State Papers Online: Nineteenth Century:
Explore 75 years of official documents, curated by the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle, that reveal decision-making at the head of the British Empire throughout the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII
Continuing Gale’s relationship with the Royal Archives following State Papers Online: The Stuart and Cumberland Papers from the Royal Archives, Windsor Castle, this latest installment of State Papers Online includes over 800 files of the official papers of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII on subjects relating to The Sovereign as Head of State, including correspondence with prime ministers and other senior ministers on domestic and foreign affairs from 1837 to 1911. The papers serve many topics of current interest, including Queen Victoria’s influence on colonialism, attitudes about race, and the balance of power between Britain and Europe as well as King Edward VII’s influence on diplomatic relations and army reform. While there may be copies of some of these documents in other archives, most are unique and this collection brings together “State Papers” for the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII held in the Royal Archives in one place or a comprehensive research experience.
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
These papers provide evidence of how Queen Victoria and King Edward VII learned from, advised, and negotiated with ministers and advisers and how they influenced domestic and foreign affairs. Often showcasing royal annotations, papers include regular “memos” from the prime minister, correspondence between ministers on a variety of issues, and extensive letters passed to the monarch for information or approval. Also included, for example, are letters, maps, and plans of troop positions from the South African Wars; Winston Churchill’s account of his period in prison in Pretoria in 1899; and documents on China and Japan, including a letter from Queen Victoria with regrets that she was not able to amend the peace treaty between the two countries.
VALUE OF THE ARCHIVE
- In Great Company: This collection, which expands on materials sourced directly from the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle, builds on the established State Papers Online program, which has an extensive existing user base.
- Topical Coverage: Academic interest is increasing in the study of the British monarchy and of Queenship, specifically Queen Victoria and her role as ruler over the British Empire. Digitization of these papers gives researchers easy access to study the British monarchy through a unique collection of official correspondence.
- Scholarly Appeal: These papers bring researchers key collections of both national and international importance and cover themes including race, class, colonialism, diplomatic relations within the UK, the balance of power between Britain and Europe, as well as army reform and warfare.
- Unique Insights: With firsthand accounts, these papers reveal decision-making at the head of the British Empire, at home and abroad, and they provide a look into personal relationships between monarchs and key figures, including William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, as well as nearly every European head of state.
- Relevance to Today’s Issues: Bringing State Papers Online into a key period of the nineteenth century, these papers cover the age of industrial, social, and political change in the UK and elsewhere, revealing increased global interconnectedness from imperial projects, exploration and global commerce, and advances in technology and science.