Conservative Party Archive: Conservative Political Centre

Collection

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The archive consists of Conservative Political Centre material including: correspondence; papers; discussion briefs; summaries; reports; publications; printing files; press reviews; CPA Ledgers; circulars and other papers.

Dates

Creation: 1946-1989

Extent

231 shelfmarks

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, Conservative Party Archive [followed by shelfmark, e.g. CCO 150/2/1/1].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Full range of shelfmarks:

CCO 150/1-8

Collection ID (for staff)

CPA CCO 150

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of the Conservative Political Centre, 1946-1989, including correspondence, briefs and reports, and papers relating to publications.

Biographical / Historical

The Conservative Political Centre (CPC) was the Party's political education body, established in 1945. It published pamphlets on aspects of policy, and organised conferences and courses at every level of the Party.

Following the reorganisation of Conservative Central Office by Party Chairman Peter Brooke in 1988, the CPC was brought within the new Research Directorate, along with the Conservative Research Department, with which its development was more closely aligned. The CPC went on to change its name to the Conservative Policy Forum in 1999.

Arrangement

The papers are divided into several sections including: minutes of the National Advisory Committee on Political Education (subsequently named the CPC National Advisory Committee), general correspondence and other papers, Contact Programme briefs and discussion papers, publications, and CPC and Party meetings, seminars, schools and courses.

Custodial History

The archive of the Conservative Party was established as a source for academic study at the Bodleian Library in 1978 by an agreement made between the University of Oxford and the Conservative Party, and brought together surviving historic papers of the Party previously held in various locations including Newcastle University Library and the former Conservative Central Office in Smith Square, London. Since 1996, ownership of the archive has been vested in the Conservative Party Archive Trust. The archive includes records from all three areas of Party organisation: parliamentary, voluntary and professional.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Conservative Party

Separated Materials

The minutes of the National Advisory Committee on Political Education, subsequently named the Conservative Political Centre National Advisory Committee, (CCO 150/1) are currently held with the Conservative Policy Forum at Conservative Central Office, London.