SPA Collections
The Scottish Political Archive comprises an extensive general collection of campaign literature, papers and ephemera as well as individual collections from Scottish Politicians and campaign groups.
Some distinct collections include:
The Scots Independent Newspaper photograph collection: this collection contains photographs of prominent Nationalist figures and campaigns since the 1960s, as well as images of other Scottish politicians and cultural figures. These images are available though our Flickr site. The cataloguing of the Scots Independent newspapers and the cartoons of Ewen Bain is currently ongoing. You can find out more on our ‘Current Projects’ page.
The George Robertson collection: George Robertson was Labour MP for Hamilton from 1978-1998. He was Secretary of State for Defence 1997-8 and then Secretary-General of NATO from 1999-2004. His collection contains material from all stages of his career.
The Bruce Watson collection: Bruce Watson was chairman of the Scottish National Party from 1945-47. The Watson collection contains 200 separate items related to Scottish nationalism such as pamphlets, policy documents and election materials.
The Devolution Referenda Oral History collection: which contains interviews with local and national campaigners from the devolution referendums of 1979 and 1997. These interviews have led to the collection of photographic and ephemeral material relating to the two referendums. The archive has also collected material relating to the 2014 referendum
The SPA Photographic collection: This is an online collection of photos, leaflets, posters and campaign material made available through Flickr.
The Bob McLean collection: Bob McLean was Vice Convenor for the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly (CSA). Though he was also a key figure in the establishing of Scottish Labour Action, the majority of this collection deals with the history of the CSA (later ‘Campaign for a Scottish Parliament’). Included are materials relating to his own writing.
The Dennis Canavan collection: Dennis Canavan was Labour MP for Stirlingshire West then Falkirk West from 1974-2000, after which he was MSP for Falkirk West from 1999-2007. The collection relates to his time as both MP and MSP and also contains information on his role in the campaign for a Scottish Parliament.
Federation of Student Nationalists collection: This collection contains minutes, correspondence, leaflets and other associated material donated by the FSN.
The Jack McConnell collection: This archive contains material relating to all periods of Lord McConnell’s life from his days as Student President of the University of Stirling through to his time in the House of Lords. Notably, Lord McConnell was also MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw (1999-2001) and First Minister of Scotland (2001-2007). Sections of this collection are currently closed. Please contact us for further information.
The Bus Party collection: This collection relates to the Bus Party tour of 1997 and the Listening Lugs Bus Party tour of 2014. The Bus Party was a non partisan group of artists and writers who travelled round Scotland asking people ‘What kind of Scotland do you want?”, encouraging discussion and the Scottish electorate to vote.
The Canon Kenyon Wright collection: Canon Kenyon Wright was a missionary whose notable contributions to Scottish politics include his chairing of the Executive Committee of the Constitutional Convention. His archive contains material relating to his work in the church as well as his work relating to Scottish devolution.
The George Foulkes collection: George Foulkes was an Edinburgh Councillor from 1974 – 1979. He was Labour MP for South Ayrshire and also served as an MSP between 2007 and 2011. He campaigned ‘yes’ in both major devolution referenda and was responsible for establishing the Labour Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.
The Gordon Wilson collection: Gordon Wilson was SNP MP for Dundee East from 1974-1987 and was Chairman of the SNP from 1979-1990.
The Holyrood Building Project collection: This collection holds papers, publications and correspondence relating to the building of the Scottish Parliament, which was known at the Holyrood Building Project.
The Jim Boyack collection: Jim Boyack was a prominent member of the Scottish Labour Party and actively campaigned for a Scottish Parliament.
The John McAllion collection: This collection pertains to John McAllion’s time as MP and MSP for Dundee East. It particularly relates to the 1996 decision by the Labour Party to hold a referendum on legislative devolution.
The People and Parliament collection: This collection includes the minutes, working papers, strategy documents, analysis of responses and reports of People & Parliament, an independent project set up in 1997 and chaired by Kenyon Wright.
The Robert Robertson collection: Robert Robertson was a Mineralogist and an active member of nationalist groups in the 1950s, including the Scottish Covenant Association. This collection contains material relating to the Scottish National Assembly, the Scottish Convention, the National Convention Committee and the Scottish Covenant Association.
