Political papers, mostly relating to Churchill's three offices of state: Lord Steward of the Household, 1866-7, with correspondence, accounts and papers relating to Queen Victoria's household; Lord President of the Council, 1867-8, with correspondence between Marlborough and Prime Ministers, Lord Derby and Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Mayo, Duke of Richmond and Queen Victoria, the last mostly confined to times of Privy Council meetings; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1876-80, with correspondence and papers on Irish affairs. There is also a small section of early, non-political correspondence and papers, for example relating to Marlborough's time at Oxford University.



The correspondence has been calendared to provide short summaries of the contents, including some direct quotation. The catalogue has retained original historic language that may be offensive, inaccurate or inappropriate, particularly in regard to descriptions of Irish people. In order to reflect the original context of creation, such historic language has not been edited or replaced.