Butterfield Papers

The papers of the Cambridge historian, Sir Herbert Butterfield (1900-79), were presented to the University Library by his widow in 1980. The papers are gathered in some 530 numbered files, and preserve Butterfield's arrangement, but since there was no order apparent the files have been artificially grouped into broadly thematic sequences. The papers in the Library date chiefly from the end of World War II to the 1970s; from the beginning of this period Butterfield was assisted in his University and College duties by a secretary. The collection documents almost every aspect of his academic life and writings, and provides a record of the wider development of historical studies in the course of his career.

The Butterfield papers have been catalogued through the generosity of the Leverhulme Trust. A detailed, typescript handlist, prepared by Mr John Wells, is available for consultation. Approximately 20% of the numbered files contain confidential information, and are for that reason unavailable to researchers.

Contact: John Wells (01223-333055; jdw1000@cam.ac.uk).

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