Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- c. 1800-1975 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
38 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
James Ramsay Montagu Butler was born on 20 July 1889, the son of Henry Montagu Butler, Master of Trinity, and his second wife, Agnata née Ramsay. He was an entrance scholar at Harrow and was elected a scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1905, although he did not matriculate until 1907. In 1909 he was placed in the first class of Part I of the Classics Tripos and the following year he took a first in Part II History. He won a number of University prizes, culminating in the Chancellor’s Classical Medal in 1911. He was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1913 on the strength of a dissertation which was to form the basis of his first publication 'The Passing of the Great Reform Bill'.
At the outbreak of war he joined the Scottish Horse and served with them in Gallipoli and Egypt. In 1916 he was transferred to the Directorate of Military Operations in the War Office and was awarded the OBE for services in connection with operations in France. After the Armistice he attended the League of Nations peace conference in Paris and later took a great interest in and worked hard to encourage the success of the League.
On his return to Cambridge, he was appointed tutor to princes Albert and Henry and was appointed a Member of the Victorian Order for this service. In University politics, he was a great supporter of full degrees for women. In 1922, after overtures from both the Labour and Liberal Parties, he was elected as MP for Cambridge University, but was unseated in 1923 and subsequently made an unsuccessful attempt to regain his seat in 1924. In 1928 Trinity appointed him Tutor, and was Senior Tutor from 1931-38. In 1929 he became a University Lecturer in History
In WWII, Butler was involved with the Army Intelligence Corps and Civil Affairs and Military Government and again was rewarded for work in relation to France, this time by the Legion d”Honneur. He returned to Cambridge after the war to be appointed Chief Military Historian by the government with responsibility for the official history of WWII and became Regius Professor of Modern History in 1947, holding the chair until 1954. In 1955, the College appointed him Vice-Master, which post he held until 1960, in which year he was knighted. He died in 1975.
Butler was not a prolific author. His publications include 'The Passing of the Great Reform Bill' (1914), 'Henry Montagu Butler, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1886-1918 a memoir' (1925), 'The Present Need for History' (1946), 'Grand Strategy' (volumes in the official history of WWII, 1957 and 1964) and 'Lord Lothian' (1960).
Repository
Archival history
On the death of J R M Butler the papers passed to Trinity College Library, where they remained uncatalogued, but apparently undisturbed until 1999
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The executors of Sir James Ramsay Montagu Butler
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Personal correspondence 1894-1974, papers concerning Trinity College and Cambridge University 1907-66, academical notes 1920-50, lectures 1921-62, publications 1914-64, papers relating to The Directorate of Military Operations 1918-19, The League of Nations 1918-32, J R M Butler's political life 1918-24, Civil Affairs Staff Centre 1943-44, Papers of George Butler 1794-1850, papers of Henry Montagu Butler 1846-1918, papers of Gordon Kerr Montagu Butler 1910-16, papers of Nevile Montagu Butler 1910-67
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The majority of the papers are open for access with very few exceptions which are marked as such
Conditions governing reproduction
For permission to publish material described in this catalogue please consult the Librarian, Trinity College Library, Cambridge, CB2 1TQ
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Catalogue produced by Jonathan Smith based on a printed catalogue made c 2005
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
See also Trinity College Library Add.Ms.b.54 - papers of J R M Butler relating to the royal visit of 1912