Papers of Philip Maynard Williams, 1920-1984

The papers in this collection reflect all aspects of Philip Maynard Williams's life to a limited extent, although there is very little indeed related to his particular study of French politics and virtually nothing on his connection with American universities. His involvement in British politics is better represented, for example his contribution as one of the group of academics who supported Hugh Gaitskell in the Campaign for Democratic Socialism and his similar role during the creation of the Social Democratic Party. There is also material from his days as an undergraduate, in the army, correspondence about/with Tony Crosland and his involvement in university politics after the publication of the report of the Hart Committee on Relations with Junior Members. The structure of this collection is to a large extent chronological, the seventeen boxes of papers being arranged in five sections.

Philip Williams was born on 17 March 1920, the son of John Clifford Williams and his wife Margery. He was educated at the Stationers' Company School in Hornsey, where he became a member of the Labour Party at the age of sixteen, and at Trinity College, Oxford, where he was awarded a history scholarship in 1937. In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and saw active service in the Middle East and Greece. In 1946 he returned to Oxford, being appointed a junior lecturer in his old college, later becoming a university lecturer and, in 1950, a fellow of Nuffield College. From 1953 to 1958 he was a fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, during which time his academic association with American universities began with periods as visiting professor at both Columbia University and Princeton. In 1958 he returned to Nuffield College, where he served as dean in the early 1970s and remained until his death on 16 November 1984.

By boxes as follows: Family papers, early days at Oxford, the war years and verses; Essays and notes for essays; Family letters; C.A.R. Crosland letters; Other correspondence; Greek politics; Election studies; Notes for lectures; Campaign for Democratic Socialism; Scarborough and Blackpool: an analysis of some votes; The Gaitskell biography; Social Democratic Party; University Discipline Statute; Supplementary box: Addresses at funeral and memorial services.

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 Williams collection can be found [online] Link: https://www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/library/special-collection-and-archives/archive/

The Williams collection was deposited in the Library by the Warden of Nuffield College in August 1988, and by David Goldey in September 1989.