LKE Festival of Britain 1951

DATE: 1946-1976

LEVEL: Series

Small series consisting of Leonard Elmhirst's records of the Festival of Britain 1951. The records were accumulated by Leonard while serving as a member of the Council for the Festival of Britain 1951, (1948-1951) at the invitation of Herbert Morrison, Lord President of the Council. The records contain information relating to the planning, activities and publicity for the festival including: memoranda and minutes from the Council for the Festival of Britain, the Scottish, Northern Ireland and Welsh Committee Meetings (1948-1951) and the Agricultural Advisory Panel (1949-1950). Correspondence and other records relating to Science and the Arts in the Festival including 'Public Works (Festival of Britain) Bill', (1949) and General Lord Ismay and Sir Gerald Barry correspondence.

Other material in this series includes: telegrams; Leonard Elmhirst's Privilege Pass; 5 black and white photographs of preliminary model designs (1950) for the exhibit of Rural Crafts for the 'Country Pavilion'; press cuttings; catalogues, guides and programmes for The Festival of Britain 1951.

The Festival of Britain 1951, was an international exhibition to celebrate the centenary of 'The Great Exhibition' 1851. The Festival aimed to raise the nation's spirit and illustrate the British contribution to civilization past, present and future in terms of Art, Architecture, Industrial design and production, Science, Sport and Technology. Between May and September 1951, eleven exhibitions and twenty-three arts festivals, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland took place. By the end of September 1951eighteen million people had taken part in the Festival of Britain, staging celebrations, pageantry and sport in 1,700 cities towns and villages all over Britain.

Herbert Morrison, Lord President of the Council appointed under the Chairmanship of Lord Ismay a Council for the Festival of Britain, with Sir Gerald Barry appointed as Director-General and executive committee of officials. The council included the chairmen of the national committees set up for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the chairmen of the Arts Council and the Council of Industrial Design and of two bodies specially created for the festival, the Council for Architecture, Town Planning and Building Research and the Council of Science.

Leonard Elmhirst served as a member of the Council for the Festival of Britain 1951, (1948-1951). Leonard was primarily involved with the Council of Science, appointed as Chairman of the Agricultural Advisory Panel and involved in the Agricultural aspects of the South Bank Exhibition, London with the 'Country Pavilion' (1951).

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