From 1893 until 1939 a series of titles collectively formed the official monthly journal of record of the Conservative Party, a publication which was primarily intended as an information tool for Conservative Agents, Members of Parliament, Conservative speakers and doorstep canvassers.

The original journal, National Union Gleanings (1893-1912) was superseded by Gleanings & Memoranda (1912-1934), and finally, Politics in Review (1934-1939), which ceased publication at the outbreak of the Second World War. As late as 11th January, 1950, the minutes of the National Advisory Committee on Publicity and Speakers state that, ‘The Chairman stressed the value of the above publications [ Gleanings & Memoranda], and Mr Chapman-Walker read a note from the Research Department on the subject. It was agreed, in view of present circumstances, that the matter should be held over until after the General Election.’ [Source: Shelfmark: CCO 4/3/34].

A notable feature of these volumes is that they drew on a wide variety of sources which are available in only one or two libraries. For example, it used many provincial newspapers in its compilations of election speeches and manifestos, the originals of which some are not even available the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale. They also cited Government documents with limited circulation and ephemeral party literature which is nowadays unobtainable. In almost all of the cases where it has been possible to check the accuracy of its quotations Gleanings and its various incarnations adhered closely to the original text.

The volumes, bi-annual compilations until 1933 and thereafter quarterly, are indexed.