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British Library of Political and Economic Science

National Council for Civil Liberties


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0097 HCA/National Council for Civil Liberties

Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science

Title: National Council for Civil Liberties

Date(s): 1962-1989

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 9 boxes

Name of creator(s): National Council for Civil Liberties

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) was founded by journalist Ronald Kidd in 1934 to protect and promote civil liberties and human rights. NCCL's activity in the field of gay rights has been focussed on discrimination in the criminal law and employment rights. NCCL supported the implementation of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendation for the decriminalisation of homosexual activity, and developed links with the Homosexual Law Reform Society, the Albany Trust, and later the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. Gay issues were included in NCCL newsletters and conference resolutions, and a NCCL pamphlet, Privacy under attack, included a section on the private rights of individuals. Two surveys into discrimination in the workplace were undertaken in the 1970s, the first into the policies of London Education Authorities and the second into the attitudes of Social Services Committees, both of which revealed prejudice against gay staff. NCCL also submitted evidence to the criminal Law Reform Committee on Sexual Offences in 1976, and produced a pamphlet Homosexuality and the law in 1978. NCCL was relaunched as Liberty in 1989.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), 1962-1989, including material relating to the NCCL constitution and rules, 1965-1971 and 1979; Annual Reports, 1974-1980; papers of Annual General Meetings, 1962-1971 and 1978-1982; accounts, 1981-1982; minutes and papers of the Executive Committee, 1967-1982; NCCL reports, 1968-1982, mainly comprising reports by staff to the Executive Committee, and reports on human rights issues; NCCL bulletins and newsletters, 1961-1988, notably Civil liberty and Rights; minutes and papers of the NCCL Gay Rights Committee, 1976-1987; minutes and papers of the Gay Community Liaison Group, 1983-1987; minutes of the NCCL Police Committee, 1982; minutes of the Gay Policing Project Support Group, 1983; general papers, 1962-1983, notably leaflets, press cuttings and newsletters of related civil liberties groups.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

The collection is arranged in sections as follows: NCCL constitutional papers, Executive Committee papers, reports, newsletters, NCCL Gay Rights Committee papers, general papers.

Conditions governing access:

Apply to Archivist.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Apply to Archivist for copyright details.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Full handlist and on-line catalogue available.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Deposited in the Hall-Carpenter Archives prior to their move to the British Library of Political and Economic Science in 1988.

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The main archive of Liberty is held in the Brynmor Jones Library, Hull University (Ref: DCL).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Oct 2000


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Lesbian, gay and bisexual rights | Civil and political rights | Human rights

Personal names

Corporate names
Gay Policing Project Support Group
National Council for Civil Liberties x Liberty
National Council for Civil Liberties | Gay Community Liaison Group
National Council for Civil Liberties | Gay Rights Committee
National Council for Civil Liberties | Police Committee

Places