Centenary Reflections on Callaghan, Labour and Britain since 1912
The event
Convocation House, Bodleian Library, Oxford; Thursday 7 March 2013.
A joint event staged by the Bodleian Libraries, the History Faculty, University of Oxford, and Oxford University Press/Dictionary of National Biography marking the life of Jim Callaghan, Baron Callaghan (1912-2005). A leading campaigner against British colonialism during the 1950s, Callaghan became one of the key figures in the Wilson governments 1964-70 and 1974-6, holding all three of the most senior Cabinet posts: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, and Foreign Secretary. From 1976 to 1979 he served as Prime Minister. In retirement, he was an active Elder Statesman. His private papers in the Bodleian Library are a major historical resource.
The event (which was open to all) was chaired by Dr Lawrence Goldman, editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. After papers by Dr Goldman, Lord (Kenneth) Morgan, Lord (Bernard) Donoughue; Lord (David) Owen, Andrew Smith MP, and Lord Callaghan’s son, Michael Callaghan, questions were taken from the audience. Baroness (Margaret) Jay, Lord Callaghan’s daughter, rounded off the evening with her recollections of her father.
The event concluded with a reception in the adjoining Divinity School. A selection of manuscripts from the Callaghan papers was on display in the Proscholium, the entrance to the Old Bodleian Library.
Audio recordings
Recordings of all the main speakers' contributions are available via the University of Oxford podcast page.
The question and answer session after the event was also recorded and the answers are available to stream or download:
A recording of the entire event had been added to the archive and can be made available to researchers on request.