Walter Lewis collection
TitleWalter Lewis collection
ReferencePP/LEWISW
Date
1923-1967
Production date 1923 - 1967
Scope and ContentFolder of material relating to Labour Party agent work (1923-1940)
Folder of material regarding Lewis's refusal of offer to become National Agent of Oswald Mosley's New Party (Jan-Jun 1931)
Folder of material relating to Labour Party election campaigns
Folder of material regarding Lewis's career in Second World War and postwar (1939-1967)
Folder of other papers
Folder of material regarding Lewis's refusal of offer to become National Agent of Oswald Mosley's New Party (Jan-Jun 1931)
Folder of material relating to Labour Party election campaigns
Folder of material regarding Lewis's career in Second World War and postwar (1939-1967)
Folder of other papers
Extent1 box
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyBiography:
Walter Lewis was born on 28th December 1891 at Llanbradach near Caerphilly in South Wales. He worked as a miner and a mining clerk before taking a two-year scholarship at the Labour College, London, in 1920.
After graduating from the course, he worked for a short period in educational work for the Building Trades Union, before being appointed a fulltime Labour Party agent in 1923.
He was based initially in Nuneaton, and in November 1926 was elected as Nuneaton's first Labour Party representative on Warwickshire County Council.
The central interest of the Walter Lewis Archive rests in the period of his Party Agent work between 1923 and 1940, and his connections with significant political figures.
The Archive includes material relating to Lady Warwick's campaign for Warwick and Leamington in 1923/4, and correspondence with R.H. Tawney. Lewis tried unsuccessfully to persuade Tawney to stand for Nuneaton in 1924.
Lewis also supported Oswald Mosley's campaign in the Smethwick by-election in December 1926.
This led in 1931 to a critical episode in Lewis's life. Mosley and his political allies tried to recruit Lewis as national agent of The New Party. Lewis refused and remained loyal to Labour for the rest of his life.
One file contains correspondence and other material relating to this episode.A second file comprises cuttings which throw light on the fluid politics of 1931.
A number of other election campaigns feature in the Archive. Among them is the campaign of Colonel Cecil Malone, who won the Northampton seat at a by-election in 1928.
In 1936 Lewis moved to Northampton, where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1940 the Second World War brought an end to his career as a Party Agent and as Editor/Manager of a Party newspaper, 'The Town Crier'. During the War he had jobs in Billeting, Civil Defence, and the Ministry of Supply, and gained election to Northampton Council.
Service as a Councillor continued after the War, and included a stint as Mayor. He died in Northampton on 7th January 1967. In a memorial address, he was described as "strong and sincere in his convictions, effective in their practical applications".
Walter Lewis was born on 28th December 1891 at Llanbradach near Caerphilly in South Wales. He worked as a miner and a mining clerk before taking a two-year scholarship at the Labour College, London, in 1920.
After graduating from the course, he worked for a short period in educational work for the Building Trades Union, before being appointed a fulltime Labour Party agent in 1923.
He was based initially in Nuneaton, and in November 1926 was elected as Nuneaton's first Labour Party representative on Warwickshire County Council.
The central interest of the Walter Lewis Archive rests in the period of his Party Agent work between 1923 and 1940, and his connections with significant political figures.
The Archive includes material relating to Lady Warwick's campaign for Warwick and Leamington in 1923/4, and correspondence with R.H. Tawney. Lewis tried unsuccessfully to persuade Tawney to stand for Nuneaton in 1924.
Lewis also supported Oswald Mosley's campaign in the Smethwick by-election in December 1926.
This led in 1931 to a critical episode in Lewis's life. Mosley and his political allies tried to recruit Lewis as national agent of The New Party. Lewis refused and remained loyal to Labour for the rest of his life.
One file contains correspondence and other material relating to this episode.A second file comprises cuttings which throw light on the fluid politics of 1931.
A number of other election campaigns feature in the Archive. Among them is the campaign of Colonel Cecil Malone, who won the Northampton seat at a by-election in 1928.
In 1936 Lewis moved to Northampton, where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1940 the Second World War brought an end to his career as a Party Agent and as Editor/Manager of a Party newspaper, 'The Town Crier'. During the War he had jobs in Billeting, Civil Defence, and the Ministry of Supply, and gained election to Northampton Council.
Service as a Councillor continued after the War, and included a stint as Mayor. He died in Northampton on 7th January 1967. In a memorial address, he was described as "strong and sincere in his convictions, effective in their practical applications".
Persons keywordLewis, Walter, Labour Party
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfonds
Normal locationAG Walter Lewis Box 1 (Room 37)
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