Guide to the Papers of William Maxwell Aitkin, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (as filmed by the AJCP), 1915-1964

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Summary

Collection number:

M1126-M1129

Creator:

Aitken, William Maxwell, 1st Baron Beaverbrook

Extent:

273 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

General correspondence 1928-1964 referring especially to Empire Free Trade Crusade of 1929-1931, press and politics in Australia and New Zealand, and imperial trade.

Correspondents include Sir James Parr, F.L. McDougall, Lord Bledisloe, J.H. Scullin, Theodore Fink, Sir Frederick Doidge, Sir Keith Murdoch, H.V. Evatt, G. Lansell, Lord Bruce, R.G. Casey and Ann Mozley.

Special correspondence, including correspondence with Sir Frederick Doidge, R.D. Elliott, Sir David Low and Sir Earle Page.

World War II papers concerning munitions production in Australia, Cable and Wireless Ltd, construction of American airfields in the western Pacific, and civil aviation in Australia and New Zealand.

Letters 1962-1963 from Australians and New Zealanders supporting Beaverbrook's campaign against the European Common Market.

Biographical / Historical:

William Maxwell Aitken (1879-1964), 1st Baron Beaverbrook (created 1917). Born in Maple, Ontario, and grew up in Newcastle, New Brunswick. Began his business career as a bond-salesman, established the Royal Securities Corporation in Halifax in 1902, moved to Montreal in 1906 and by 1910 was one of Canada's leading millionaires. On his first visit to London in 1908 he became associated with the Conservative parliamentarian Andrew Bonar Law and in December 1910 Aitken was elected Conservative M.P. for Ashton-under-Lyne. He was knighted in 1911 and made a baronet in 1916. In January 1916 he created the Canadian War Records Office and he was the Canadian military representative in London. He played a leading part in the downfall of the Prime Ministers H.H. Asquith in December 1916 and David Lloyd George in October 1922. Beaverbrook was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Information in 1918. In 1916 he acquired control of the Daily Express, he started the Sunday Express in 1918, and he bought the Evening Standard in 1923. He became disenchanted with the Conservative Party under Baldwin's leadership and in 1929-1931 led the Empire Free Trade Crusade and later campaigned for Scottish Home Rule and Isolationism. In May 1940 Churchill appointed Beaverbrook Minister for Aircraft Production, he became a member of the War Cabinet in August 1940 and from June 1941 to February 1942 he was Minister for Supply. He rejoined the Government in October 1943 as Lord Privy Seal and held this office until July 1945. From 1947 to 1953 he was Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick. In 1954 he established Beaverbrook Newspapers and the Beaverbrook Foundation. He wrote several books, mainly on historical subjects. Beaverbrook died at Cherkley, Surrey, a few days after his 85th birthday.

Reference: A.J.P. Taylor. Beaverbrook. (London, Hamish and Hamilton, 1972)

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.