Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1944-1991 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.054 cubic metres (6 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Donald Richard Coleman (1925-1991) was the Labour MP for Neath from 1964 until his death.
He was educated at Cadoxton Boys' School, Barry, and Cardiff Technical College. He held a number of technical positions at various laboratories at Cardiff and Swansea before securing an appointment in 1954 as metallurgist to the Research Department of the Steel Company of Wales Ltd, Abbey Works, Port Talbot, in which position he remained until his election to parliament in the General Election of October 1964.
He held a number of junior ministerial appointments including minister of state for Wales, 1967-1970, opposition whip, 1970-1974, and opposition spokesman on Welsh affairs, 1981-1983. He also served as delegate to the Council of Europe and was especially prominent in the public life of Neath, Swansea and West Glamorgan.
Archival history
The papers were accumulated and retained by Donald Coleman during the course of his political career and came into the possession of his widow, Mrs Margaret Coleman, following his death in January 1991.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Donald Coleman's widow, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Coleman, Neath, in March 1999 and April 2001.; A1999/45, A2001/25
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Political papers, 1944-1991, of Donald Richard Coleman, including correspondence files, 1964-1991, mainly of political interest; papers concerning the Labour Party, 1964-1990, many relating to the Labour Party Wales; and files, 1944-1990, relating to various subjects.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: A large quantity of printed material and papers deriving from Donald Coleman's association with the Council of Europe have been destroyed. Authority to destroy unwanted papers is given in Departmental Appraisal Form JGJ/2003-04/1..
Accruals
Further papers are possible
System of arrangement
The papers have been arranged at NLW into three series: correspondence files; papers relating to the Labour Party and the Labour Party Wales; and miscellaneous subject files.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Normal laws of copyright apply
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of this list is available at NLW.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Labour Party Wales (Subject)
- Coleman, Donald Richard, 1925-1991 -- Archives. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
February 2004.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by J. Graham Jones.
Archivist's note
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Who was who, 1897-1996, on CD-ROM; information from this archive.