Archives George Walford
Period 1940-1994
Total size 1.6 m.
ConsultationNot restricted
Biography
Born in London, 1919; died in London, 1994; antiquarian in London; withdrew from active business in 1976 to apply himself to the study of modes of thought, in particular to the theory of systematic ideology of Harold Walsby, whose ideas he elaborated further; editor of Ideological Commentary. An independent quarterly of systematic ideology, which appeared since 1979; author of `Beyond Politics. An outline of systematic ideology'.
Content
Correspondence with Zvi Lamm 1981-1988, Harold Walsby 1966- 1967, 1971 and others; notebook; typescripts of `Systematic Ideology. A study of the structure, origin and evolution of ideologies' and of other publications, including typescripts of lectures 1945-1993; documents relating to Ideological Commentary (1976-) 1989-1994; documents relating to the Walsby Society 1973-1979; copies of publications by Walford (1945-) 1973-1993 and of publications by Harold Walsby 1945-1984; copies of periodicals and other printed material 1940, 1952, 1961-1994.
Processing information
List made by Tiny de Boer
INTRODUCTION
George W.
Walford was born 28 May 1919 at Hoxton, London. According to his own
words he was mainly educated by the left wing, antiquarian bookselling and the
London Library. He was antiquarian bookseller in London. He withdrew from
active business in 1976 to study modes of thought and the way they affect
social behaviour, developing the theory of systematic ideology originated by
Harold Walsby.
George Walford studied Systematic
Ideology for most of his life. He was already thinking deeply about political
ideologies when, before the war, he met Harold Walsby who introduced him to the
Ideology of Ideologies, which later became known as Systematic Ideology.
After Walsby's death in 1973, the Walsby Society was
formed with the principal object of promoting the study, discussion and
development of his writings and researches. Monthly meetings and memorial
lectures were held. George Walford developed the theory further, producing
books and a long-running journal on the topic.
The Project for Systematic
Ideology (PSI) was started in October 1977. It was intended as a specialised
extension of the work of the Walsby Society, concentrating upon systematic
ideology. It has issued a monthly Circular. PSI has been discontinued in
September 1979.
He edited the originally privately-circulated journal
Ideological Commentary. He wrote: An Outline Sketch of Systematic Ideology,
Ideologies and their Functions. A Study in Systematic Ideology in 1979 and a
number of papers, including Systematic Ideology and Beyond Ecology, both in
Science and Public Policy.
George Walford died 21 August 1994 at Highgate,
London. His papers were received by the IISH in 1998 and consist of
correspondence, his activities as author and as editor of Ideological
Commentary and Battleground, and documents concerning the Walsby Society. Books
and periodicals were transferred to the library and a photograph of Harold
Walsby was transferred to the audiovisual section of the
IISH.
A small amount of documents of Harold Walsby,
found in the Walford papers, were transferred to the Walsby papers, also
present in the IISH.
The size of the papers is 1.6 m.
LIST
GENERAL
PUBLIC LIFE
Authorship
Typescripts and notes
- 19-20
- `Systematic Ideology. A Study of the Structure, Origin and Evolution of Ideologies'. Typescript, including drafts, synopsis and reviews. 1988-1990, 1993. 2 covers.
- 26-30
- Typescripts of articles. 1945, 1963, 1973-1974, 1985-1986, 1990-1992 and n.d. 4 folders and 1 box.
- 31-32
- `An Outline Sketch of Systematic Ideology'. Typescripts of papers. (Project for Systematic Ideology). 1977, 1981 and n.d. 2 folders.
Editorial activities
Ideological Commentary
- 43-46
- Correspondence, mainly with subscribers of Ideological Commentary. An independent quarterly of systematic ideology. 1989-1994. 3 folders and 1 box.
DOCUMENTATION
George Walford
- 52
- Printed articles and a printed talk of George Walford. 1945, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1986-1987, 1990-1992, 1994. 1 cover.
Harold Walsby
- 57
- Printed articles and a printed letter by Harold Walsby. Probably partly used for publishing in Ideological Commentary. 1945-1946, 1950-1952. 1 cover.
- 58
- The Domain of Ideologies. A Study of the Origin, Development and Structure of Ideologies by Harold Walsby. Book. [Published in 1948]. Photocopy. 1947. 1 cover.
- 69
- Printed articles and a review on publications by Harold Walsby. 1949-1951, 1976, 1978, 1984. 1 cover.
- 60
- `Harold Walsby ( 1911-1973). A Brief Intellectual Biography' by P.J. Rollings. Stencilled pamphlet. 1973. 1 piece.
Other documentation
- 63-65
- Printed and stencilled articles by others. Partly photocopies. 1940, 1952, 1961, 1963, 1968-1969, 1973, 1975-1976, 1979, 1983, 1993 and n.d. 3 folders.
- 69
- Questions of the Day. A Socialist Analysis. Pamphlet. Published by the Socialist Party of Great Britain. With notes. 1969. 1 volume.