolph, 1954-1972.
2/3 Specific files (covering one topic), 1936-1979.
2/4 Press cuttings, 1964-1979.
2/5 Publications (includes articles by C H Rolph), 1958-1988.
2/6 General files, 1955-1968.

Access Information

OPEN

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Cecil Rolph Hewitt in 1994 with his AEGIS papers.

Other Finding Aids

Printed handlist and online catalogue available.

Archivist's Note

Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002

Conditions Governing Use

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE DONOR AND THEIR HEIRS.

Related Material

LSE holds papers of Rolph relating to AEGIS (Aid for the Elderly in Government Institutions) in two collections, the Rolph/AEGIS papers (Ref: ROLPH/AEGIS) and in the AEGIS collection (Ref: AEGIS).