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Files of documents relating to the group People's Democracy, its activities and members

File of TS minutes of meetings of People's Democracy.

File of TS and also MS documents, being the minutes and agenda of meetings of the Central Committee of People's Democracy, detailing those present, agenda for meetings, discussion of points including plans for marches to highlight and campaign against Human Rights violations on Northern Ireland, updates from various areas and regions within Northern Ireland, notices of meetings with Provisional Republicans (22 March 1970), notice of placement and also defacement of P.D. posters, discussion on P. D. policy and committee, question of setting up a People's Democracy in the South [of Ireland], employment, housing, economy, Unionism, the Civil Rights Movement and other such issues. The file also includes numbered but unallocated membership cards for People's Democracy. Typescript report of P.D. six-monthly Conference, Belfast (24 May 1970), 'Comrade Boyle' was noted as being one of three alternating Chairpersons; Typescript, Central Executive Committee minutes from meeting, 1 June 1970, Kevin Boyle was present and noted as being elected joint Press Secretary. Details of upcoming activities, marches, events regarding P.D. are outlined.

File of letters received by and sent by People's Democracy

MS letter to "Dear Bernadette", and entitled 'A few thoughts that may clarify where we all go from here...', the document is signed off by Kevin [Boyle] and does appear to be in Boyle's hand. The letter is divided by headings: 'The Past' and 'The Present', and includes 10 and 11 points of comment by [Boyle] under each headings and comments on past and current P.D. members, structures, weaknesses and policies.. Points mentioned include "You [Bernadette Devlin] didn't help the claims of Derry and Belfast by having an independent career in Mid-Ulster and Westminster", "The P.D. is in fact organisationally quiet weak..." and "...if [you] linking to the P.D. would mean that [Eamonn] McCann, or yourself, would feel unfree and incapable of developing in the way you think, then it would be best not to have anything to do with it."

MS letter, attached in the papers to the previous letter by Boyle to Devlin and is entitled "I have debated with myself what to do against the motion..." The document outlines Boyle's feeling and comments on motions on internal tension amongst the Civil Rights Movement, the Civil Rights Association and the People's Democracy group regarding guidance principle and actions. "I have debated defying this illegitimate motion, but on second thoughts I shall not because I am confident that the inconsistent position adopted by P.D. is unlikely to last" and goes on to say how if things do not revert Boyle will have "No alt[ernative] but to resign" and doing so in principles.

TS copy letter from Boyle and Round to the Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast outlining how six Q.U.B. students who were also members of People's Democracy were arrested on 4th November 1968 arising out of demonstrations in Belfast arising when the Royal Ulster Constabulary (R.U.C.) intervened on the matter of peaceful protests and mentions the requirements of same by Mr. I.R.K. Paisley. The letter continues to seek the support of the University for its students who are involved in peaceful civil rights actions.

TS letter from [ ], Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, to Dr. Round, in reply to letter 7 Nov 1968 and stating "concerning the six arrested students, the University Discipline Committee will await the decisions of the courts and will then consider each case on its merits."

MS draft letter of response from the People's Democracy to the previous letter, being a letter (13 Nov 1968) from the Vice Chancellor of Q.U.B., this letter states how the position of the Discipline Committee of Q.U.B. to 'await the decision of the Courts', might, if given publicly, influence the sentencing policy of the courts in the cases of the six arrested students.

TS letter from the Vice-Chancellor of Q.U.B. to Dr. Round, Spanish Department of Q.U.B. offering times of availability to discuss the matter of the arrested student members of People's Democracy.