The Churchill Centre
Encyclopedia
The Churchill Centre and Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms http://www.winstonchurchill.org was founded in 1968 to educate new generations on the leadership, statesmanship, vision, courage and boldness of Sir Winston Churchill
. Thousands of members around the world work together to impress the record Churchill's life and deeds on the 21st century. The Centre's exhibits are located at the Churchill War Rooms.
The Centre sponsors an annual International Churchill Conference and numerous regional events honouring today's leaders; Churchill tours in Britain, Australia, France, South Africa and Morocco; academic symposia; student seminars; and the periodic Churchill Lecture, in which prominent world figures apply Sir Winston’s experience to the today’s issues. With grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities
, the Centre has conducted highly praised seminars for high school teachers in the USA and UK, to aid their appreciation and use of Churchill's story in their local curricula. The Centre website is a massive array of searchable facts and opinions.
The Churchill Centre is politically non-partisan, but not apolitical. Its quarterly journal, Finest Hour, often touches on Churchill's political philosophy and its relevance to today's issues. Speakers span the political and cultural spectrum: William F. Buckley, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr, Alistair Cooke
, William Manchester
, members of the Churchill family, and many others.
While The Churchill Centre's view of its subject is naturally positive, it is not hagiographic and publishes critiques as well as praise. According to Roosevelt-Churchill historian Warren Kimball, "Finest Hour has become a serious (and still entertaining) journal, earning the sobriquet 'The Journal of Winston Churchill,' which has taken Churchill from the clutches of the worshipful and given him over to the appreciative—those who can look at him, warts and all."
Since 1983, the Patron of The Churchill Centre is The Lady Soames LG DBE, the only surviving daughter of Winston Churchill
. From 1970 to 1979, the Patron was Lord Mountbatten of Burma
. The Centre's United States' offices are located in Chicago, Illinois (888-WSC-1874) and at the Cabinet War Rooms, London (+44 207-766-0122).
, and the International Churchill Society. In 1995, responding to an appeal by Lady Soames, over 600 people around the world became founding members of the Churchill Centre (retaining English spelling of "Centre" in view of its international activities). In 2008 The Churchill Centre merged with the American Friends of the Churchill Museum, to form the Churchill Centre and Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms, London.
Among the original honorary members were The Baroness Clementine Spencer-Churchill; Randolph S. Churchill; The Rt. Hon. The Lord Stockton (Harold Macmillan); The Hon. W. Averell Harriman; Sir John Colville; and The Rt. Hon. The Lord Soames (Christopher Soames), now all deceased. Current honorary members include General Colin Powell; The Lady Thatcher
; Sir Martin Gilbert; Winston Churchill
(grandson); The 11th Duke of Marlborough; Randolph Churchill (great grandson) and Sir Winston's last private secretary, Sir Anthony Montague Browne.
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Thousands of members around the world work together to impress the record Churchill's life and deeds on the 21st century. The Centre's exhibits are located at the Churchill War Rooms.
The Centre sponsors an annual International Churchill Conference and numerous regional events honouring today's leaders; Churchill tours in Britain, Australia, France, South Africa and Morocco; academic symposia; student seminars; and the periodic Churchill Lecture, in which prominent world figures apply Sir Winston’s experience to the today’s issues. With grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, the Centre has conducted highly praised seminars for high school teachers in the USA and UK, to aid their appreciation and use of Churchill's story in their local curricula. The Centre website is a massive array of searchable facts and opinions.
The Churchill Centre is politically non-partisan, but not apolitical. Its quarterly journal, Finest Hour, often touches on Churchill's political philosophy and its relevance to today's issues. Speakers span the political and cultural spectrum: William F. Buckley, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr, Alistair Cooke
Alistair Cooke
Alfred Alistair Cooke KBE was a British/American journalist, television personality and broadcaster. Outside his journalistic output, which included Letter from America and Alistair Cooke's America, he was well known in the United States as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theater from 1971 to 1992...
, William Manchester
William Manchester
William Raymond Manchester was an American author, biographer, and historian from Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, notable as the bestselling author of 18 books that have been translated into over 20 languages...
, members of the Churchill family, and many others.
While The Churchill Centre's view of its subject is naturally positive, it is not hagiographic and publishes critiques as well as praise. According to Roosevelt-Churchill historian Warren Kimball, "Finest Hour has become a serious (and still entertaining) journal, earning the sobriquet 'The Journal of Winston Churchill,' which has taken Churchill from the clutches of the worshipful and given him over to the appreciative—those who can look at him, warts and all."
Since 1983, the Patron of The Churchill Centre is The Lady Soames LG DBE, the only surviving daughter of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. From 1970 to 1979, the Patron was Lord Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. The Centre's United States' offices are located in Chicago, Illinois (888-WSC-1874) and at the Cabinet War Rooms, London (+44 207-766-0122).
History
The predecessor organizations were the Winston S. Churchill Study Unit (1968), a chapter of the American Topical AssociationAmerican Topical Association
The American Topical Association is a US-based philatelic society and the largest organization devoted to topical stamp collecting. It was established in 1949, and currently serves members in over 90 countries. ATA publishes Topical Time, its bimonthly journal...
, and the International Churchill Society. In 1995, responding to an appeal by Lady Soames, over 600 people around the world became founding members of the Churchill Centre (retaining English spelling of "Centre" in view of its international activities). In 2008 The Churchill Centre merged with the American Friends of the Churchill Museum, to form the Churchill Centre and Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms, London.
Among the original honorary members were The Baroness Clementine Spencer-Churchill; Randolph S. Churchill; The Rt. Hon. The Lord Stockton (Harold Macmillan); The Hon. W. Averell Harriman; Sir John Colville; and The Rt. Hon. The Lord Soames (Christopher Soames), now all deceased. Current honorary members include General Colin Powell; The Lady Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
; Sir Martin Gilbert; Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(grandson); The 11th Duke of Marlborough; Randolph Churchill (great grandson) and Sir Winston's last private secretary, Sir Anthony Montague Browne.