Papers on the Nuffield College Private Conferences, 1941-1955

The Nuffield College Social Reconstruction Survey conducted an enquiry into the effects of the Second World War on the location of industry and the distribution of the population. This collection holds the papers relating to the Private Conferences and also includes the papers of some of the Local Investigators Conferences, plus the papers of a few conferences held by the College in conjunction with other institutions.

The first conference was held in October 1941 and was followed by a succession of conferences which examined the future of education, local government and social services. G.D.H. Cole, the Chairman of the Survey Committee, soon concluded that the formation of any practical plans for the post-war period would involve a great deal of presumption about the future political and sociological situation. Cole argued that it would be beneficial to bring together people from diverse political and professional backgrounds to attempt to build a consensus on strategies for social reconstruction. He therefore instigated a number of Private Conferences to create a forum for the free exchange of views without fear of media or public scrutiny.

In order of conferences: 1st Private Conference to 26th Private Conference, and interdispersed with other conferences such as Conference of Local Investigators, International Private Conference, Nuffield College Colonial Conference and Wartime Research Committee Meetings.

By prior appointment only. Application in writing (letter or email) to the Assistant Librarian (Archives). See Nuffield College Archives location page for more details.

The handlist for the Nuffield College Private Conferences collection can be found [online] Link: https://www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/library/special-collection-and-archives/archive/

The Nuffield College Private Conferences papers were deposited after the completion of the project in 1955.