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British Library of Political and Economic Science

Webb: Local Government

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0097 WEBB LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science

Title: Webb: Local Government

Date(s): 1906-1930

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 350 volumes

Name of creator(s): Webb | (Martha) Beatrice | 1858-1943 | wife of 1st Baron Passfield | social reformer and historian
Webb | Sidney James | 1859-1947 | 1st Baron Passfield | social reformer and historian

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Beatrice and Sidney Webb pooled their respective talents into writing joint works on economic and social issues. They spent 25 years researching and writing their nine-volume English Local Government from the Reformation to the Municipal Corporations Act (Longmans and Co, 1906-1929, and produced other relevant works on the poor law and social relief. For a biographical history of Sidney and Beatrice Webb, see the description for the Passfield personal papers (Ref: Passfield).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Materials on local government collated by Sidney and Beatrice Webb, 1906-1930, mainly during research for their nine volume English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act (Longmans and Co, London, 1906-1929) and other works on local government and the poor law, including extensive notes taken from parliamentary papers and acts, books, newspapers and local records, and including bibliographical lists, summaries and reports of interviews with members of local authorities, and material on specific counties; material on the poor law, including correspondence and papers relating to the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, 1905-1909.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

The collection is arranged geographically by county.

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright is held by the LSE. No documents may be photocopied.

Physical characteristics:

The physical condition of the volumes is fragile and care should be taken when handling them.

Finding aids:

Printed handlist available.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Given by Sidney Webb in 1944. The collection was formerly known as Coll V/Local Government Collection.

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The British Library of Political and Economic Science also holds papers collated by Beatrice Webb relating to the Poor Law (Ref: Coll Misc 0865); bylaws of various towns, collected by the Webbs (Ref: Coll Misc 0192-95); and correspondence between Beatrice Webb and Dr McLeary regarding the poor law (Ref: Coll Misc 0979). There is also material concerning poor law and local history in the Passfield papers (Ref: Passfield). For a full list of material relating to the Webbs in the Library and elsewhere, see the description for the Passfield papers.

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.