Call Number:

CDG-B.Great Britain.National Peace Council

Repository:

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Extent:

2.25 linear ft. (2.25 linear ft.)

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the National Peace Council Collected Records (CDG-B Great Britain), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Date:

1909-2000 (inclusive)

Creator:

National Peace Council (Great Britain)

Abstract:

The National Peace Council, established in 1905 as the National Council of Peace Societies and later also known as the National Council for the Prevention of War, brought together national groups and organizations that held a common interest in peace, disarmament, and internationalism in support of radical and constructive solutions to problems related to war and violence. Its affiliated groups included peace societies as well as religious, social, and industrial organizations. A major task in its early years was organizing the National Peace Congress.

This group originated in 1905 (1904?) as the National Council of Peace Societies, but it was permanently established as the National Peace Council after the 17th Universal Peace Conference took place in London in 1908. Carl Heath was appointed General Secretary and was succeeded in 1919 by F.E. Pollard, who served until 1921 when J.H. Hudson assumed the position. Later Secretaries included Rennie Smith (M.P.) and Gerald Bailey. In 1923 [1924?] the group began using the name National Council for Prevention of War, but then resumed its previous name in 1931. The NPC brought together national groups and organizations that held a common interest in peace, disarmament, and internationalism in support of radical and constructive solutions to problems related to war and violence. Its affiliated groups included peace societies as well as religious, social, and industrial organizations. A major task in its early years was organizing the National Peace Congress; it also arranged conferences on specific issues. Many of the pamphlets the NPC produced are speeches given or findings made at such gatherings. The NPC was superceded by the Network for Peace in ca. 2001.

This collection includes the NPC's constitution, annual reports (1921-1964), form letters and minutes sent to the executive committee (1927-1929), publications such as periodicals, pamphlets, and leaflets, and mimeographed releases, form letters, statements, and reports. It includes two pamphlet series published by the council, Peace Aims Pamphlets (1940-1957) and Peace Aims Documents (1942-1944); Peace Year Book (1910-1957); and periodicals of various titles (1931-1962). Many of the pamphlets have been catalogued on Tripod.