Share your opinion
Help us improve our services by filling in our quick survey to let us know how we're doing.
Political Archives in the Library are a wonderful resource for research in a wide range of fields. This page lists the major archives which relate to some common themes in Welsh politics.
Campaign Groups and Civic Society
The Coal Industry and Strikes
- David Davies Llandinam Papers
- Lord Davies of Llandinam Papers
- Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association Records
- Philip Weekes Papers
- South Wales Women’s Support Group Papers
- Wales TUC Cymru Archives
- Ted Rowlands Papers (Series 5)
- Bert Pearce (Welsh Communist Party Papers (Series WS3)
- NLW Facs 778
- NLW ex 787-8
- Welsh Political Ephemera Collection (File C3/10)
The Co-operative Movement
- NLW Ex 1062 (Bargoed Branch of The Co-operative Society)
- Co-operative Party Wales Papers
- Co-operative Society (Western Section)
- NLW ex 1618 (CWS milk supply contract)
- NLW Facs 779 (History of the Blaenpennal & District Agricultural Co-operative Society Ltd)
- NLW MSS 11559-11560E, 11561C (Letters and papers from the library of Ellis William Jones (1872-1935) of Plasteg, Bala, largely relating to agricultural co-operation in Wales)
- Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society
- Welsh Town-Planning and Housing Trust Records
Cornwall
- Celtic League Archive
- Cofnodion Biwro Ewropeaidd yr Ieithoedd Llai / European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages Records
- Cowethas Flamank Archive
- Maxwell Fraser Papers
- J. R. Jones Papers
- John Legonna Papers
- Archif Plaid Cymru -
- Gwilym Prys-Davies Papers
- Papurau Trefin, Archdderwydd Cymru
- Harri Webb Papers
- Welsh Political Ephemera Collection
Devolution and Independence
- Aberystwyth 'No Assembly' Campaign (1979) Archive 1975-1981
- Leo Abse Papers
- Leighton Andrews Papers
- Lord Callaghan (New Welsh National Assembly Building) Papers
- Council for Wales and Monmouthshire Records
- Archif Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (See link under "finding aids" in the record for detailed information)
- Cymru Goch Archive
- Archif Cymru Yfory
- Gwilym Prys Davies Papers
- Huw T. Edwards Papers
- Glyn Tegai Hughes Papers
- Institute of Welsh Affairs Records 1982-2001
- Papurau Siôn T. Jobbins
- Gwynoro Jones Papers
- 'Just Say No' Referendum Campaign Papers NLW Ex 2039
- Labour Party Wales Archives
- Lord Murphy Papers
- No Assembly Campaign Papers (1979)
- John Osmond Papers
- NLW Facs 994 (Papers relating to the home of the Welsh Assembly Government)
- Archif Plaid Cymru
- Papurau Elwyn Roberts Papers (Organiser Parliament for Wales Campaign, 1953-6)
- Sir Paul Silk Papers
- Papurau Undeb Cymru Fydd
- Wales for the Assembly Campaign Papers (1979)
- Lee Waters Papers
- Leanne Wood Papers
- Yes Cymru Archive
- 'Yes for Wales' 1997 Referendum Campaign Records
- Yes for Wales (2011)
- Cofnodion Ymgyrch Senedd i Gymru/Parliament for Wales Campaign (1988-2000)
- Papurau Ymgyrch Senedd i Gymru (Parliament for Wales Campaign Papers (1951-56, 1984) NLW Ex 2607
Education
Elections
- Aber Research Papers
- Denis Balsom (Welsh Opinion Polls) Papers-
- Election Bites scripts 2016
- Luned Meredith (Political Ephemera) Papers
- Darren Millar Papers
- John Bryn Roberts Collection - Election Addresses (1885-1924) - Political Leaflets (1880-1927) - Political Pamphlets (1882-1927)
- NLW ex 1930
- Ivor T. Rees Political Papers
- Roger Roberts Papers (Lord Roberts of Llandudno)
- Welsh Political Ephemera Collection (Many pre-1980 holdings have been digitised)
- Liberal Party/Liberal Democrats/SDP - 1837-1900 - 1905-1913 - 1918-1929 - 1931-1969 - 1970-1981 - 1983
- Labour Party - 1908-1929 - 1931-1939 - 1941-1949 - 1950-1959 - 1964-1967 - 1970 - February 1974 - October 1974 - 1979 - Undated
- Conservative Party - 1852-1918 - 1922-1969 - 1970-1979
- Plaid Cymru - 1929-1959 - 1960-1966 - 1970-1979
- Devolution Referendum 1979
- Devolution Referendum 1997
International
- Ann Clwyd Papers
- Archif Dolen Cymru
- Lord Elwyn Jones Papers
- Gareth Vaughan Jones Papers
- Lord MacDonald of Gwaenysgor Papers
- Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement Papers
- File NLW Facs 923: David Ormsby Gore (5th Baron Harlech) Papers
- William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore (4th Baron Harlech) Brogyntyn Estate and Family Records PEC10/1 - PEC11
- NLW Facs 1035: Cymru Cuba.
- NLW ex 1987: Papers of Campaign Groups
- Peter Hain Papers
Ireland
- Peter Hain Papers
- Lord Murphy Papers
- Dr Thomas Jones CH Papers
- Archif Plaid Cymru
- Lord Temple-Morris Papers
- NLW MS4185 - Medical list for Frongoch Camp
- NLW MS 24044D, ff. 34-36. - Frongoch prisoner's letter
The Labour Movement
- Ian and Thalia Campbell Papers (Contains Aberystwyth T&GWU branch records)
- Coleg Harlech Archive
- James Griffiths Papers
- D. R. Daniel Collection
- Huw T. Edwards Papers
- Jill Hutt Papers
- W. H. Mainwaring Papers
- Ivan Monckton Papers
- Sir Guildhaume Myrddin-Evans Papers
- D. A. Thomas (Viscount Rhondda) Papers
- Wales TUC Cymru Archives
- WEA (North Wales) Archive
Local Government
The Media
- Papurau Jennie Eirian Davies
- Patrick Hannan Papers
- Glyn Tegai Hughes Papers
- Gareth Vaughan Jones Papers (Digitised documents)
- Glyn Mathias Papers
- Nick Powell Papers
- Wynford Vaughan Thomas Papers
Online Resources
The Spanish Civil War
The Welsh Language
- Papurau Dr Carl Clowes
- Archif Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (See link under "finding aids" in the record for detailed information)
- Papurau Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg Ceredigion
- Papurau Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg Morgannwg a Gwent
- Papurau Cynog Dafis
- Papurau Dr John Davies
- Gwilym Prys Davies Papers
- Papurau Rachel Mary Davies
- Tom Ellis Papers NLW MS 22551E
- Papurau Gwynfor Evans/Gwynfor Evans Papers
- Ieuan ap Gwent (Cymdeithas yr Iaith) Papers NLW ex 2951
- Institute of Welsh Affairs Records 1982-2001
- Papurau Siôn T. Jobbins
- Papurau Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
- Papurau Mudiad a Chwmni Adfer
- Cofnodion Ymddiriedolaeth Nant Gwrtheyrn
- Papurau Kate Roberts Digitised documents
- Owen John Thomas Papers
- Papurau Tŷ Cenedl Papers
- Archifau Urdd Gobaith Cymru
- Archifau Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Ceredigion)
The Welsh Republican Movement
Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales/Welsh Parliament
- National Assembly for Wales/Welsh Parliament: The archive of the National Assembly for Wales (i.e. the legislature) is held by the National Library of Wales. The archive can be browsed on the Main Catalogue but access is restricted. The first series of records was transferred in May 2017. Further accruals to the archive are expected in the future. Most of these records can also be found on the Welsh Parliament’s website. While the National Assembly's name has changed to the Welsh Parliament the name of the archive reflects the time it was created.
- Senedd Building - Lord Callaghan (New Welsh National Assembly Building) Papers
- Welsh Government: The historical records of the Welsh Government (i.e. the executive, also known as the Welsh Assembly Government) are held by The National Archives (external website – English only). This provision is formalised by the Concordat between The National Archives and the Welsh Government. These records are subject to a 20 year closure unless otherwise stated (phased reduction from 30 to 20 years).
- Welsh Office: The National Archives (external website – English only) also holds records created or inherited by the Welsh Office relating to the administration of Wales. These records are subject to a 20 year closure unless otherwise stated (phased reduction from 30 to 20 years).
- Online resources - archived copies of websites and Twitter feeds of the Welsh Government, Senedd Cymru (National Assembly for Wales), Members of the Senedd (Assembly Members), MPs, the UK Government, Local Government and Inspectorates. Some resources are only available in the Library building due to copyright restrictions.
- Development Board for Rural Wales Records
- Mesurau a Deddfau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru = National Assembly for Wales Measures and Acts
- Offerynnau Statudol Cymru = Welsh Statutory Instruments
War and Peace
- Aberystwyth Peace Network Records
- Ian and Thalia Campbell Papers
- CND Cymru National Archive
- CND Cymru (Olwen Davies)
- Clement Davies (Liberal MP) Papers
- Lord Davies of Llandinam Papers
- George M. LL. Davies Manuscripts and Records
- Rev. Gwilym Davies Papers
- James Griffiths Papers
- Papurau Gwenallt
- Selwyn Jones Papers
- League of Nations Union and United Nations Association Records
- Elfyn Llwyd Papers
- Preseli Anti-nuclear Group Papers
- Papurau Kate Roberts
- Papurau Lewis Valentine
- Archifau Urdd Gobaith Cymru
The Water Industry
- Council for Wales and Monmouthshire Records
- Dr Noëlle Davies Papers
- Huw T. Edwards Papers
- Archif Plaid Cymru
- Minutes of evidence of the Select Committee of the House of Lords relating to the Liverpool Corporation Bill regarding Tryweryn - NLW MS 20620E
- Papurau Kate Roberts
- Papurau Tŷ Cenedl Papers
- Papurau Undeb Cymru Fydd
Women in Politics
- North Wales Women’s Liberal Federation Records
- Councillor Cecelia Barton Papers
- Margaret Lloyd George - Revd. J. T. Rhys (Margaret Lloyd George) Papers
- Megan Lloyd George NLW MS 22752C - Megan Lloyd George: Correspondence Lloyd George Manuscripts
- Baroness Randerson Papers
- Ian and Thalia Campbell Papers
- Christine Chapman AM (Women's Archive of Wales) Papers
- Chwarae Teg Records
- Ann Clwyd Papers
- Ann Jones AM (Women's Archive of Wales) Papers
- Eirene White Papers
- Beata Brookes Papers
- Papurau Rachel Mary Davies
- Jill Evans MEP Papers
- Papurau Kate Roberts
- Jill Hutt Papers
- Welsh Political Ephemera Collection
- Leanne Wood Papers