Lancashire and Whitehall. The diary of Sir Raymond Streat. Volume 1, 1931-39. Volume 2, 1939-57

Notes:

Transcription of the diary of Sir Raymond Streat, 1897-1979, who was, inter alia, Secretary of Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 1920-40, and Chairman of the Cotton Board, 1940-57. Has scholarly introduction [ppxiii-xxix] with sections on 'The diarist'; 'The diary'; 'The nature of the contents and importance of the diary' [by far the longest section]. It is thought that he wrote the diary, in part, for the benefit of future historians [and because he enjoyed writing]. The diary 'contains two types of information' - 1] descriptions of specific episodes and personalities; 2] 'descriptions of the multitude of minor incidents and impressions which alone may not amount to very much, but which taken together throw light on the character of the people involved in the cotton industry and government, the relationship between industry and government, the nature of the issues over which they were struggling and the nature of the life of a man who was Secretary of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in the 1930s.