This file includes documents circulated within the Rural Reconstruction Association Research Committee between 1953 and 1956, together with comments and correspondence by individual members, principally Robert Saunders, Derek R. Stuckey and Jorian Jenks (H. Grenville Hill, Chairman, died in June 1953). The letters primarily relate to the preparation of the Rural Reconstruction Association’s Final Report, published under the title “Feeding the Fifty Million” in February 1955.

Notably items include:

Printed publicity leaflet “Look to the Land”, with details of Officers, Executive Committee and Council members [n.d.] (D8/1)

Annual report for 1952 (March 1953) (D8/2)

circular announcing intention of Stuckey to resign as Hon. Secretary of the Research Committee from July 1953 [he remained in office] [n.d.] (D8/3)

covering letter (2 March 1953) (D8/7) and draft report “The Main Features of Danish Agriculture” (D8/8)

“Memorandum on the State of Research” (27 March 1953) (D8/16) and timetable for producing draft Report (D8/17)

Draft Standing Orders of the Research Committee [n.d.] (D8/21)

Letter outlining Saunders views on “Large and Small Farms (10 May 1953) (D8/28)

Letter concerning the death of Chairman, H. Grenville Hill (11 June 1953) (D8/36); Jenks redraft of Report, sent in instalments (18 September-16 October 1953) (D8/47-52)

Printed proofs of Report in 2 sections [July 1954] (D8/73-74)

Soil Association pamphlet “The Under-Developed Lands of Britain” by L. Dudley Stamp, circulated November 1954 (D8/86) “Feeding the Fifty Million” publicity leaflets (8 copies) (D8/88) and order form (D8/89)

Notice of publication of the R.R.A. Research Committee Report “Feeding the Fifty Million”, with costings, and note about the future of the Research Committee (24 February 1955) (D8/90)

Statement on reviews and sales (14 April 1955) (D8/92)

Rural Reconstruction Association Annual Report 1953/4, with references to “Feeding the Fifty Million”, “Rural Economy”, and Jenks’ book “From the Ground Up” (March 1955) (D8/95)

Invitation to Saunders to join the Rural Reconstruction Association Executive Council (28 April [1955]) (96), and declination (30 April 1955) (D8/97)

Appeal for funding for “Rural Economy” by Jenks (31 October 1955) (D8/101)

Letter with references to “sales have been very disappointing” of “Feeding the Fifty Million”, in Annual Report (2 November 1956) (D8/104)