Correspondence with R.H. Tawney

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 GDN/A/T5
  • Dates of Creation
      20 Jan 1908-15 Jan 1932
  • Physical Description
      32 pieces; 38 sheets

Scope and Content

Correspondence with Richard Henry Tawney (1880-1962), historian and political thinker, relating to the potential employment of Tawney at the Manchester Guardian, which is declined, owing to his commitments to work for the higher education of working people. Also included is an offer of an article by Tawney on the university extension movement, which is accepted, with discussion of its potential content. There is also a further offer of employment for Tawney at the paper as a leader writer, which is again declined, owing to his commitment to work in education, and a request to follow up on recommendation made by Tawney for potential staff members, owing to a staffing shortage following enlistment [of staff during the First World War]. There is a request for a message of support for Tawney for his candidacy in South Tottenham during the general election campaign in 1922, which is declined, owing to a lack of formal understanding between the Labour and Liberal parties.

There is also discussion of a proposal for the provision of a regular article on education by Tawney for the paper, which is accepted, with discussion of arrangements, length, rate of payment, and the use of Tawney's name to accompany the articles. There is praise of the leader and signed articles produced by Tawney for the paper, and discussion of education policy, government legislation on education, and the political situation in Britain. Also included is discussion of a potential article on the relations between Ruskin College and the Trade Union movement. There is a request by Scott for article from Tawney from a visit to China, which is granted. Also included are related internal memoranda.

There is correspondence between Tawney and E.T. Scott, relating to an expression of condolence by Tawney on the death of Scott, discussion of political philosophy, with praise of Tawney's book, Equality, and an open request for articles for the paper by Tawney, which is accepted.

GDN/A/T5/1 is an internal employment history index card for Tawney, 1908.

GDN/A/T5/9 is a review by Tawney of Guilds and the Social Crisis by Arthur T. Penty, entitled 'Mediaevalism in Economics' in the Daily News, 1919.